Head Start and Early Head Start

Today I had outreach for Head Start and Early Head Start. My plan was to do snow but I got a call from one of the teachers who said they were doing a unit on roads and could I do a book about roads. I did a reference interview and found out they were learning about how a road is made and what a road is made of. There is only one book about that so I read it first. Then I did snow.

Opening song: The More We get Together - on uke
Book 1 - Road Work by Sutton

Finger Play: Snowflake Snowflake - This is supposed to be an action rhyme but the kids were so stuffed onto the "circle time rug" I did it sitting.

Snowflake, snowflake dance around
Snowflake, snowflake touch the ground
Snowflake landing on my nose
Snowflake landing on my toes
Snowflake, snowflake flutter to the ground.

Book 2 - Snowmen at Work by Buehner

Song - Shake your Sillies Out - they needed to get up at this point.

Song - Happy and you Know it

Book 3 - Snowmen at Night by Buehner
 - a little too much like Snowmen at Work but they weren't really paying attention at this point anyway.
Closing Song - May there Always be Sunshine by Gill - on uke

Then for Early Head Start I did some singing and reading books.

Book 1 - If You're Happy and you Know It! by Cabrera

Book 2 - Skip To My Lou by Westcott

Songs:
Wheels on the Bus
I Know a Chicken by Berkner
Alabama Mississippi by Gill
May There Always be Sunshine by Gill - on uke

Fingerplay
Roll, Roll, Sugarbabies by Jbrary
- just not enough adults for this one.

Toddler Storytime - Food, Glorious Food!

For this week, I took my pizza storytime and my cupcake storytime and smashed them together to make a food storytime.

Opening song - Open shut them
Book #1 - If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Numeroff
    I wish I had done our big book for the If You Give a Moose a Muffin because I had a very large group. But it went okay.

Action rhyme:
Fruit Salad (Jbrary)

Flannel rhymes: Hand me down Pizza by Irving
Five Little Cupcakes by Dr. Jean

Book #2 - Soup Day by Iwai

 This one might have been too long but I liked doing something multicultural.

Action songs: Spaghetti Legs by Gill and If you're happy and you know it (ending with if you want to hear a story sit right down)

Book #3 - The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Carle
 - I would have liked to do this as a flannel but I have one child who enjoys taking my flannel pieces and destroying them so I just read the book.


Scarf songs -
  Popcorn Kernals (Jbrary)

  Baking Pizza (Abby the Librarian)

Closing song - What a Miracle - Palmer

Got out the Parachute - They loved it but it was a little disorganized. I am going to prepare more if I do it in January. I am not doing toddlers until January 6th, but I have one more outreach before vacation.

My Early Literacy tip was about play. Something like this: The most critical aspect of play as it relates to language development is that children learn to think symbolically. They learn that one thing, like a block, can represent another think like a phone. It is the very kinds of thinking that is used in language. A picture of an apple or the written word apple represents the real apple.

Penguins in toddlertime

This was a good one!

Opening song: Open Shut them

Book #1 Penguin and Pinecone by Yoon
 - I got some ahs from the caregivers
Penguin Puppets - I made paper penguin puppets (laminated) for the kids and we did up, down, in, out, high, low, around etc. Storytime ABCs is where I got this idea.
 - very good
Book #2 - Flip and Flop by Apperley
 - some of the younger ones started running round. Ignored them and kept on.
Action songs - Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Penguin Pokey and If you're happy and you know it. Last one "If you want to hear a story sit on down"
 - brings them back for a last short story

Book #3 - I am Small - by Dodd
 - definitely lost most of them but it is short so I finished it. I thought about cutting it short but it is so cute I had to finish it.

Shaker songs - Penguin Shuffle by Grunsky and "I know a Penguin" (thanks L. Berkner) that I sang

Closing song: What a Miracle by Palmer

The kids were a bit antsy today but it went okay. The only annoying thing was the parents first sat in the very back of the room - some of the kids came closer as time went on but even though I said something about how it is more of work for me if they sit back there, they weren't budging.

Preschool Outreach - Pizza

This preschool is small but I really like the director so I always make time to go there every other month.

I did my old standby Pizza for this one. I took my uke and it is a good thing because the heat was off in the room where they had their circle time and I didn't have access to a boom box.

