The School District of Palm Beach County is Celebrating Dot Day District-Wide!

International Dot Day participation has soared above 1,252,000 teachers and students as of today, September 14th. WOW! We are so thankful to all of the educators around the world joining us in celebrating creativity this year.

We were thrilled to find out that the School District of Palm Beach County is holding a district-wide celebration of Dot Day this year. The school district is the 11th largest in the continental U.S., with more than 176,700 students. John Long, Technology Program Specialist, organized this tremendous creative endeavor — and he was kind enough to send us this Dot Day flyer he shared with his creative technology staff and colleagues. The flyer features activity ideas, links to resources, tips for getting started, and more. It might give you some great ideas for how your district can celebrate next year!

The School District of Palm Beach County has several groups facilitating events from kindergarten all the way up through 12th grade. John is collecting photos, stories, and videos for their "dot"-cumentary (we can't wait to see it!). John even created a website for their district initiative.

We've already started receiving cool stories and videos from John, but the celebrations will continue on for some time. According to John, "We are stretching Dot Day from September 15th-ish to be more like Dot Week."

We are so inspired by John's district, and by all the other districts and schools who are making their mark this September. Please consider sharing your school or district's story in the comments below!

Dot Day Fun! Watch Your Dot Come to Life in Amazing 3D in the colAR App

Thanks to our fabulous ambassador Suzy Brooks, we've connected the dots with awesome New Zealand-based company Puteko to bring you this fantastic new International Dot Day colAR coloring activity. By following these steps and using thecolAR app (which utilizes augmented reality), you can watch your dot go from 2D to stunning 3D! Here are some photos from Peter H. Reynolds, author of The Dot. Peter created his dot, followed the instructions below — and voilà:

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INSTRUCTIONS:

First, get a sense for how the colAR app works by watching this playful video demo. Then...

• Print this PDF and have fun coloring your dot. Make your mark — make it your own, unique creation!

• Install the colAR app on your mobile device. The app is now available for free on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

• Open the colAR app on your device.

• Click "Play."

• Hold your device over the colored page to view it on your device screen (as if you are about to take a photo of it). When you are holding your device in exactly the right position above the page, the page will look blue on your screen.

• Your dot will come to life! Click the little purple icon at the bottom of the screen to switch between different 3D views — watch your dot pop up off the page, become a dot galaxy... and more! You can tilt your device to admire your dot from different angles.

• Please consider sharing a screenshot or photo of your dot at the Dot Day Facebook page or on Twitter with #DotDay and @DotClubConnect. We'd love to see what you're creating!

For more information about colAR, check out Puteko's official website. Questions? Please contact the colAR team and they will be happy to help you!

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Have fun!

International Dot Day Website, Posters, and Certificate!

Join more than a million educators and students for International Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity in the classroom based on Peter H. Reynolds' award-winning book The Dot. Learn more by visiting the official Dot Day website.

International Dot Day Website

Will you be joining in the fun this September 15th? Please let us know by signing up — you'll also receive the free Educator's Handbook for International Dot Day.

We're all looking forward to Dot Day, but we'll be celebrating creativity all year long — and we encourage you to do the same! Here are some new posters by Peter...

I'm Celebrating Dot Day All Year Long - Poster 1

¡Estoy Celebrando el Día del Punto Todo el Año! - Poster 1

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I'm Celebrating Dot Day All Year Long - Poster 2

¡Estoy Celebrando el Día del Punto Todo el Año! - Poster 2

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We're Celebrating Dot Day All Year Long

¡Estamos Celebrando el Día del Punto Todo el Año!

Here are two more - an English poster and a Spanish poster to celebrate getting ready for Dot Day 2013:

We're Getting Ready for International Dot Day Poster

Here's another new poster — this one features the official International Dot Day logo:

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And here's the new Spanish version — we LOVE seeing the International Dot Day logo en español!

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Enjoy this other wonderful poster in French — it's such fun to see the logo en français!

Celebrating on September 13th this year? Download this special poster by Peter, in English or in Spanish!

Or maybe you plan to celebrate on September 16th? We've got a English poster and a Spanish poster for that too!

Download this certificate of participation that Peter designed for educators, students, and all other creative individuals who are making their mark:

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If you want to help spread the word about Dot Day, please feel free to also download this poster by Peter H. Reynolds:

Many schools are also celebrating on September 14th, during the school week. If your school is celebrating on the 14th, Peter whipped up another poster for you! Enjoy:

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Are you connecting with another school via Skype in the Classroom this year? Click here to get this as a printable poster!

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Make your mark by printing out this Dot Day poster.

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Here's a Dot Day poster in Italian! (Clicca qui per leggere tutto Dimensioni Poster Day Dot stampa.)

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Here's an alternate version in Italian. (Clicca qui per un supplente piena di poster formato Giorno Dot stampa!)In closing, here is a Spanish version too! (Haga click aquí para una versión imprimible de este cartel.)

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How will you or your school be celebrating on Dot Day? Let us know!

Animate Your Dot for International Dot Day! It's Easy & Fun

Animation-ish Dot Animations

This International Dot Day, make your mark MOVE! There are many ways to animate a dot, including using software, apps, a paper flip pad, stop motion with clay or objects... the options are endless. Here's one easy way to bring your dot to life:

1. Create your film in Animation-ish. Start in the first level — in just three drawings, you can animate your dot. Save your files, and be sure to sign them.

2. When you're done, click the "Share" button to export as a Quicktime movie (.mov).

3. Proudly share your animated dot! If you want, email us your movie and we'll post it to our blog. Or tag us on social media @fablelearn on Twitter and Instagram.

Here are a few fun samples by students and the FableVision team:

Don't worry about making your animation perfect! Be brave like Vashti - start by making your mark and then building from there.

