Rockin ’ Your Storytime

1. Rockin’ Your Storytime Presenters: Nancy Devlin Tiffany Lewis Mary Ryan Eisenhower Public Library District  • Wiki http://eisenhowerstorytime.pbworks.com

2. program • Warm-up: • Mary riffs on Scheduling, Structure and Security • Opening Act: • Tiffany covers Themes, Books, Props and Crafts • Main Event: • Nancy brings it home with Music and Movement • Wiki

3. Concert Dates/Venue (Scheduling) • Know your community’s schedule! • Make schedule available early – newsletter • Make changes clear and gradual • Be flexible and take breaks! • Check schedules of other departments • Budget in time for evaluations • Wiki

4. set List(Structure) • Wiki

5. Storytime room

6. Security • Clear rules, consistently enforced • Control access to space • No bullies allowed – kids or parents • Know your photography policy • Know the fire code for your space • Stay calm • Wiki

7. Themes, Books, props, and crafts • Wiki

8. vibes and styles(Themes) • Themes chosen 3-4 months in advance • Some theme sources: • Calendar - major & minor holidays & events • Author birthdays • Cool crafts/New books - build theme around it • Fall-back ideas not tied to anything specific Ex: animals, foods, emotions • Wiki

9. Books Elements of a strong storytime book: • Rhyming/repeating text • large, bright images • steady pacing – not too slow • length (can be modified if too long?) • questions and actions from the text (or you create them!) • Wiki

10. Now showing:"Felt Crafting for Fun" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7pOqELkpGg

11. Felt Stories • Everyone gets a felt piece • Extra pieces ready for late-comers • Detail is important • Story is made from theme, but can made into simple “I Spy” story • Quick Version: laminate image and glue felt to the back • Wiki

12. Props and Playtime • Props keep things fresh & fun • Also lets kids know what comes next • Playtime allows for socialization • Toys encourage motor skills • Sharing • New Experiences • Wiki

13. Jack the Puppet Jack makes a COW MOO Jack makes a PIG YouTube Link YouTube Link

14. Souveniers(crafts …) • Hooray for the Volunteers! • Volunteers do most of the “grunt work”- preparing pieces/kits for each craft • AccuCut and Ellison dies are lifesavers • Used both, prefer rolling die-cutter • Can punch out multiple pieces efficiently • Allows creativity (parts of one can be used to create parts for something totally different) • Wiki

15. More crafts • Wiki

16. Souveniers(…and handouts) Handouts: • Baby class gets the fingerplays from that day’s session for parents to use at home • Big Kids get a handout featuring poetry, crosswords, games, questions and book lists related to that week’s theme • Special Programs: give out the events lineup • Wiki

17. Music and movement • Wiki

18. research • We learn best when we are having fun. • Interpersonal/social skills, ranging from communication to cooperation, develop in play. • Bruce Duncan Perry, M.D., Ph.D. Importance of Pleasure Play • When a concept or a song is learned, if movement accompanies it, it will be absorbed more easily and integrated into the brain. • … studies have also shown that movement creating an accelerated heart rate appears to correlate with increased attention level. • Coordinated, balanced movements create a sense of pleasure activating the limbic system and creating an emotional tone in which memory works more efficiently • Diamant-Cohen, et al. “Make Way for Dendrites: how brain research can impact children’s programming,” Children & Libraries. V2 Spring 2004. 12-20 • Wiki

19. Music Tips for choosing music: • Listen first! It avoids surprises • Is content age appropriate? • Length– can you adjust? • Is the tempo engaging and danceable? • Think outside kid’s music: oldies, pop, and some other adult music will totally work for children • Wiki

20. music A Year of Music: our storytime favorites • We listed some of our best songs on the Wiki • Choose a different song for each week • Suggested themes/ages available • Wiki

21. Wiki link • Wiki

22. Choreography (Movement) • What you do depends on body count • Break it down by Rule of 3’s • Example: room limit = 35 people • SMALL (1-12 bodies): Moving circle, with or without holding hands, adult/child partners • MEDIUM (13-24 bodies): Moving or stationary circle (if bottlenecks occur); dancing in place with limited lateral movement • LARGE (25+ bodies) - Dance in place – use restricted movement (only extends as far as their arm reach) Expand Rule of 3’s as needed • Wiki

23. Choreography (Movement) • Watch for understanding: timing can be “hotdog or mac ‘n cheese?” • Props to PLA 2010, Portland, “Groove ‘n Move: Making Music Meaningful” (Michelle Minerd & Trish Reid, Kent District Library) • Passion is more important than ability • Show it slow, then regular time • Exaggerate the motion • Repeat the simple stuff • Wiki

24. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Song: “Thinkin’ About Something” (guess the artist) Let’s Dance … • Wiki

25. Stretch break! YouTube Link • Wiki

26. stretching • Important for all age groups • Calms group, helps get the “sillies” out • Maintain eye contact, especially if there is a language barrier • Give permission: • Gentle movements – it should not hurt • Skirts: OK to face wall, or do alternative motion • Include a noisy/quiet breath at end (preparation: quiet breath, “now we’re ready for Storytime) Itsy bitsy yoga/ Helen Garabedian • Wiki

27. Finale Rock stars get noticed out in the community Check out what some parents have to say… • Wiki

28. Survey Says… • “…the best part is the excitement the kids have about what they did, showing the crafts and being with their friends.” • “I and my baby love everything during storytime!” • “Time flies, kids are engaged-wide variety of skills from social to fine motor are addressed. Love you guys!” • “Fun, educational, not too long, kept kids attention”

29. Encore Storytime Presentation Wiki: http://eisenhowerstorytime.pbworks.com • Wiki

30. Your goody bag Storytime Top 40 bookmark Jack the Puppet eyes Pieces for a Wild Thing Craft

31. Thank you!