Here is the run down:
Opening Song:
The more we get together (on uke)
Book:
The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza by Struges
Flannel Board -
5 little pizza slices
Song:
I am a pizza by Charlotte Diamond (on Uke)
 - very well received, the director wanted my music, I told her I learned in on youtube
Book:
Hi Pizza Man! by Walter
Song:
If you want to eat pizza clap your hands!
Song:
Pizza man Pizza man turn around
Book:
Pizza Kittens by Voake
 - not the best one to end on but it went okay
Closing Song:
May there always be sunshine by Jim Gill (on Uke)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Saturday Babies storytime

I had some fun this morning doing a baby storytime. I used my Garden theme. I almost ran out of stuff so I repeated over and over again.

Opening song on the uke - The more we get together

Bounce - Roll Roll Sugar Babies

Fingerplay - 5 little flowers

Choral Reading - One Mole Digs a Hole

If you're Happy and you know it on the uke

Wheels on the bus

Shaker song: Garden Song

Closing Song - May There Aways be Sunshine on the uke

Bubble Song - Oats, Beans and Barley Grow

It was pretty good. There was a small group but they participated nicely.

Things I might do next time...More movement songs. Maybe a flannel. I am doing another Saturday baby storytime in January.

Thanksgiving Storytime for Toddlers

I had a great group for this week. Since there are no storytimes next week I decided to do Thanksgiving early. Here was the lineup:

Opening song: Open shut them

Book #1 – Bear Says Thanks by Wilson

Flannel Song - Did you ever See a turkey? (like this) Storytime secrets

Song #2 - If You're Thankful and you know it

Book #2 – I know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Jackson

 - a bit long but I had to do this one!

Song #3 - The Turkey Pokey  - put your wing in, your beak, your claw, your tail, etc

Book #3 – The Thankful Book by Parr

- This one was a little long so I paperclipped some pages.

Song #4 - Thanks a lot - Raffi (scarves) and flannel

- I put laminated pictures of what Raffi was thankful of on the board as the song played. One little boy grabbed one of the pictures and yanked off the felt on the back. I was pretty shocked!

Closing Song - What a Miracle!

Dogs at Early Head Start and Head Start

I had outreach to Head Start and Early Head Start today, I did dogs again.

The books and music went okay.

Things to remember for next time:

19 kids in HS
Need speaker for tablet
No shaker eggs

For HS: JThere is one kid who talked loudly right by my left ear through everything I read. They liked the song cube. The second story - Dog's Colorful Day - on the flannel went pretty well. Yip!  Snap! Yap! did not go over well.

For EHS: one child was able to get an entire shaker egg in her mouth. Don't bring them again.
Really, only music would be good but I know that the adults like to have books.

Dogs - Toddler Storytime

Well, I really embarrassed myself this time with my uke. I messed up every song! It didn't help that the moms were making comments about it being wrong. Oh well!

Opening song - Open Shut them

Book#1 - Oh No, George! by Haughton
 - a great book, well received

Flannel/Song - BINGO

Book #2 - Yip! Snap! Yap! by Fuge
- they liked this one as well.

Action Songs - Shake your sillies out and If you're happy and you know it

Song - There's a dog in school

Alphabet song to London Bridge

Book #3 - The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Willems
-the parents liked this one but the kids were not attentive. The pictures were too basic.

Shaker song - Doggie Doo Wop

Book #4 - How much is that Doggy in the Window? by Merrill
-I got them back by singing this one.

Closing song - What a Miracle

I lost them at the Alphabet song - the parents didn't like my mistakes on the uke and the shakers wound them up. Pretty typical storytime for toddlers!

boxes toddler story time

Today I did a Box storytime.
I had a bigger group than last week but they were all over the place. Maybe it is the beautiful Indian Summer day.

Books:
Sitting in my Box by Lillegard
Not in a Box by Portis
Meeow and the Big Box by Braun
Harry's Box by McAllister

The books were a little repetitive because they were all about make believing a box is something else. I think I should have skipped Harry's Box since it was longer but then it would have been too short.

Songs:
Open Shut them
Shake your Sillies Out - Raffi
Magic Box - Laurie Berkner
What a Miracle - Palmer

Finger Plays/Action rhymes
Jack in the Box
Here is a box
Little turtle

Early Literacy Tip
Play

I think I will do this again for my outreach to Head Start next week. I made a songcube but forgot to use it. It was so chaotic at the end I doubt it would have worked.

