Sometimes, the biggest ideas start with something very small.
A dot. A scribble. A simple mark on a blank page.
This year, AlphaBEST students across the country explored that idea as we celebrated International Dot Day, inspired by The Dot, the beloved children’s book by award-winning author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds.
In The Dot, a student named Vashti believes she cannot draw. Her teacher encourages her to simply make a mark and see where it takes her. What begins as one small dot becomes a journey of creativity, confidence, and self-expression.
That message is one we love at AlphaBEST. Every child has creativity inside them, and sometimes all they need is encouragement to let it out.
International Dot Day began in 2009, when teacher Terry Shay introduced his students to The Dot. Since then, what started as one classroom celebration has grown into a worldwide movement celebrating creativity, courage, and collaboration. Since 2011, more than 36 million people in more than 190 countries have participated in International Dot Day.
Our AlphaBEST sites put their own creative spin on International Dot Day, and no two celebrations looked exactly alike.
We challenged our sites to put their personal spins on International Dot Day, with a cash prize to those who went above and beyond. Throughout the month of September, 113 sites submitted more than 700 photos and videos of their International Dot Day activities, turning it into a nationwide celebration at AlphaBEST programs.
Groups began by reading The Dot together and talking about what it means to make your mark. Students then created their own dots, squiggles, and colorful works of art. Some sites turned those creations into art walls and displays, giving students the opportunity to proudly share their work with classmates, families, and school staff.
At Roosevelt Elementary in Norman, Oklahoma, students used Community Circle time to create special notes for their school office staff. They wrote their messages on dots and delivered them to the office on a large poster. It was a creative way to turn Dot Day into an opportunity to show appreciation and kindness.
Students at Wilson Elementary in Crandall, Texas, took their creativity beyond the classroom with a Dot Scavenger Hunt. They searched throughout their school for as many dots as they could find and quickly discovered that dots were everywhere. They spotted them on signs, objects, decorations, and even on clothes!
Other sites put their celebrations into creative videos!
Whether students were drawing, searching, writing, dancing, dressing up, or simply sharing their ideas, they all experienced the same important lesson: there are so many ways to be creative, and there is no single right way to make your mark.
We are excited to celebrate the creativity of our International Dot Day sites and share some of their wonderful photos below!
A huge thank you to all of the AlphaBEST team members and students who participated and helped make International Dot Day such a memorable celebration. We loved seeing all the different ways our sites brought the spirit of The Dot to life.
Want more information about The Dot and International Dot Day? Visit https://www.internationaldotday.org/ for helpful information, free resources, and more!
Keep creating. Keep exploring. Keep making your mark!
Dot Day holds an especially meaningful connection for AlphaBEST because of our longstanding partnership with FableVision, the award-winning educational media and storytelling studio founded by Peter H. Reynolds and his twin brother, author Paul A. Reynolds.
Peter notes, “We rely on creative educators to activate the transformational messages inside our stories and films – to encourage every learner to gain the confidence and courage to create bravely. Watching how AlphaBEST has created programming around our work in ways that amplify our impact has truly been a joy.”
AlphaBEST and FableVision have partnered to bring their shared passion for creative learning to students through our Going Places Summer Camp, inspired by Paul and Peter’s award-winning book Going Places.
In Going Places, students Maya and Rafael approach a go-kart challenge in very different ways. While Rafael follows the instructions, Maya looks at the challenge differently and uses her imagination to create something entirely her own. The story encourages children to think creatively, take risks, solve problems, and explore possibilities.
Those same ideas are at the heart of what we do at AlphaBEST, and they made International Dot Day a natural fit for our community.
Paul Reynolds shares, “Our friends at AlphaBEST know that every child is “going places” as long as they have the resources and support to help them make their mark, which is why the work they do is so critically important.”
