Author Archives: Melissa

Adjusting Storytime On the Fly

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Melissa

Last week I talked about how important it is to be flexible and responsive to your audience during storytimes. There were a lot more examples about possible ways to do this than I wanted to squeeze into that (already) long … Continue reading →

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Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Developmental Milestone Checklists

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Melissa

A couple weeks ago, I recommended reading about “what gross motor and fine motor skills a typical baby, toddler, or preschooler is likely to have mastered” in order to prepare better storytimes. A reader asked if there was a book … Continue reading →

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Posted in Training and Mentoring, Web Resources | 3 Comments

Essential Elements of Storytime: Flexibility

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Melissa

Here’s the last in a short series of posts outlining the essential elements of successful storytimes. Of course, these are MY essential elements…yours may be different & I would love to hear what they are! I’m wrapping up the list … Continue reading →

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Posted in Training and Mentoring | 7 Comments

Essential Elements of Storytime: Engagement

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Melissa

Welcome to the middle of a short series of posts about what I think makes for a successful storytime! I’ve talked about loving storytime, embracing the performance, and knowing your material, but I don’t think any of those elements really … Continue reading →

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Posted in Training and Mentoring | 1 Comment

Early Literacy Storytime: Play with Books

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Melissa

Here’s a way to add a literacy tip about playing to your baby storytime! When you’re setting up for your storytime, place a selection of board books on the floor near where your families will be sitting. Tell your grownups … Continue reading →

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Posted in Early Literacy Storytime | 13 Comments

Essential Elements of Storytime: Knowing Your Material

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Melissa

All professions have tools, and one mark of expertise is knowing how to choose the best tools for the job, and knowing how to use them well. For storytime providers, our tools include the books, songs, rhymes, and activities that … Continue reading →

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Posted in Training and Mentoring | 4 Comments

Early Literacy Storytime: Sing a Story

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Melissa

One way children increase their print awareness is through learning about all the different ways besides books that we use print and reading. Try singing a book in storytime to help them make these connections! Check out your board book … Continue reading →

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Posted in Early Literacy Storytime | 3 Comments

Baby Storytime: Still More Mother Goose

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Melissa

This month in storytime we’ve been talking about how singing leads to reading. Of course, it’s not just singing, but chanting rhymes and reading poetry that helps, too, so I like to do a Mother Goose storytime to showcase some … Continue reading →

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Posted in My Baby Storytime | 6 Comments

Essential Elements of Storytime: Embracing the Performance

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Melissa

Storytime is a different library service than reference work, reader’s advisory, or circulation assistance in that it is not a one-to-one transaction. It is a performance, a show, not a conversation. To present the best storytimes, I believe we need … Continue reading →

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Posted in Training and Mentoring | 19 Comments

Early Literacy Storytime: Song Cube

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Melissa

Phonological Awareness isn’t the only early literacy skill that can tie in with singing songs! Here’s a way to work in a little print awareness while you sing. When you add a comment to the parents, it will help them … Continue reading →

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Posted in Early Literacy Storytime | 20 Comments