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.
storytime katie 
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!
Hello,
I would like to join the toddler storytime. I normally attend the pikes peak library – East for story time on Tuesdays and Thursdays but would like to try something new. Let me know how to enroll in the toddler storytime here. Thank you!
Hi Tawnie,
I’m currently based in the Chicagoland suburbs, so I’m not sure that’s within driving distance! Thanks!
Hi Katie,
I so appreciate your blog and it has been tremendously helpful in organising my storytime sessions.
One question about how you structure your sessions:
What’s your ratio of new/ familiar material each week? My current program doesn’t follow themes but I love how you structure your themed sessions with rhymes, fingerplays, felt board and story.
I love seeing the joy of children mastering rhymes and actions, and wonder if that is still achievable in just one session.
Many thanks! Katie
Hi Katie!
At this point in my career, the material that changes each week includes books and flannelboards/puppets. I use a lot of fingerplays, rhymes, songs, and ukulele unrelated to the theme of the week that do rotate, but not as frequently. So, for example, I’ll use “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom” and “Dance Your Fingers” up three to four times in a ten-week session.
Then, I always have an opening song and rhyme and a closing rhyme and closing song that stay the same for the whole session. I like to mix those up alternately. So, “Tickle the Clouds” debuted for this summer as our closing rhyme, but the other three stayed the same. Next session, I’ll choose one of those three to change.
I hope that makes sense!
Hi Katie! Thank you so much for providing these incredible resources! One question I have for you: Do you have a monthly theme? Or does the theme change each week? Thank you !
Hi Cindy,
I typically changed themes weekly, but kept other activities (opening/closing, rhymes, songs) consistent to provide repetition for learning!