Halloween toddler storytime

I had a small group today, most likely because of the rain. But it was a fun time!

Opening Song - Open Shut them
Book #1 - Mouse's First Halloween by Thompson
   We have done alot of these lately.

Song/Book #2- If you're a Monster and you know it by Emblerly
    Singing books are very well received by this group.

Flannel Songs - I made they with clipart and laminating.
10 little ghosts
   One little, two little, three little ghosts
   Four little, five little, six little ghosts
   Seven little, eight little, nine little ghosts
   Ten little ghosts that can't scare me!
5 little ghosts
     Five little ghosts dressed all in white Were scaring each other on Halloween night.
     "Boo," said the first one, "I'll catch you."
     "Boo," said the second, "I don't care if you do."
     The third ghost said, "You can't run away from me."
     And the forth one said, "I'll scare everyone I see."
     Then the last one said, "It's time to disappear."
     "See you at Halloween time next year."

Book #3 Plumply, Dumply, Pumpkin by Serfozo
      A good one to demonstrate new vocabulary to talk about.

Musical Instruments for Harry's Haunted Halloween Circus by Ralph's World
      A great marching song.

Closing song - What a miracle by Palmer

Surprise Preschool storytime

Today I found out when I got here that I would be doing Preschool Storytime for my colleague who is sick. I quickly pulled out my Dance books and music. The plan for today was Dinosaurs but I haven't done that one for a while so I wasn't comfortable doing it. So I used her craft and did Dance ending with Brontorina so it tied in a bit. It was a little short but it went okay.

Opening song:Open Shut them
Book #1 - Hilda must be dancing
Song - List of Dances
Book #2 with movement - How Can you Dance?
Song - If you're happy and you know it - ending with "if you want to hear a story sit on down"
Book #3 - Brontoria
Bean Bag song - Bean Bag Boogie
Closing Song - What a Miracle

Transportation - toddler storytime

This is one I have done with preschoolers and with babies but never with toddlers.

It went well even though I am a bit under the weather.

Opening song: Open shut them

Book #1 - Go Go Gorillas by Durango
    This one is a bit long so I wasn't sure if I could do the whole thing but it kept their interest pretty well.

Song - Drive my Car - Laurie Berkner
    Definitely a winner.

Book #2 - Freight Train (Big Book) by Crews
   This one is great!

Song - Wheels on the Bus
   A classic.
     
Nursery Rhyme - To Market To Market

Book #3 - A Bus for Us by Bloom
    They really got into this one...perfect for the under 2's.

Song - Zoom, Zoom, Zoom by Jbrary
   I messed up a bit but they liked it.

Shaker song - I know a chicken by Berkner

Closing song - What a Miracle

All in all a great theme.

Outreach to Headstart

I had an outreach today to Head start and Early head start. I like going but I am so tired afterwards.

I did a bit of fall and a bit of Halloween. I just used my uke and it worked great for HS but by the time I got to EHS my voice was starting to go. I did my Fall is not Easy flannel for both.

The HS teacher said "You're getting better at storytime". Which annoyed me no end but it is because they tell us what to do when we are there. (no sitting for more than 15 minutes etc) so I have learned what they like. Also, just having my uke was better since they didn't have to wait for me to put in the music or find it on my ipad.

Flannel Friday - Fall is not Easy by Kelley

I finally got around to making my own flannel for Fall is not Easy ! My library doesn't own the book so I was borrowing it every year so I could use it in my fall storytimes. Now I have my own. I saw "Storytiming" and "narrating tales of preschool stortime" had done this book as a flannel so I knew it would be great!

Here is my take on the book:

Toddlers - Fall!

I had my uke so I did my babies songs for opening and closing:

The more we get together
 Book – Mouse’s first fall by Thompson
 - perfect for this age (18 months to 3 years old)
Autumn Leaves(Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb)
  Autumn leaves are falling down
  Falling down, falling down.
  Autumn leaves are falling down,
  Falling on the ground.
  Autumn leaves are whirling round,
  Autumn leaves are whirling round,
  All around the town.
they like this one so much we did it again!

