Update: I'm in Graduate School!!!

Good news! I recently started classes in Florida State University's School of Library & Information Studies. Hopefully, in two years I will have earned my degree and will be well on my way to becoming a children's librarian!!!

Taking three classes has been tough, but I'm slowly getting back into the school groove. There's A LOT of reading. A LOT. I feel like it never ends. I've created a good system to try to get ahead each week. I'm hoping that I'll do better each and every semester!

Lego Club

This summer I began hosting Lego Club every other Wednesday from 4-5 pm at my library. It was advertised for children ages 6-12, but we allowed younger and older siblings to join. It was a very simple program to plan and lots of children attended. (We averaged around 35). I would encourage this event for any library because it is very stress free!

Planning

• Collect Legos through donations or library purchases
• Separate Legos into boxes (I like paper box lids!)
• Create rules because every club needs rules
• I wrote the rules on poster board and had it up for every Lego Club. I also had to add rules throughout the summer when I noticed bad behavior.
• 1. Don't take Legos from other people.
• 2. Be respectful.
• 3. Don't throw Legos.
• 4. Don't put Legos in your mouth.
• 5. Clean up when you are done.
• 6. Have fun!
• Pick a theme
• I chose themes such as robots, transportation, pirates, and movies. Some children suggested themes for us to do! Children did not have to build to the theme; it was just to give them an idea of something to build.

Program Schedule

• Welcome children and parents to Lego Club.
• Go over rules. Children volunteered to read them for me. Also ask if they have any questions or additional rules they think we need.
• Unveil the theme. Have children brainstorm what kinds of things they could build.
• Handout large pieces of construction paper to every child. I chose to do this so they could each have a designated space to keep and build with the Legos.
• Distribute boxes of Legos. I liked to provide at least two for each table.
• Building time! Children now have an hour to build whatever they want with the Legos. During this time I walk around and chat with the children. I ask them questions to get to know them better and to find out what they are building.

I really enjoy watching the children build. They use their imagination, share with friends, give ideas and critique to help others, and parents, especially dads, build too.

Check out some of the Lego creations!

This program is enjoyable for all ages and it is easy to plan and manage. It also allows to children to use and develop problem solving and critical thinking skills. Children also build social skills by working together and sharing.

Children and parents are excited for Lego Club to start again. We are always getting questions about it. I'm ready to bring it back for the fall schedule!

Storytime can be hard...

As an education major, I wrote a lot of self-reflection papers. Because of that, I always think about the process and planning, the outcomes, and the changes I would make to programs at the library. Now I am going to reflect (and vent) about one of my worst storytimes.

This past Monday I went to a local daycare to do storytime for the two-year-olds and preschoolers. In the past we did not read to the preschoolers, but they wanted to roate them in so they could enjoy storytime.

My first storytime with the two-year-olds was wonderful because the kids remembered me, they behaved, and the teachers interacted and participated. I read through four books and we sang six songs. It was going so well that I didn't want to leave, but I had to move on to the next class.

(Insert dramatic music here. Duh-Duh-Duhh!!!)

I walked into the preschool room and immediately knew it wasn't going to go well. The room was chaotic and the teachers were too focused on getting the kids in and out of the bathroom. Once the kids were seated on the carpet, we sang our introduction song. (This was the best part of storytime and it only went downhill from here.) Then, I read a dinosaur counting book. There was a significant mix of whining and excitement over it. Some kids were scared and others were happy for the book. While I read, the teachers continued to interupt and pull kids out to go to the bathroom. The book went OK, but not great. I probably wouldn't read it again in storytime. Then I think I read "Chickens to the Rescue," which has worked very well in the past. Of course it bombed here. Then we sang a song and jumped into "Press Here," which is my favorite storytime book this fall. It took about ten minutes to read since the kids were behaving so badly. I witnessed scratching, kicking, hitting, annoying touching, and heard a lot of whining. I spent more time trying to discipline than actually reading. Nothing that I did was successful and storytime continued  to be miserable. After that awful book, I wanted to give it one more shot and read something to calm them down. I chose and introduced "The Big Yawn." I was just about to open the book and the teacher came and tapped me on the shoulder to inform me that they had lunch in seven minutes. I closed the book, sang our goodbye song, said goodbye, and left the room since I felt so unwelcomed. I was so frustrated because the teachers were to busy getting the kids in and out of the bathroom, getting their cots out for naptime, preparing for lunch, and leaving the room for a good portion of time. They never participated or discpilined the kids. They took it as a break for them to get other work done. I felt very disrespected that they just threw their class at me and barely aknowledged that I was there.