Remember to send us your animations so we can share them with the world. We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Blast Off With These Stellar Posters by Peter H. Reynolds!

UPDATE: This poster is no longer available to download for free, but you can now download it from our online store, along with other inspiring posters by Peter H. Reynolds.*** Peter H. Reynolds and the FableVision Team were over the moon when we hosted astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield and his wife Helene last week. In fact, we were so inspired that we're sharing these two stellar posters by Peter:

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Share this poster to get students excited about STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Show them that arts-fueled STEM is out of this world!

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Display this classic poster to encourage your students to look beyond the test and towards the future — and to remind them of the "fuel" they can harness on their journeys toward their own bright futures.

You can learn more about Col. Hadfield by watching his spectacular YouTube videos - many of which were filmed in outer space!

New Peter H. Reynolds Poster: We're a 5 C's Classroom

Display this new downloadable poster by Peter H. Reynolds to help students keep the 5 C's in mind. Enjoy!

Peter H. Reynolds Poster: We're a 5 C's Classroom

Make More Light - a Reminder from Peter H. Reynolds

Peter H. Reynolds created these printable posters as a message for children to help deal with the tragic events that took place in Boston on April 15, 2013 — but it really is a reminder for all of us. Peter encourages you to share, print, and have children add their "light" to the black and white version of the poster. It is his gift to you.

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Click here to download the color version.

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Click here to download the black and white version — ask your students to add their own "light" to it.

Our hearts go out to the many people who were affected by the Boston Marathon tragedy. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families — may they be surrounded by light, comfort, and peace.

Autism Awareness Month Resources from FableVision Learning

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April is Autism Awareness Month, and we have some great resources to help you explore diversity and discuss inclusion with your students. You can watch the free film online with your students today!

Written about a boy on the autism spectrum, I'm Here features a strong anti-bullying message and reminds us that all children — and the friendships they make — can take flight in unexpected ways. Consider adding this powerful book to your library!

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Also, don't miss the FREE I'm Here Educator's Activity Guide, written by SARRC (The Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center) and designed by FableVision Learning. This guide comes with several detailed activities that will help you explore the themes of I'm Here with your students.

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You might also consider integrating the book and film Wings of EPOH into your Autism Awareness activities. Wings of EPOH is the story of a young boy on the autism spectrum who goes on a journey with an unlikely friend, a butterfly named Epoh ("hope" spelled backward). It was written by acclaimed author and Holocaust survivor Gerda Weissmann Klein and lovingly illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. There is a teacher's guide you can purchase as well.

We also recommend the following articles and websites, which offer a tremendous amount of information and other resources:

Huffington Post Blog: "Making a Difference: The World of Giving — April is Autism Awareness Month" by Lisa M. Dietz

SARRC (Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center) Website: There is a great deal of helpful information there! You can learn more about SARRC’s program offerings and social skills curriculum (see the FRIEND program info at the bottom of the page).

The Autism Society Website: Check out the "About Autism" and "Living With Autism" sections — they provide an enormous amount of information to help educate others about the autism spectrum.

Autism Speaks offers wonderful resources, too. Visit the "What is Autism?" page for a wealth of information. The Family Services section also has fantastic resources, and there is a blog section that connects families with children on the autism spectrum with other families. Lastly, Autism Speaks recently partnered up with the Home Depot, which will be selling blue Defiant LED Lanterns and blue light bulbs through the end of April. A portion of each sale will go to Autism Speaks to fund research, advocacy, family services, and awareness for families struggling with this disorder.

Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago "maximizes independence and creates opportunities for people with disabilities and other special needs to live, learn, work and play in their communities by providing a lifespan of premier services." On their homepage, look under the What's New section — you'll spot some news articles about autism. You can also learn more about autism at their About Autism page.

Let us know how you'll be honoring Autism Awareness Month with your students. We love hearing what creative educators are up to!

New Peter H. Reynolds Poster: We All Make Mistaks

Peter H. Reynolds' We All Make Mistaks Poster

We are offering this free downloadable poster by Peter H. Reynolds! This poster serves as a sweet and simple reminder to not be so hard on others — or yourself! Remember that everyone makes mistaks.

Peter H. Reynolds' Gift to You: Create Your Own Plant A Kiss Seed Packet

Inspired by the book Plant A Kiss (written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds) this printable PDF by Peter provides an easy-to-assemble template for a seed packet. Simply print, cut out, and assemble — and don't forget to seal it with a kiss!

As the school year transitions into spring, think in terms of "planting it forward." Start sowing seeds for your students — a love of writing, a fascination with math, a curiosity about science, a passion for vocabulary, global thinking, an appreciation for social studies...

What creative activities do you have planned for spring this year?

From Peter H. Reynolds: Inspire Students to Commit to Their Goals for 2013

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January is a perfect time to encourage students to commit to goals for the year ahead! Download these goal cards by Peter H. Reynolds, cut them out, and distribute them to your class. Ask each student to write one important goal for the year ahead and sign it as part of his or her commitment to working towards that goal. Post the cards on a bulletin board or classroom wall and check in with students from time to time to see what progress they have made. A little encouragement and a few reminders will go a long way!

Download the goal cards template or click below:

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How do you help your students commit to their goals? Comment below to share your tips!

International Dot Day. . . in Antarctica!

So cool! We were blown away by these photos of International Dot Day festivities in Antarctica from educator and researcher Jean Pennycook, who studies Adélie Penguins. Dot Day, an unofficial celebration of creativity based on Peter H. Reynolds' award-winning book The Dot, has now officially been celebrated on all SEVEN continents! Thanks to Lorraine Leo, Terry Shay, Bill Norris, and Janet Reynolds for "connecting the dots" and getting The Dot down to Ross Island for this tux-only event.