International Dot Day is celebrated every September 15-ish.

The motivation for this annual event came from the story about a girl from The Dot, a picture book written by Peter H. Reynolds. Vashti is reluctant to participate in art class because she believes she can’t draw. But through her teacher’s encouragement, Vashti learns she can. The idea is to challenge what we may think about ourselves or what others may think about us and express our own creativity.

To date, Dot Day creator T.J. Shay has taken this message of inspiration and the celebration of creativity to 3.6 million participants in 113 countries. Listen to T.J speak with librarians on this ISTE Librarians Network twitter chat .

Register here and download a free educator’s guide. Collaborate and share using facebook, Skype in the Classroom or twitter using hashtags #DotDay and #makeyourmark. Everybody can make a dot-ish – so…

Check out the amazing Celibri dots made by illustrators. Authors made them too! I made one. But first, like Vashti I thought, “Look at those beautiful dots, I can’t draw!” Then I remembered what Vashti’s teacher said, “Just make a mark and see where it takes you.” I made a mark, learned new skills, and this where it took me. It’s my dot and there’s no other like it.

 Now everyone join in and sing the Dot Day Song. Then go out there and make your mark!

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Dot Day Partners

• The Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning
  and Creativity

• Charter for Compassion

• The Blue Bunny Book and Toy Store

• Boston Children’s Museum

• Candlewick Press

• Discovery Education Network

• The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

• FableVision Studios & FableVision Learning

• Skype in the Classroom

• Teachers of Promise Foundation

• colAR – Puteko Ltd.

• CUE

• MassCUE

• NYSCATE

• Kids Talk Radio Los Angeles

• Little Orchestra Society

• AAP PreK-12 Learning Group

• Building Learning Communities

• Reading is Fundamental

• Lulu

• ITEC