About the Blog || About Katie || Current Storytimes || Retired Storytimes
Since arriving at my new library, I am responsible for new and different storytimes!
Baby Storytime
I filled in for Baby Storytime during the spring 2014 and summer 2014 session. At my library, our age range is 0-17 months for Baby Storytime. I run two classes a week and we cap registration at twenty baby/caregiver pairs. For our registration storytimes, we ask that no siblings attend and patrons must hold a library card at our library.
Toddler Storytime
Toddler Storytime is my sweet spot; I am loving this group of kiddos hardcore! Our age range for this program is 18-36 months. I also run two classes a week and registration is also capped at twenty toddler/caregiver pairs. For our registration storytimes, we ask that no siblings attend and patrons must hold a library card at our library.
Family Storytime
I had no idea how much I had missed doing a family storytime every week until I took over this age range in the fall of 2014. It had been SO wonderful to have everyone all together in a room, singing and dancing together.
Discovery!
This is our age 3-6 year old with parent program. It’s essentially what I like to call a storytime “test kitchen” for me to see what kinds of programming works and is needed. I did a round of this session in the fall and was blown away by the positive feedback so much so that I brought it back for our spring session in 2015.
Shake, Shimmy, & Dance
What started as a twice-weekly program over the summer became so popular that families were constantly asking about it in the fall. Beginning in 2015, I’ve been doing a monthly session of SSD and we’ll be going back to a weekly session over the summer.
How long do your storytimes typically last?
It depends on the storytime. Right now, I’m teaching a preschool class that is 30 minutes; a preschool author study that is 45 minutes; a music & movement class for ages 0-36 months that is 30 minutes, and a music and movement for all ages that is 35 minutes.
Thanks!
Can you tell us a little more about the preschool author study?
I have every intention of writing these up someday, but I’m not sure when it will happen. I’m currently serving on the 2018 Caldecott Committee and it’s taking up a great deal of my free time right now.
Well that’s awesome to be on that committee! I do look forward to hearing about the author studies when you have time. I always can glean something new from your blog posts. Thank you!
Thank you!!
Checking to see if you have had a chance to write up anything about your author studies… 🙂
I have to tell you that I used your Shake Shimmy and Dance story time format this summer (since Libraries Rock 😉 ). I think it went well, considering I had never done anything like it before. I was exhausted, especially on my outreach days because I do story time outside…in the heat! My outside group loved it, and called it parade day. My inside outreach group was confused the first time I did it, but really got into the second time (it was the pop music week). My story times run the first 3 weeks of each month and music story time was the 3rd week. I don’t know that I would do it again, as I didn’t feel as though I were made for it, like you are. But I thank you for sharing your experience with it.
I love all of your wonderful work! Great work! I am new to the children’s dept and was looking for ideas. Would you mind if I borrowed some of your ideas?
Please do; that’s what they are here for!