STEP into StorytimeUsing StoryTime Effective Practice

toStrenghten the Development of

Newborns to Five –Year-Olds

Saroj Ghoting and Kathy Klatt

Introductions Saroj Ghoting

Early Childhood Literacy Consultant

www.earlylit.netsghoting@gmail.com

Kathy KlattAssistant Children’s Librarian

Children’s Program Coordinator

Outreach Specialistkatklatt@msn.com

Overview of Book

www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=10982

What Is STEP?StoryTime Effective Practice Storytime approach Connects knowledge of children’s materials/activities to Domains of child development Framework to promote engaging storytimes that support children’s learning and development

How to Use STEPThe book is divided into three parts:Part I• Understanding Part II• ConnectingPart III• Applying

Developmental DomainsFour developmental domains•Emotional and Social Development•Language and Literacy Development•Physical Development•Cognitive Development

Emotional and Social Development“Emotional and social development underlies and supports all learning.” pg. 29

“Social and emotional development must be given the same level of focus and attention and planning as given to literacy, math and science” (Copple and Brendenkamp, 2009,120).

“Many adults, library staff included, affect the daily lives and shape the growth of children.” pg. 29

Emotional and Social DevelopmentBecause . . . Babies—express feelings Toddlers—learn words for feelingsTwos—can learn to talk about feelingsPreschoolers—relate situations and feelings in books to their own experiences

Storytime presenter includes books about feelings and points out the feelings of characters.

Emotions -What does the child need?What does the adult do in response?

Learn words for their feelings. Can learn to talk about feelings. Show empathy, concern, and sympathy for others.

Little Monkey Calms Down by Michael Dahl

I Got the Rhythmby Connie Schofield-Morrison

Ticlkle Monsterby Edouard Manceau

Ways to promote emotional development through books Books that are about emotions.

Talk about the facial expressions of the characters in the story.

Talk about the meaning of the story and ask participants if they ever felt the same way as the character in the story.

Your ideas in chat box Share an example of promoting emotional development in your storytime.

infant toddler 2 years

3-5 years

Supporting the emotional and social development of children by providing resources. Interact with children and their parents and caregivers in positive ways that support emotional and social growth. Provide flyers on family support services. Point out website sources on social and emotional development. Partner with local agencies.

Ways to promote emotional and social development

Mixed-Age Storytimes Definition Models

Traditional Storytime

Sequential Storytime

Book has 30 sample mixed-age storytimes,

15 of each type

Language DevelopmentBecause . . . Babies—repeat sounds, imitate animal soundsToddlers—imitate short phrase, look at bold, bright picturesTwos—recite familiar phrases, imitate your tone of voicePreschoolers—able to retell stories, recall elements from storyAll—need repetition to learn

Traditional Storytime Welcome Opening song—Come Along and Sing with Me Early Literacy Tip Storytime Intro (theme) Book/Flannel Board—Too Much Noise Stretch if needed Song/flannel board: Chicken Family to tune of Down by the Station Shakers with songs Factual Book—Chicken’s Life Cycle Big book: I Love You Sun, I Love You Moon Early Literacy Tip Demonstrated Early Literacy Tip Flannel Board: Matching game Action Rhyme: Hickory Dickory Dock Book: Cows in the Kitchen (songbook) Closing song Early Literacy Tip with Handout

Sequential Storytime Welcome Opening song—Peek-a-boo Early Literacy Tip Storytime intro (theme) Action Rhyme: Hickory Dickory Dock Big book: I Love You Sun, I Love You Moon Action Rhyme: Round and Round the Garden Book: Who Am I? Transition song: Rig a Jig Jig by Bob McGrath

Quieting Rhyme: Wiggles Book: Sheep in a Jeep Early Literacy Tip Demonstrated Early Literacy Tip Song/flannel board: Chicken Family to tune of Down by the Station

Flannel Board: Matching game Factual Book—Chicken’s Life Cycle Transition Song: Merrily We Stroll Along

Sequential Storytimecontinued Quieting Rhyme: Abracadabra Book/Flannel Board—Too Much Noise Song/flannel board BINGO

All together Activity: Shakers with songs

Closing song Early Literacy Tip with Handout

Ways to Span the Ages

Rhymes Books Flannel Boards

Examples—Rhyme

Jack in the box,Still as a mouse,Sits down inside,His little dark houseJack in the box,Sits so still,Will you come out?YES I WILL!!!

Rhyme Progression

Babies—on or with the child Toddlers/Twos—gross motor Preschoolers—fine motor

Physical DevelopmentBecause . . .

Babies—bounce when supported by an adultToddlers—dance to musicTwos—imitate your movementsPreschoolers—need movement to focus

Storytime presenter provides books and activities to promote interaction and physical activity

Your ideas in chat box Share how you have adapted a fingerplay or action song to appeal to different age levels:

infant/toddlers toddlers/twos preschoolers

infant toddler 2 years

3-5 years

Examples—Book

Too Much Noise by Ann McGovern

Too Much Noise by Ann McGovern“Too noisy,” said Peter. Peter went to the wise man. “Do as I say. Get a . . .”

Have the children draw the animals. Don’t worry if it looks like scribbles.

Your youngest children can say the sounds of the animals, the names of the animals, older children can repeat the words “too noisy,” while even older children retell the whole story, or as much of it as they can.

Examples—Book Cake Day by Eileen Mayer

Cake Day by Eileen Mayer

Your ideas in chat box Give title and author of a book and how you have adapted how you share it to appeal to different age levels:

infant/toddlers toddlers/twos preschoolers

infant toddler 2 years

3-5 years

Cognitive DevelopmentBecause . . .

Babies—notice patterns and shapesToddlers—match one characteristic such as color or shapeTwos—match an object to its picturePreschoolers—sort objects by category

Storytime presenter offers activities and opportunities to classify and sort

Examples—Flannelboard

Examples—Flannelboard Direct visual match

WingsVisual matchNo visual clue

Visual matchif easier needed

Examples—Flannel board

Beginning BackgroundKnowledgePet or Wild Animal

Direct visual match

Examples—Flannelboard

Hatched from eggs

Born live

AdvancedBackground Knowledge

Through an increased understanding of child development,we better plan and deliver storytimes that reach children of different ages and stages.

Questions/Comments

Saroj GhotingEarly Childhood Literacy

Consultantwww.earlylit.net

sghoting@gmail.com

Kathy Klattkatklatt@msn.com