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- 🎨 Celebrate creativity on International Dot Day!
🎨 Celebrate creativity on International Dot Day!
Tons of FREE resources and events for your K-2 classroom
Karly Moura & Christina Sciarrotto
September 09, 2025
💡 Fresh, fun ideas to spark creativity!
Young learners are naturally curious and imaginative and part of our job is to nurture those sparks into confident, creative thinkers. This issue of What’s New in K-2 is packed with ways to cultivate that creativity in your classroom.
Inside, you’ll discover how to join millions of educators worldwide in celebrating International Dot Day, a powerful new story about self-acceptance, and a simple classroom timer that can help you manage transitions and activities with ease. Think of this as your weekly boost of tips, tools, and inspiration—because when kids create, they thrive.
Inside:
💡 Tips, Tools and Templates: Tons of FREE Dot Day resources
📺 Teaching with Teachflix Junior: The Reflection in Me
🛍️Teacher Finds for the Classroom: A timer to keep things running smoothly
😄 Giggle of the Week: It was a good idea…
❤️ Share your ideas with us!
💡 Tips, Tools and Templates
🌍 Celebrate International Dot Day
Did you know that every September, millions of educators and students around the world celebrate creativity by “making their mark”?
International Dot Day (Sept. 15, the publishing anniversary of Peter H. Reynolds’ The Dot) began in 2003 when Iowa teacher Terry Shay introduced the story to his classroom. That small classroom celebration has since grown into a worldwide movement encouraging children to be brave, creative, and expressive.
The Dot tells the story of a caring teacher who helps a reluctant young artist see the power of “just making a mark.” Its message of courage and creativity has now been translated into dozens of languages and even brought to life in an award-winning animated film.
📅 Mark your calendar for September 15-ish and plan a classroom celebration that lets your students “make their mark and see where it takes them.” Sign up to participate!
💻 Ready-to-use Dot Day resources:
International Dot Day Website — Register for free, download the educator’s handbook, and get your official Dot Day certificate.
Printable Activity Kit — Free hands-on activities to inspire your students.
Book Creator Dot Day Book — A collection of free activities to help you encourage your students to start creating bravely.
Celebrate Dot Day Seesaw activity — Digital creativity for your learners.
Draw Your Dot Seesaw activity — A digital dot activity and reflection allowing student to get creative and draw what they see!
20 ideas to celebrate 20 years of Dot Day — A resource collection created in 2023 with 20 ideas for students and teachers to celebrate creativity on Dot Day and beyond.
Listen to The Dot read aloud — From Detroit Public Television, Zion reads “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds.
📺 Live Art Lesson with Peter H. Reynolds!
Bring the author into your classroom virtually with Ann from Adobe Express!
 | Make Your Mark! 📆 Tuesday September 16. ⏰ 10am PT/1pm ET. |
📺 Teaching with Teachflix Junior
🪞 The Reflection in Me
🎥 Video Link: The Reflection in Me
“You are perfectly perfect just the way you are!”
The Reflection in Me is a heartwarming animated short film and picture book written by Marc Colagiovanni and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. The story encourages children to look beyond appearances and recognize the inner qualities that make them unique, loved, and valued.
This inspiring collaboration—with both the book (published by Scholastic/Orchard Books) and film (produced with FableVision Studios)—shares powerful themes of love, acceptance, and positive self-image. It’s a beautiful reminder to young learners that their worth shines from the inside out.
Ready-made video resources:
🎨 Coloring Page — The Reflection in Me
After reading the book or watching the film, students can color this page of a child gazing into the mirror. It provides a calming creative outlet and sparks conversation about self-acceptance by asking, What do you see when you look in the mirror?
✨ Reflect on You!
Students can use the golden mirror frames to write or draw things they are good at, their special talents, and their dreams. This activity builds self-awareness and confidence while celebrating each child’s unique qualities—perfect for a classroom strengths gallery.
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📅 Don’t miss the author event!
Read and draw along with Marc Colagiovanni and Peter H. Reynolds in a live author event:
When: Friday, September 12, 11:00 AM PDT
Who: Grades Preschool–3
What: Picture book reading + live drawing session
Why: Celebrate creativity, courage, and self-love
👉 Learn more and join the session: Author event with Marc Colagiovanni and Peter H. Reynolds reading The Reflection in Me
🛍️Teacher Finds for the Classroom
⏰ Magnetic Classroom Timers (2 Pack)
Keep your classroom running smoothly with this set of large digital timers—perfect for managing centers, group work, transitions, or even quiet reading time.
Here’s why teachers love them:
✅ Comes in blue and green, with large, easy-to-read displays.
✅ Count up / countdown with a max time of 99 minutes 59 seconds.
✅ Magnetic back, retractable stand, and hanging hook—use them anywhere in your classroom.
✅ Memory setting so you don’t have to reset each time.
Whether it’s timing games, managing cleanup, or keeping activities on track, these timers are simple, reliable, and teacher-friendly.
🤭 Giggle of the Week
There is no way out but through 😭😭😭😭
h/t Funny Teacher Memes on Facebook