Thursday, January 30, 2014

Dinosaur VS. The Library – Preschool Tour

In case it wasn't obvious, I really love my job. I love storytimes and watching little minds develop, but I also really enjoy working with preschoolers. All those personalities that are starting to develop and interacting with this age group makes my day so much more interesting.

Every year, my library offers a preschool tour that they theme around a book character. We invite local preschools to come visit us to hear a story and get a tour of our room. In the past we've done Dogs Colorful Day and Pete the Cat. This year we decided to use Dinosaur VS. The Library by Bob Shea. If you haven't read this book, please go do so immediately. I'll wait...

Isn't is AMAZING?! My lovely coworker Sara from Bryce Don't Play suggested the book and once I had it in my hands I knew it would make a great tour. I was right.


First, our group comes into our storytime room and we say hello, talk briefly about why the library is the coolest place in the city, and then we read Dinosaur VS. The Library. Yes, of course we all must roar together as we read this book. Yes, it is hilarious to have 20+ preschoolers roaring at the top of their lungs.

Next, we split the group into two. We explain to them before the split that they'll all get to experience both parts, but some still get upset. Just smile and start dancing to distract them. One group stays in the boat and gets another story read to them. You could read another Dinosaur book, but I usually just choose whichever picture book is my favorite at that moment (Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett is my current favorite). We'll usually do an action rhyme or two as well since they're pretty fidgety by this point.

The other group gets to go on our room tour. Now, you may be thinking, "A room tour? That's so boring." No. It's the most wonderful thing ever.We start the tour by saying, "Dinosaur loves roaring, but he figured out that you have to be a little quieter in the library to experience all of the cool things!" then we tell them that Dinosaur's friends need some help staying quiet because they are so excited to be in the library today.


First, we go to pictures books where Cow is hanging out. Also, he's dancing. Of course, we all have to dance with him, but then cow starts getting really loud. So we all gently remind him to quiet down.


Next we go to non-fiction where the Chick is singing. We start singing too, the chicks get a little too excited... you get the picture.


Then, to the Reading Boat where Owl is stomping. We ask, "Do you think you are supposed to stomp on the reading boat?" Sometimes they say yes, because it genuinely does look like a place made from stomping. We explain that while the reading boat looks like a great place to stomp and run and jump, it is actually made specifically for reading. Then, we remind them that they can always ask us for help to find a book for the reading boat.


 Finally, we stop at the desk where turtle is too shy to ask a question. We all tell Turtle how nice the librarian is and the librarian on desk just so happens to have a book about turtles at the desk!

Then, we bring the group back together and read one last story. If the class still has time we let them explore the room independently until it is time for them to leave.

We are not a "shushing" room by any means, but this is a great tour because it gently reinforces some best practices for using the library. For most preschoolers this is the first time they've ever been in our library and it can definitely be overwhelming. Since we've been "blessed" with a huge boat in our room, we want to make sure we have their attention to really show the room during the tour. By incorporating Bob Shea's brilliant book into the tour we have their attention the entire time. Thanks Bob!


Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Baby Storytime – Cats

Check out what my typical storytime looks like here. All the words to my songs and rhymes can be found here.

Opening Song
Welcome Song

Opening Rhyme/Movement
Hands are Clapping

Early Literacy Tip
I forgot to give a tip today and didn't realize it until the end of storytime. I started throwing out books for playtime and a parent said, "Miss Brooke, what about our fun fact?" I LOVE that there are some parents who are genuinely listening for the fun fact each week. It definitely made my heart grow a little.

Sing to your baby everyday. Whether it's about how you haven't slept in 24 hours, what you're cooking, or where you're going- sing about it. Children love to be sung to and your voice is the most soothing thing to them. The great thing about babies is that they don't judge you on how out of key you are! (I always use myself as an example of a non-stellar singer.)

Shape Game
Today, I hid a cat! You can find out about this game here.

This game was starting to get out of control with my little ones. They all immediately run up and point and grab and shriek at each other. While I love that they love it so much, something definitely needed to change. I've tried some recommended strategies from others, but nothing seemed to work for me.

