Currently, no, I rarely if ever offer literacy tips for parents while in PJ storytime. With the wide age group this storytime offers it doesn't often feel appropriate or even wanted. But perhaps simple tips that can be addressed easily with what I am reading may be useful to some.
Since I do not have parents in my preschool storytime, I’ve not had much of a chance to do that. There are times I get a chance to talk to some of the parents outside of the room, and I am able to pass along some info if they ask, or if they know their child might be having a tougher time in storytime. In family storytime, I haven’t had a chance to incorporate it, but I'd like to. I’d like to incorporate that by speaking directly to the parents/caregivers at least once during each storytime about a literacy tip they can use. The other library I work at has trained us to do that for every storytime. We have a list of 28 tips from an LA Times Supplement (Reading by 9, 2007/2008) called "Tips for Reading/Guia de Lectura Para Padres," and we copy and paste one for each week to mention (we call it “Parent Patter”). They are short tips, and it takes just a minute or two to briefly talk about it, then we move on to the next activity. An example of one: “Read to your child and/or have your child read to you for at least 20 minutes every day. This will allow your child to hear one million more words a year!” I can e-mail out a copy of the list we use, in case anyone wants to use anything from it.
I would love to see a copy of the list Yolanda! I really like the idea of incoporating literacy tips! I like to incorporate tips with my family groups!
While I haven't experienced any real interaction with parents regarding storytimes, I would like to put in a plug for information literacy! With DC, we could definitely incorporate use of library materials/resources rather than just presentation. "Discovering" how to build on information being discussed by actually using library resources. With the Common Core State Standards shift, kids are expected to read more nonfiction materials as well as decipher it and apply it to relatable information. Theortically, we could help promote those skills.
I like that idea - it makes me think of "Treasure Hunting" for inforamtion - one of my favorite parts of the job! And of course pirates - which are awesome! Arrrgghhh!
I believe that offering/integrating Literacy Tips for parents/caregivers is essential. The adults caring for the children are the ones that will help the children develop their love for reading and thus increase their literacy skills beyond the time they spend in storytimes. I think that our role as storytellers/assistants is that of role models for the parents as much as for the kids. For example, introducing and reminding parents about resources such as Tumblebooks.
Or if the Library created a page within its website with suggested songs, reading lists, fingerplays, etc. that parents can access and use at home as an extension of storytimes.
Being the newbie :) I'm still becoming familiar with everything the library already offers, but I'm wondering if we've observed storytimes at other libraries-or exchanged info. ideas?
I like Carmen's idea of having an area on our website with some of the fingerplays, books, and songs we use every week, or even just a general listing of some of the more popular/frequently used songs/fingerplays. I've had parents come in after storytime to write down the books we did that week, so that they can either look for copies or talk to their kids about them. I think a lot of parents would really appreciate and use the site. Since all of the registered storytimes require parents to use the Internet for the registration process (unless they go in person to Central Park), we know that they are at least somewhat already going online for storytime purposes. We could also add the link for the Storytime area of our website to the flyers we pass out at the beginning of each session.
Currently, no, I rarely if ever offer literacy tips for parents while in PJ storytime. With the wide age group this storytime offers it doesn't often feel appropriate or even wanted. But perhaps simple tips that can be addressed easily with what I am reading may be useful to some.
ReplyDeleteSince I do not have parents in my preschool storytime, I’ve not had much of a chance to do that. There are times I get a chance to talk to some of the parents outside of the room, and I am able to pass along some info if they ask, or if they know their child might be having a tougher time in storytime. In family storytime, I haven’t had a chance to incorporate it, but I'd like to. I’d like to incorporate that by speaking directly to the parents/caregivers at least once during each storytime about a literacy tip they can use. The other library I work at has trained us to do that for every storytime. We have a list of 28 tips from an LA Times Supplement (Reading by 9, 2007/2008) called "Tips for Reading/Guia de Lectura Para Padres," and we copy and paste one for each week to mention (we call it “Parent Patter”). They are short tips, and it takes just a minute or two to briefly talk about it, then we move on to the next activity. An example of one: “Read to your child and/or have your child read to you for at least 20 minutes every day. This will allow your child to hear one million more words a year!” I can e-mail out a copy of the list we use, in case anyone wants to use anything from it.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a copy of the list Yolanda! I really like the idea of incoporating literacy tips! I like to incorporate tips with my family groups!
DeleteWhile I haven't experienced any real interaction with parents regarding storytimes, I would like to put in a plug for information literacy! With DC, we could definitely incorporate use of library materials/resources rather than just presentation. "Discovering" how to build on information being discussed by actually using library resources. With the Common Core State Standards shift, kids are expected to read more nonfiction materials as well as decipher it and apply it to relatable information. Theortically, we could help promote those skills.
ReplyDeleteI like that idea - it makes me think of "Treasure Hunting" for inforamtion - one of my favorite parts of the job! And of course pirates - which are awesome! Arrrgghhh!
DeleteI believe that offering/integrating Literacy Tips for parents/caregivers is essential. The adults caring for the children are the ones that will help the children develop their love for reading and thus increase their literacy skills beyond the time they spend in storytimes. I think that our role as storytellers/assistants is that of role models for the parents as much as for the kids. For example, introducing and reminding parents about resources such as Tumblebooks.
ReplyDeleteOr if the Library created a page within its website with suggested songs, reading lists, fingerplays, etc. that parents can access and use at home as an extension of storytimes.
Being the newbie :) I'm still becoming familiar with everything the library already offers, but I'm wondering if we've observed storytimes at other libraries-or exchanged info. ideas?
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI like Carmen's idea of having an area on our website with some of the fingerplays, books, and songs we use every week, or even just a general listing of some of the more popular/frequently used songs/fingerplays. I've had parents come in after storytime to write down the books we did that week, so that they can either look for copies or talk to their kids about them. I think a lot of parents would really appreciate and use the site. Since all of the registered storytimes require parents to use the Internet for the registration process (unless they go in person to Central Park), we know that they are at least somewhat already going online for storytime purposes. We could also add the link for the Storytime area of our website to the flyers we pass out at the beginning of each session.
Delete