I give this advice to teachers who are having a storyteller come into your classroom:
1. Be respectful.
2. Participate and set a good example.
3. Don't leave the classroom. 
4. Lay out rules for the kids to follow before storytime begins.

What I would change change next time:

Next time I will be giving the kids rules before I begin storytime. These rules will be: 1. Be respectful of me and your classmates. 2. Keep your hands to yourself. 3. Raise your hand if you have something to say.
I will also move my chair to the other side of the carpet. I think that will help since the teachers are going to continue to take kids to the bathroom. It would also help to sing and move more. They had a lot of energy and I didn't give them a chance to burn much of it.

This was an extremely frustrating experience. I don't expect kids to behave all of the time, but I do expect teachers to stay in their classrooms, participate in storytime, and respect me.

Outreach Storytime 1/10/12 Continued

After I read to the babies, I moved on to the three-year-olds. I don't know what was wrong with them yesterday, but they were crazy. I went into the classroom late because three different teachers had to go talk to them.

Opening Song

Hands Are Clapping
(To the tune of Skip to my Lou)
Hands are clapping
Clap, clap, clap
Hands are clapping
Clap, clap, clap
Hands are clapping
Clap, clap, clap
Clap your hands, my darling

Toes are tapping… Tap, tap, tap
Tongues are clicking...Click, click, click

Feet are stomping...Stomp, stomp, stomp

Book 1

Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook

This book allowed the children to make inferences. Each picture showed a uniform and gave a description and then the children had to guess whose clothes they were. They got all  but the carpenter (which is hard) so we were able to learn some new vocabulary. At the end of the book I asked each of them what they want to be when the grow up. Here are their responses: Fireman, artist, teacher, astronaut, zombie, and birds.

Book 2

Chickens to the Rescue! by John Himmelman

I wanted the children to read the story along with me. I brought in a prop with a picture of a chicken and told them to say "Chickens to the Rescue!" whenever I held up the chicken. It worked out very well and I think they enjoyed telling the story too.

Song

Five Little Monkeys

Swinging in the Tree

Five little monkeys

swinging in the tree

teasing Mr. Alligator

"Can't Catch me!"

along came Mr. Alligator

as quiet as can be 

and snapped

 that monkey out that tree 

Four little monkeys. . 3,2,1

Book 3

Tip Tip, Dig Dig by Emma Garcia

I know this book is a little young for the age group, but it worked for them. Since they were so wild I thought a book with a lot of movement get some of their energy out. It did! They followed all the movements and told me the color of all the trucks.

Song

Roly Poly
Roly Poly, Roly Poly, Up Up Up

Roly Poly, Roly Poly, Down Down Down

Roly Poly, Roly Poly, Clap, Clap Clap

Roly Poly, Roly Poly, Lap, Lap, Lap

They specifically requested this song. Clearly it is loved by everyone.

Book 4

Press Here by Herve Tullet

They loved this book. I didn't let them touch the book since they were behaving so badly. They did get to clap when necessary, so they were very impressed and said the book was magic.

Closing Song

 Zoom, Zoom, Zoom 

Zoom, zoom, zoom

(clap hands rhythmically)

We’re going to the moon

Zoom, zoom, zoom

We’ll be there very soon

 In 5…4…3…2…1…Blast off!
(jump up and blast off)

This storytime was chaotic, but still enjoyable. I felt like I spent most of the time disciplining the children because they were being rude to each other and to me. I normally would not have been as tough on them, but the teacher didn't step in. I felt very assertive and I was glad I didn't let the children walk all over me during storytime.

Outreach Storytime 1/10/12

Yesterday I was able to go to outreach storytime at one of our local daycares. When we got there we were told we were reading to four classes instead of three so my storytelling partner and I were scrambling to make sure we had enough appropriate books for us to each do two storytimes. I was going to read to the babies (one-year-olds) and the three-year-olds.