 Flannel – 5 little pumpkins sitting on a fence
- not great, just ok

 Book - Who Loves the Fall?by Raczka
- a good one since I talked about vocabulary and how to learn more words

Song - Shake your Sillies out &
 If you're happy and you know it ending with If you want to hear a story.(on uke)
 Book- Old Bearby Henkes
 - maybe a bit long for the last one.

 Song – California Dreamin’ (with scarves)
 - pretty good, the grandma and grandpa were not pleased but everyone else seemed to like it.

 Closing - May there always be sunshine and Oh What a miracle.

 With new songs I do them fine with no one is there but always mess up when there are folks in the room. Ugh!

Kid names: Jessee, Katie, Ellie, Carter, Addie, Hazel, Taxi Driver (what was his name?), Cassidy

Library visit by First Graders

I had two classes of first graders today. They walk to the library and have a tour, story, craft, and check out books. It went pretty well. I only had time for one book so I read No Pirates Allowed! said Library Lou by Greene. Then we did Jim Gill's List of Dances. They are so different from the toddlers, it is fun to do a long story.

Toddler storytime - Cats!

I was a bit tired today so this wasn't my best but it was far from my worst either. It was okay.

Plan:
Open shut them
Castle Full of Cats by Sanderson
   This is a brand new book that I picked up off of our new book shelf and just had to use it today. It might have been a little bit too old for this group but the parents enjoyed it.

Flannel - Three Little Kittens

Shake your sillies out - Raffi

Flannel/Book - Pete the cat and his 4 Groovy Buttons
   I did this with a flannel Pete and read the book. It kept the kids interested and singing their song!

Book - Feathers for Lunch - by Ehlart
   Mostly lost them at this point.

Shakers to The Cat Came Back by Laurie Berkner
   They liked this one

I misplaced my cd for my usual closing song (it fell behind something) so I did this for my closing:

I"m a little kitty cat
Soft and small
I like to climb or chase my ball.

If you pick me up and rub my fur
You can hear me purr purr purr!

It was a bit short but they were having much trouble with paying attention today.

Pete the Cat is Groovy!

This was a Saturday special for preschoolers. This means I didn't expect many kids but might get some babies.
I had 4 kids from 2 families. Their ages were 3,4,5, and 6.

Here is what I did:

You're a Real Cool Cat - Jbrary
Pete the Cat and his white shoes
Pete the Cat - Wheels on the Bus
Flannel Story of Pete the Cat and his 4 Groovy Buttons
Draw and Tell - The Black Cat
Kitty Hokey Pokey
If you're happy and you know it
Pete the Cat and his Magic Sunglasses
Laurie Berkner's The Cat came Back with instruments
Oh What a Miracle by Hap Palmer

For our craft we did a paper bag puppet of Pete the Cat

This went very well. They didn't really like the Draw and Tell...somehow they never go over as well as I would like. I read and sang Wheels on the bus while they did the motions and sang. Very good. All in all a great storytime...I will do parts of it next week since none of my usual kids came today.

Socks and Shoes - Toddler storytime

I am a bit under the weather today so this might have been better if I was feeling better but it was okay.

Opening song: Open Shut them
Shoe Baby by Dunbar
   Love this one! Very cute!

Action Song: Wake up Toes

Duck Sock Hop by Kohuth

Flannel Board Game - Sock Matching (like this)
   They loved this but some were a bit young to understand the concept. I made 19 pairs of socks and handed out one per kid. Then they came up to the flannel board when I showed their matching sock.

Song with Instruments: Runaway Shoes by Caspar Babypants

Closing Song: Oh what a miracle! by Palmer

Baby storytime - Under the Sea

Well this was my first babies since I came back to my branch (the beginning of July) so I was a little rusty.
I played my uke and they really liked it.
I forgot to bring out my choral reading book so I just did lots and lots of finger plays.

It went pretty well.

Here is what I did:

The more we get together - on uke
Roll Roll Sugar Babies
Row Row Row your boat
Have you ever seen a fishy? (with puppets)
5 little seashells
The fish in the sea go swim swim swim (to wheels on the bus)
Under the Sea with shakers (Disney)
Bathtime (Raffi) with bubbles

That was about it.

Bathtime! Toddlertime and headstart outreach

This week I did my theme Bathtime for both toddlertime and headstart outreach. They went okay but they were not very long.

