Author Archives: Melissa

Baby Storytime: Animal Movements

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Melissa

It’s been awhile since I posted a new baby storytime plan! This month we’re talking about Playing for our literacy messages, so a little make-believe seemed like a good fit. OPENING SONG: Hello Song* OPENING FINGERPLAY: Open Them Shut Them* … Continue reading →

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Posted in My Baby Storytime | 6 Comments

On Inventing What You Need (and the Storytime Guerrillas)

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Melissa

I am just now coming back to earth after a phenomenal ALA Annual Conference–it was in fact my very first Annual and was an utterly charmed and serendipitous experience and I have a million things to think and blog about. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Training and Mentoring | 10 Comments

Early Literacy Storytime: Mixed Up Mother Goose

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Melissa

We know that learning how rhymes “work” is a critical pre-reading skill. Nursery rhymes and Mother Goose songs are such a fabulous way to introduce rhymes and rhyme-play to children. But in addition to helping to boost “decoding” skills such … Continue reading →

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Posted in Early Literacy Storytime | 9 Comments

Announcing the Bell Awards!

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Melissa

(aka Why Mel Hasn’t Posted Much of Anything for Two Months Now) Thanks to my brilliant friend and colleague Carol Edwards, I have had the amazing opportunity this year to help launch a new picture book initiative, the CLEL Bell … Continue reading →

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Posted in Book Awards | Tagged | Leave a comment

Being with Kids

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Melissa

My daughters volunteer once a month in the preschool classroom at our church. Yesterday my 15 year old told me, “One of the boys was really cute today. We were taking the kids upstairs to watch the baptism in church, … Continue reading →

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Posted in Training and Mentoring | Leave a comment

What I’m Reading: Speech Therapy Blogs

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Melissa

Don’t you love it when you discover a whole new world to learn about? This month, our storytime providers are sharing tips with parents and caregivers about the early literacy practice of “talking.” So I’ve been surfing, on the lookout … Continue reading →

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Posted in Web Resources | 1 Comment

Oh No! a Book Talk Technique for Dig In to Reading

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Melissa

A few months ago, I was able to participate in a Book Talk Week at my daughters’ old elementary school library. I visited with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade groups, and I wanted to do something a little different. I … Continue reading →

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Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

(Not a) Flannel Friday: Cake Circles & Clothespins

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Melissa

Over on Pinterest, there are 9 bazillion clothespin activities for preschoolers, which usually involve having kids clip marked clothespins onto matching buckets, cups, or pieces of cardboard…the blue clothespin to the blue cup, for example, or the clothespin with a … Continue reading →

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Posted in Flannelboards | 11 Comments

My Unintentional Hiatus (with Bonus Crowdsourced Train Song)

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Melissa

Yikes, that was a long gap in posts! I had thought I would have a little breathing room between “end of the winter quarter” and “end of school year mayhem,” but April went by in a hurry over here. I’m … Continue reading →

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Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

A Cappella and CDs In Storytime

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Melissa

One question that comes up again and again when I talk with people about storytime is the best way to include music. Recently Julie, Anna, and Kendra all wrote great posts about singing in storytime. (Special thanks to Julie, who … Continue reading →

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Posted in Uncategorized | 26 Comments