I was nervous for the babies because that was going to be my first experience reading to them since I usually read to the toddlers. One little girl gave me a hug as soon as I walked in the door and another boy began crying hysterically (and didn't stop the whole storytime). We tried to all sit at a small table, but they kept moving around and some even fell out of their chairs.

Opening Song

Welcome Song

(sung to the tune of London Bridge)

Hi, hello and how are you?
How are you?
How are you?
Hi, hello and how are you?
How are you today?

Book 1

Push the Button

This is a quick book that is meant for children with short attention spans. There is really no story to follow; it just deals with sounds. The squeaky button was a big hit. The children loved hearing it pushed and wanted to press it themselves. Unfortunately, they weren't strong enough, so I had to help them.

Song

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream,

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily

Life is but a dream.

Rock, rock, rock your boat...

Where is Thumbkin?
Where is Thumbkin?
Where is Thumbkin?
(hold up thumbs)
Here I am, Here I am!
How are you today, sir?
(bend thumb to other)
Very well, I thank you.
Run away, Run away!
(hide behind back)

 Book 2

Whose Nose? by Jeannette Rowe

This book worked very well because I could talk about body parts and we could practice different animal sounds. One little girl even helped me turn the pages in the book.

Song

Where is Pinky?
Where is Pinky?
Where is Pinky?
(hold up pinkies)
Here I am, Here I am!
How are you today, sir?
(bend thumb to other
)Very well, I thank you.
Run away, Run away!
(hide behind back)

Hands Are Clapping
(To the tune of Skip to my Lou)Hands are clapping
Clap, clap, clap
Hands are clapping
Clap, clap, clap
Hands are clapping
Clap, clap, clap
Clap your hands, my darling

Toes are tapping… Tap, tap, tap
Fingers are wiggling… wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
Eyes are hiding… peekaboo!

Book 3

We've All Got Bellybuttons by David Martin

This book worked out very well also because we were able to go over body parts. The teacher and I showed the babies where the body parts were on us and then we would touch their same body part. For example: Where are your ears? Here are ears. (We touch our ears.) Where are your ears? (Touch the child's ears.)

Song

The Isty Bitsy Spider

The Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed up the waterspout

Down came the rain and  washed the spider out

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain

And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.

Book 4

Five Little Ducks by Dan Yaccarino

I sang this book since the children liked to hear songs more than books. It went well, but I did lose the tune of the song at one point.

Closing Song

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Zoom, zoom, zoom

(clap hands rhythmically)

We’re going to the moon

Zoom, zoom, zoom

We’ll be there very soon

 In 5…4…3…2…1…Blast off!
(jump up and blast off)

This was a new and interesting experience for me. I've never done a storytime for babies before and I definitely learned a lot about the process and I saw how important it was. Next time I would try to sing more songs and bring more books that can be sung. It may not have seemed like they were enjoying storytime, but they did learn something from it. One little girl helped me turn the pages and she kept touching her nose or my nose when I would say nose. These might be small details for some people, but they were huge for me.

Fake Mustache by Tom Angleberger

Fake Mustache: Or, How Jodie O'Rodeo and Her Wonder Horse (and Some Nerdy Kid) Saved The U.S. Presidential Election From a Mad Genius Criminal Mastermind by Tom Angleberger

The title of this book gives a pretty good summary of what the book is about, but there is a lot more to the story. With just a new suit and a fake mustache, Lenny's best friend, Casper, transforms himself into a "short, well-dressed man-about-town supporting a spectacular handlebar mustache." While dressed as his alter ego, he robs the town banks and creates a fortune to begin his takeover of the town. Unfortunately, no one realizes this but Lenny. With help from famous T.V. star Jodie O'Rodeo, the two must simultaneously prevent Fako Mustacho (Casper's new alter ego)  from rigging the U.S. presidential election and save Casper's life.