Here was my plan:
Opening song -Open shut them

Kid Tea

Flannel
5 Elephants in the Tub
One Elephant in the bathtub going for a swim
Knock Knock (clap twice)
Splash Splash (slap knees twice)
Come on in! (motion come it)
Repeat to Five

Five Elephants in the bathtub going for a swim
Knock Knock
Splash splash
They all fell in! (knock all off flannel board)

Bears in the Bath

Shake your sillies out by Raffi

Bubble Bath Pirates!

Bubbles to Raffi's Bathtime

Toddler Storytime - Piggies!

Opening song - open shut them

Book #1 - If you Give a Pig a Pancake by Numeroff

Rhyme - To Market to Market (with clapping)

Piggy Pokey

Book #2 - I am Going by Willems as a puppetshow (like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAAMx55W4T0)

Flannel Story - Three Little Pigs

Instruments to Perfect Piggies by Sandra Boynton

I'm a little piggy (to teapot)
I'm a little piggy short and stout
Here is my ears
Here is my snout
When I see my yummy food in my pail
I oink oink oink and wiggle my tail!

Closing song: Shake your Sillies Out - Raffie

Early Literacy tip - Phonological Awareness - Rhymes help learn syllables etc

This one was pretty good. I had an issue with a screaming kid during my puppet show. (forgot to mention leaving etc. in my intro), The kids were not very attentive today so I cut it short. Such is life.

Toddlertime - colors

I did an old standby today. I could do this one in my sleep.

I know it so well, I can change on the fly as needed which makes for a great session!

Here is the rundown of what I did...

Opening song - Open Shut them
Book - One by Otashi
Flannel - Brown Bear Brown Bear by Carle
Extention of above - Puppet show (like this:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOsoIUxs2rY)
Book - Maisy's Rainbow Dream by Cousins
Song - What are you wearing?
Hand out scarves
London Bridge (Like this:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuCKI7t2tnE)
Rainbow Connection (Mary had a little amp)
Closing song: Oh what a miracle by Hap Palmer
Coloring sheet - rainbow

This is the first time I have gotten applause after a puppet show. (as far as I can remember) It was very cool. My Early literacy tip was on Print Awareness and I linked it to Reading.

All in all a good one!

Toddlertime - Body Parts

I have done this one before but not for a while. It was very successful!

Early Lit Tip - Vocabulary

Opening song: The More we Get Together (on uke)

Book #1: My Octopus Arms by Baker

Finger Play

On my Face - from storytime katie

On my face I have a nose (point to nose)

And way down here, I have ten toes, (point to toes)

I have two eyes that I can blink (blink eyes)

I have a head to help me think (put hands on head)

I have a chin and very near (point to chin)

I have tow ears to help me hear (put hands to ears)

I have a mouth with which to speak (point to mouth)

And when I run I use my feet. (pretend to run in place)

Here are my arms to hold up high (put arms up high)

And here's a hand to wave goodbye. (wave)

We did this one twice, it was so much fun!

Book #2 - We've All Got Bellybuttons by Martin

Song - Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Song - Hands are for Clapping by Jim Gill

Book #3 - Eyes, Nose, Fingers, and Toes by Hindley

Kind of lost them with this one, they came back with some interactive movements.

Dance - Bean Bag by Palmer

They loved the bean bags. Definitely a hit. Some preferred them to the coloring sheet.

May there Always be Sunshine (on uke)

I do this to try to learn names. Not my strong suit.

Closing song - Oh What a Miracle!

Coloring sheet - This is me!

Here are a couple of photos of the kids with the beanbags.

Worms! - Toddlertime

Here is what I did:
Opening song: Open Shut Them
Book #1 - Inch by Inch by Lionni

A favorite from my childhood.

Flannel Story -Herman the Worm (used vegan one here)
Book #2 - Noodle and Lou by Scanlon

    I started to lose some of the younger ones at this point. A great story about friendship.
Action Song - Shake your Sillies Out - Raffi
    Here I talked a bit about making letters with scarves - I could only do O and I, should have figured out more before hand
Action Song - Dancing to Walter the Waltzing Worm - Palmer

Book #3 -Ned's New Home  by Tseng

     I did this with a very dramatic voice and got some of the little ones back.

Closing song: Oh What a Miracle - Palmer

Early Lit Tip - Letter Knowledge

My toddlers are starting to skew younger so I will have to think about incorporating more music and movement. Closer to my baby storytimes.