Then, I decided to just hold the shapes up one at a time, put them on the board, and then flip them over before I moved on to my next shape. This finally seemed to click with my groups. Now everyone still runs up to the board, but there isn't really an opportunity to pull it off. I also knock twice on the shape before turning it over. No idea why I started doing this, but now everyone knocks with me so I can't stop it.

Rhyme/Movement
Where is Thumbkin

Book
What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by Jan Thomas
This book is so funny. The parents were cracking up at this. While the humor is a little too mature for the babies, it is still a great book to talk about animals and animal sounds with. Plus, I love when the parents really get into a book with me!

Rhyme/Movement
Giddy-up, Giddy-up

Rhyme/Movement
Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Book
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Almost everyone who has a child knows who Pete the Cat is. It was great to introduce him to my brand new parents! I clipped this book so Pete only stepped in two things.

Rhyme/Movement
This is Big

Choral Reading
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.

Egg Shakers
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep 

Rhyme/Movement
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Playtime!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Baby Storytime – Peek A Boo

Check out what my typical storytime looks like here. All the words to my songs and rhymes can be found here.

Opening Song
Welcome Song

Opening Rhyme/Movement
Hands are Clapping

Early Literacy Tip
I had a 4 month old in my infant class who was very upset when his mom played peek-a-boo. So, I briefly talked about "object permanence" and why it was important for a baby to develop it. I had a mom come back the next week and told me she spent an hour researching it after storytime!

In my baby storytime, I focused on different ways to play with hiding objects. You can show part of the monkey and see if they can find it under the shape. Then, try to hide it completely and see if they can still find it. I have an almost 2 year-old in my class who has figured out that it is always the shape farthest from me. She immediately runs up and points to it when I show them the shape game. I love when my babies give me real world examples!

Shape Game
Today, I hid a monkey playing peek-a-book! You can find out about this game here.

Rhyme/Movement
Roly-Poly


Book
Peek-a-Boo What by Begin Smart Books
This is a short board book with lift the flap pages. This is one of my favorites and hasn't failed me yet!

Rhyme/Movement
Itsy-Bitsy Spider

Rhyme/Movement
Giddy-up, Giddy-up

Book
Peekaboo Morning

This book is a little too long for babies so I clipped a few pages. We all played peek-a-boo while reading this book.

Rhyme/Movement
This is Big

Rhyme/Movement
Where is Thumbkin

Rhyme/Movement
Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Choral Reading
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.

Egg Shakers
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep  

Rhyme/Movement
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Playtime!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Baby Storytime – Dinosaurs

Check out what my typical storytime looks like here. All the words to my songs and rhymes can be found here

Opening Song
Welcome Song

Opening Rhyme/Movement
Hands are Clapping

Early Literacy Tip
Say the hard words in books! Today in storytime we're going to be saying actual names for dinosaurs. It might seem silly to say these to 13 month olds, but you are building their vocabulary every time you talk to them. If you start saying the hard words now, you won't be in the habit of skipping them as your child gets older.

Shape Game
Today, I hid a dinosaur! You can find out about this game here.

Rhyme/Movement
Roly-Poly

Book
Dinosaurs by Simmy Taback
This fold-out story is a guessing game. Obviously the babies didn't guess the dinosaurs, but it was fun to see the parents try to remember the names. I even had an older sister in one session who knew all the answers! It was a great time to touch back on the early literacy tip.

Rhyme/Movement
Itsy-Bitsy Spider

Rhyme/Movement
Giddy-up, Giddy-up

Book
Dinosaur Roar
by Paul Stickland
We followed all the dinosaurs in this book to a dinosaur picnic! This book has a great rhythm to it. 

Rhyme/Movement
This is Big

Rhyme/Movement
Where is Thumbkin

Choral Reading
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.

Egg Shakers
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep 

Rhyme/Movement
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Playtime!
Playtime was full of little ones pretending to be dinosaurs. It was wonderful!

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