What?!? We know what you’re thinking: “How in the WORLD can a DOT teach you LESSONS?” Well, then YOU haven’t read The Dot by Peter Reynolds!
So, what is this awesome story about, you ask? Well, the main character, Vashti, thinks she can’t draw. She sits in art class with NOTHING on her paper. Vashti was feeling REALLY blue … we could tell that because Peter Reynolds used colours that were dark. The pictures told part of the story too! The teacher looked at her empty paper and said, “Oh look a POLAR bear in a SNOW storm!” Vashti was VERY frustrated but the teacher told her to just make a mark. She took her marker and SLAMMED it onto her paper. Then, her teacher asked her to SIGN it! The very NEXT week, she walked into her classroom and she saw HER dot … hanging ABOVE her teacher’s desk … and … it was FRAMED in GOLD! Vashti thought “I can make a BETTER dot than THAT!” Soon, Vashti is making dots left right and CENTRE! Vashti discovered that you could make your mark just by starting with a teensy little dot. Persevere … just DO it … make YOUR mark!
Here are some of the awesome dots WE created after being inspired by Peter Reynolds:
We worked hard to put our thoughts into words to share the magic of this picture book and the lessons we have learned through discussion and sharing our ideas! Welcome to the FIRST official blog post of the year by the NEW Battalion Hawk Bloggers:
“If you were to make your mark, what would it be? If you don’t try, you won’t be able to do what you WANT to do! If you try, you will succeed. If you make a mistake, try again. If you make your mark you will want to make MORE! Now … MAKE your MARK!” ~Nick and Chris
“If you think that you can’t do something … try … then you might be able to do it. If you are embarrassed it doesn’t matter what other people say to you. If anyone says that is bad, ignore them and then think your work is good! If anyone says that that play in a sport was horrible, just ignore them and go on with your game! Persevere and try your hardest. Try your hardest on everything you do. Failure only happens when you never ever try. If you make your mark, look at it and then say to yourself, “that is my best”, and if it isn’t, try and do better and better every time! Try hard and you will improve. Never ever say to yourself you CAN’T do it!” ~Christopher and Davis
“Always trust yourself even in challenges. Never give up even at the hardest times. Always keep trying. Never say never. Just make your mark and let it take you on a drawing adventure. Never give up even when other people say give up!” ~Amro and Tre
“If you make your mark, you can reach your goal. The Dot is a GREAT story. The Dot is an inspiring story. The Dot isn’t all about art. Keep trying. Never give up, EVER! Vashti said she COULDN’T draw, but she COULD!” ~Danny and Elijah
“How would you make your mark? Would you jab your paper just like Vashti did? If you don’t try, you’ll NEVER reach your goals. The book, The Dot, is ALL about persevering and NEVER giving up on your dreams! Have you ever heard of Terry Fox? You probably have. He persevered and never gave up on his run. You should read the book and maybe follow her lead! (The book is by Peter H. Reynolds!) Keep on persevering! ~Jayden, Ella & Cemre
“If you don’t try, you’ll never get to your goals! The only failure is not making a mark. If you try, you’ll do it and if you don’t try, you will NOT do it! Just TRY it! Vashti made a mark. The Dot is a good story because it teaches you a lesson. The lesson is: always try and persevere.” ~Zubayda, Chelsea and Rayann
“It’s important to always try because if you don’t, you’ll never make it. Never give up!!! If you give up, then you’ll never beat your score! T: try your best you can! R: retry if you make a mistake! Y: you should prove the best you can to the world! Trying and persevering can make you feel better than doing nothing and just standing there. Don’t feel like you can’t do it, because you CAN!” ~Lauren
“The Dot is a great story! You should read it! It will inspire you to make your OWN mark! Vashti’s mark is a dot. If you make your own mark, even a squiggle, you will start persevering! If you make your own mark, I promise you, you will LOVE it!” ~ AJ & Tyler
“Do you know how to make your mark? If you try, you can do it! Just make your mark! You can try your best! When you do your mark you have to not give up and to be your best. Making a mark can just be a dot … see where it takes you! When you persevere you can make your mark!” ~Dimitrios, Rebecca & Joyce
“If you’re wanting to make a difference and make your mark, please read the following! If you ever want to succeed in your life or in another person’s life, you have to make a mark. Make a difference … if you don’t try and make your mark you’ll never improve. Make your mark … don’t try to copy someone else. Your mark is better than someone else’s mark. Even if you fail, get back up and try again! I’m wasting time … make your mark … do us a favour … don’t keep reading … go make your mark NOW!” ~Ben & Tommy
- Have you read any books that inspire you to persevere and work through challenges?
- Do you have a favourite quote that you think of when you are facing a challenge?
- When you are feeling frustrated and like you “can’t” what do you do to move PAST these feelings to get back on the “horse” and TRY again?