Flannel Friday 7/24/2015 - Book, Book, Book! by Deborah Bruss

Here is a flannel story I created using clip art and a laminating machine.

It is based on the book, Book, Book Book! by Deborah Bruss.

The kids loved it and got chuckles from the adults as well!

Toddlertime - Dance

I expected a big group today since Early Head Start called to say they were coming with 20 kids. They did come but only had about 10 kids. And they were late. Oh well.

Here is what we did:

Open Shut Them
Hilda Must Be Dancing by Wilson

Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill
    They wouldn't stand up. I am not used to that!

I Got the Rhythm by Schofield-Morrison

    Got them to say the action words and do some movements.

Hokey Pokey

Dancing Feet by Craig

    They didn't pay attention to this one since I finally got them up on their feet for the Hokey Pokey. Such a short book I didn't cut it short.

Mexican Hat Dance

Oh What a Miracle by Hap Palmer

Coloring sheet - Hilda in her water ballet suit

Early Lit tip - Background knowledge

A nice storytime that ran a little short since I didn't do anything that needed to be passed out and no flannel stories either. I think I will add them back in for the next one.

Preschool Storytime - Farm animals

Today I did my Farm Storytime for Preschoolers.

It was fantastic!

Here is the stuff I did:

Opening song: Open Shut them
Click Clack Moo! by Cronin
     (they didn't know what a typewritter was - so cute!)
Old MacDonald with puppets
       Very good participation!
Book, Book Book! by Bruss as a flannel board

Mrs. Wishy Washy by Learning Station- from you tube
    They liked this. I had some trouble with the iPad

Mrs. Wish Washy's Farm by Cowley

Farmyard Beat by Craig as a puppet show
    They love this one!

I know a Chicken by Laurie Berkner
     They really got into this song!

No Sleep for Sheep by Beaumont
     It seemed like they needed another one, but this one was too much like Farmyard Beat.

Early Lit Tips: Phonological Awareness, why we do songs with animal sounds.
     I got a few nods from parents. So cool!

Closing song: Oh what a miracle! by Palmer

All in all my best Preschool storytime I have done in a long time.  It was really fun!

Celebrate Summer Family Storytime

A small group and a bit subdued so it was a lot of work to get them interested.

Here is what I did:

The more we get together (uke)
Roland Rolls by Carrey
The wheels on the bus (uke)
Flannel - If you're going to the pool wear...
Flannel - 5 Little Ocean Friends
It's Vacation Time! by Korda
Song - Down by the Sea by Red Grammer
One Hot Summer Day by Crews
I brought our the parachute but not quite enough adults. We did balls and sang popcorn
Shakers to Surfin Safari
May there always be sunshine (uke)

Craft - Shells on the beach

Down on the Farm - Toddlertime

Today I did an old standby, Farm Animals.

Here is what I did:

Open Shut them

Stuck in the Mud by Clarke

     The kids and parents really liked this one. They laughed and did farm animal sounds when I asked them to.

Flannel - Baa baa black sheep - I add more verses with colored sheep and then a rainbow striped one with sparkles for Disco sheep - they loved it

Five Little Chicks by Tafuris

    The children were pretty restless so I opted for this short one

Old MacDonald - with puppets
    Always a hit

Where is the Green Sheep? by Fox

   Another short one with appeal

Instruments to Red Grammer's Down on the Farm

On What a Miracle!

Phonological Awareness was the Early Literacy tip of the day. I talked about why we do animal noises.

I was going to do a puppet show of Farmyard beat but the kids were so restless I figured they wouldn't do well with it today. A small but fun group all in all.

Australian Storytime - toddlers and preschool

This week I did Preschool storytime on Tuesday and Toddlers on Wednesday (today) so I used the same theme.

My Early Literacy topic was vocabulary.

Preschool:
Opening song: Open shut them
book #1 -Marsupial Sue by Lithgow
I just sang the chorus and read the rest.
Song #1  - If you go into the bush
book #2 - Australian Animals by Arnold
    I just showed photos and talked about the animals.
Puppet story - Who Stole the Cookie Dough? by Beaumont
    I used the animals I had
Song #2 - List of Dances by Jim Gill
book #3 - Wombats on Walkabout by Diggory-Shields
Closing song - Oh What a Miracle - by Hap Palmer
Craft - pouches made with paper plates. Threading yarn through holes punched in the sides

A large group with only a few adults so craft was a little much.