This book takes the reader on a very silly adventure to ultimately save the country from a ten-year-old boy posing as a man with an impressive mustache. The book never states how Casper gets away with everything, so I am assuming that the mustache has magical powers that someone hypnotize people. I know it's strange, but it's the only answer I can think of. The book is written on a fourth grade reading level and I would give to anyone who likes the humor of Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.

Outreach Storytime 1/7/12

Yesterday I did outreach storytime at my favorite preschool. Their classrooms are named after Bill Martin's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, so I have the privilege of completing storytime with the Red Bird and Yellow Duck classes. Both classes are full of four-year-olds that are excited for storytime every month I show up.

I usually read four to five books, but this time I only made it through three because two of them were pretty long.

Opening Song

If You Listen And You Hear Me

If you listen and you hear me go like this, (clap rhythm)

If you listen and you hear me go like this, (clap rhythm)

If you listen then you’ll hear me ‘cause you’re sitting really near me,  

If you listen and you hear me go like this, (clap rhythm) 

Stomp feet…

Pat knees...

Book 1

Are You A Horse? by Andy Rash

Past storytellers have had problems with this book in storytime because children don't get the joke at the end of the story. (If you haven't read it, the horse rides Cowboy Roy instead of Cowboy Roy riding the horse.)  It's very funny, but they just don't get it. This time we talked a lot about how you ride a horse and what is the purpose of a saddle. This definitely worked because they all thought the book was very funny. Roy also doesn't know what a horse looks like, so we described horses before we began reading. Overall this book is great for storytime as long as you discuss certain topics before you begin reading.

Song

Roly Poly

Roly Poly, Roly Poly

Up, Up, Up!

Roly Poly, Roly Poly

Down, Down, Down!

Roly Poly, Roly Poly

Clap, Clap, Clap!

Roly Poly, Roly Poly,

Lap, Lap, Lap!

Book 2

Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman

This book is wonderful because it allows the children to help tell the story. Throughout the story, the chickens help different people and animals on the farm. Someone needs help and then the chickens come to the rescue. For example: On one page the farmer dropped his watch in the well. On the next page the chickens come to the rescue and creatively get his watch back. Instead of me saying "Chickens to the Rescue!," I held up a picture of a chicken to let them know that it was time to say "Chickens to the Rescue!" The prop really helped because I didn't have to verbally prompt them. By seeing the chicken they knew it was time for them to say the line. The children really got into the book and seemed disappointed when it was over. Maybe I'll bring some other books by John Himmelman next time.  

Book 3

Press Here by Herve Tullet

Let me tell you, this book it magic! It isn't really a story so I would say it's more of an interactive experience. The book begins with one yellow dot on the first page. Each page gives instructions to the reader that will create more dots, change the color of the dots, move the dots, and increase the size of the dots. Since I had nine well behaved children, I let them each take turns with the book. I sat on the floor, held the book, and helped them follow directions. They did all the pressing, tapping, rubbing, blowing, shaking, and clapping that the book asked for. They were so impressed when the dots changed and multiplied. They all said the book was magic and wanted to do it again. Unfortunately we didn't have the time, but I promised that I would bring it back next time.

Song

Since I didn't have time to read another book, we just stood up and sang two songs before the end of the storytime. Five Little Monkeys is always a hit with the snapping and it's a good way to informally talk about subtraction.

Five Little Monkeys

 Swinging in the Tree

Five little monkeys

swinging in the tree 

teasing Mr. Alligator

"Can't Catch me!"

along came Mr. Alligator

as quiet as can be  

and snapped

that monkey out that tree 

Four little monkeys. . 3, 2, 1

Song

This song is great for getting some energy out before the children have to return to their normal routine. It's a crowd favorite at all storytimes. I do add in stomping to make the song longer, and we also repeat stomping and clapping.

Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands

(Tune Row Row Row Your Boat)

Clap, clap, clap your hands

As slowly as you can

Clap, clap, clap your hands

As quickly as you can

Additional verses:

Roll, roll, roll your hands…

Shake, shake, shake your hands...

Pat, pat, pat your head...

Closing Song

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Zoom, zoom, zoom

(clap hands rhythmically)

We’re going to the moon

Zoom, zoom, zoom

We’ll be there very soon

In 5…4…3…2…1…blast off!

(jump up and blast off)