Reflecting on Peter Reynolds' DOT Day

Russell Street Elementary School in Littleton, MA celebrated Dot Day last week. Spurred on by elementary art teacher, Andrea Romano, the Dots were amazing and showcased the orginality and creativity of the kids from first through fifth grades.

I was so excited to see the Dots last week. I asked her if I could share some of the fabulous art and if she would comment on the experience. Ms. Romano reflects on Dot Day in Littleton:

 

“Everyone IS an artist!” has been my belief from the very beginning of my career. This statement is the backbone behind how I live and teach. I often hear young people say, “When I grow up I want to be an artist!”. What they don’t realize is that they already are! My goal through my teaching is to help develop that awareness.

the dot, by Peter H. Reynolds, captures that inner struggle of a young child. I incorporated the story into the first week of classes this year throughout grades 1-5. All of the students were invited to simply make dots...big dots, small dots, one dot or many dots! Each dot was an authentic expression of the artist and proved to be a meaningful start to the school year!

Thank you Ms. Romano!

I've had the pleasure of meeting Peter H. Reynolds--he owns and operates The Blue Bunny, a wonderful independent bookstore in Dedham, MA.

He's an amazing artist, generous with his time to fans (children and adults alike). If you're not familiar with his book, THE DOT, it tells the story of a young girl who gives up her dream to be an artist because she thinks she's no good. Through the inspiration of her teacher, she learns that anyone can make a difference.

Actually, the description on Peter's website is better..."The Dot is the story of a caring teacher who dares a doubting student to trust in her own abilities by being brave enough to “make her mark”. What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing."

Since 2009, children have been celebrating making their own marks on the world on or about September 15. According to thedotclub.org, International Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration, began when teacher Terry Shay introduced his classroom to Peter H. Reynolds’ book The Dot on September 15, 2009.

The rest is history.