Toddlers
Opening song: Open shut them
Book #1 - Wombats on Walkabout by Diggory-Shields
    really held their attention!
Song #1 - Shake your sillies out - Raffi
Puppet story - Who Stole the Cookie Dough? by Beaumont
     They really were captivated by the puppets!
Book #2 - Australian Animals by Arnold
Song #2 - Give me a home among the gum trees by Bob Brown with shakers
     They liked this one.
Book #3 - Boing! by Bruel
   Defiantly lost them at this point.
Song #3 - Wheels on the bus
Closing - Oh what a miracle! by Hap Palmer
Craft - Kangaroo coloring sheet with kangaroo facts on top

Great group! Very attentive except for final book.

interesting blog post

summer reading lists

Toddler Time - Bugs!

I am back at my home branch and back doing toddlers. Here is what I did today:

Opening song: Open shut them
Book #1;The Very Hungry Caterpiller by Carle
Fingerplay:Itsy bitsy spider
Book #2: Tiny Little Fly by Rosen
Flannel Stories: 5 little ladybugs and 5 colorful butterflies
Song: Shoo Fly with puppets
Book #3: Can You Make a Scary Face? by Thomas
Butterfly by Mariah Carey with scarves
Scarves up and down with scarves by Johnette Downing
Closing song:Oh what a miracle!

This is a storytime I have done many times and it is a good one. The Mariah Carey song was not as popular as I was thinking so I switched to the Downing song. The Jan Thomas was a hit as always.

Preschool Storytime - Lazy Days of Summer

I filled in for a colleague who is on vacation.

My theme was beach or summer which I will use again so here are my thoughts.

Do Olivina Swims first...it is too long to do 2nd or 3rd.

Swimming Pool song was a hit!

The Waves on the Beach was good but needs more verses.

Flannel story was not great...skip next time.

Here is my plan:
Welcome song: Open shut them

Book #1 – Mouse’s First  Summer

Red Grammer's Down by the Sea

Book #2 – Playground Day

Flannel Story: 5 little ocean friends

Action song: The waves on the beach

Book #3: Olivina Swims

Action song: Swimming in a swimming pool

Action song: Shake your sillies out

Action Song: Alabama Mississippi

Craft - shells on the beach

16th baby storytime - favorites

As much as I like babies it will be nice to go back to doing toddlers.

Here is what I did today:

Opening song: The More we get together

Bounce: Roll, Roll, Sugar Babies

Action Song: Alabama Mississippi

Puppets – Old MacDonald had a farm

Fingerplay – 5 little Monkeys

Flannel – If you’re going to the pool wear your suit (from storytime katie)

Choral Reading book – Brown bear brown bear

Action song – The Wheels on the Bus

Finger play – Itsy Bitsy Spider

Goodbye song – May there always be sunshine

Shaker Song – Shake something by Raffi

Bubbles – Me and the Morning by Red Grammer

It's been fun doing babies and I feel like I can do babies when my colleagues are out with little warning.

Baby Storytime #15 - Food, Glorious Food!

Today I had a big group and it was fun.
I featured rhymes for my early literacy tips and handed out a sheet with rhymes on it.

Themey things I did:
Pat a Cake
The Very Hungry Caterpiller flannel story
5 little hotdogs - flannel rhyme
Song: I am Hungry! call and response from Jbrary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhRmtD7eomc&list=PLcw3Y8sV0xptYrNn_a8KSyohvEnw-f5Wg&index=3
Book: One Little Spoonful by Aliki
Bubble and Shaker Songs: Snacktime by Bare Naked Ladies - Raisins, Snacktime, Popcorn, Veggietown

I forgot to bring out the balls but there is always next week.

I like this

Flannel Friday 6/12/2015

Five Little Hotdogs - from make learning fun


5 little hotdogs frying in the pan
The pan got hot and one went BAM!
4 little hotdogs frying in the pan
The pan got hot and one went BAM!
3 little hotdogs frying in the pan
The pan got hot and one went BAM!
2 little hotdogs frying in the pan
The pan got hot and one went BAM!
One little hotdogs frying in the panThe pan got hot and it went BAM!
No little hotdogs frying in the pan
The pan got hot and the pan went BAM!

(I used clipart and laminated them.)














CUA94

Baby storytime #14 - Sunny Day at the beach!

Today I had to do my baby storytime in the children's area rather than in the meeting room due to a conflict. It was pretty good. Since the area was smaller it had a better community feel. Because it was "on the floor" I didn't use flannel board, choral reading books, or the balls and stuffed animals. I did more finger plays and bounces but it was still pretty short. My theme was Summer.

Bounce: Roll Roll Sugar Babies
Bounce: Bouncing up and down in my little red row boat
Finger play - 5 little seashells
Book - What the Sun Sees by Tafuri
Finger Play - Itsy bitsy spider
Action Song - Mr Sun
Good bye Song - May there always be sunshine
Shakers - Shaky Shaky by the Wiggles
Bubbles - Bathtime by Raffi

Baby Storytime #13 - Bugs!

I repeated my 2nd baby storytime (http://storytimewhoopdeedo.blogspot.com/2015/03/baby-storytime-bugs-bugs-bugs.html).
I added a couple of flannel stories like this one:

(to Mary had a little lamb)
Ladybug has one spot
one spot, one spot, one spot
Ladybug has one spot
Pretty Ladybug!
2,3,4,5

It was a pretty good one. I was a bit tired due to lack of sleep (thunderstorms) but it was okay.

Baby Storytime #12 - Cats!

This week my theme was Cats!

Here is what I did:
Opening song: the more we get together
Bounce: Roll Roll Sugar Babies
Nursery Rhyme: Pussycat Pussycat...(should have said it rather than sung it)
Action song: I'm a little kitty (to I'm a little tea pot)
I'm a little kitty cat
Nice and sweet
Here are my whiskers and
Here are my feet
When I go out hunting, mice beware
Or you might just have a scare!

Flannel Story - 3 little kittens

Poem- the Great Big Cat and the teeny little mouse (I used hand motions)

There was a Great Big Cat
and a Teeny little mouse
Who ran around and around
In a tall, tall house!
Until that teeny tiny mouse got caught at last
Because that Great Big Cat ran around so fast!

Book - Mother has three kittens by Fleming (clipped pages to shorten)

Shaker song: I know a Chicken by Berkner

Song: Soft Kitty (uke)

Action Song: Alabama, Mississippi

Book: How to be a Cat by McClure - this is a black and white book. I showed the parents how books with one word per page can get babies interested in books.

Closing song: May there alway be sunshine (uke)

Bubbles: Cat's in the Cradle (Chapin)

The kids were not very attentive today. The parents too. I just plowed on and got through it but it wasn't much fun. I have had worse!

5 more to go!

I have 5 more baby storytimes before I return to toddler time (18 months - 3 years old).
I have had a bit of a learning curve with the babies and I think I have hit my stride. I am looking forward to returning to TT in 6 weeks.


Things I will miss about babies:
No craft
Lots of music
Engaged adults
Small crowds
Bounces
Fun!


Things I will gladly leave behind:
Starting at 9:30 am
Large crowds
bubbles


Things I will be doing in TT but didn't before:
So many shaker songs!
New flannels

Preschool Storytime - Monkeys!

I filled in for a co-worker today and did preschool storytime.
I did one of my favorite themes...Monkeys!

Here is what I did:
Irrational Anthem - Jim Gill
Open Shut them
Book #1 - Caps for Sale by Slobodkina
Fingerplay - 5 little monkeys
Settle down song; Shake your Sillies out
Book #2 - Two Little Monkeys by Fox
The Animals in the Jungle (to wheels on the bus)
Bean Bag Rock
Book #3 - Sock Monkeys do the Monkey Monkey by Winburn

Craft: http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Bendable-Monkey.html

How it went: Not great! The parents and kids were quite loud in the beginning and I had to shout to be heard. During one of the books, I forget which one, 4 kids started running around in circles. They liked the Bean Bag song and Hokey pokey book. The craft was too complicated since there were no tables to use. I am exhausted!

Baby Storytime #11 - Ocean

A very small crowd today made for a wonderful Baby Storytime.

I redid my ocean theme. Here is the order I did:

Hello song – the more we get together (on my uke)

Bounce - Roll roll sugar babies

Book - Hooray for Fish by Cousins

     This book is very good for the vocabulary literacy tip.

Song: Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row Row Row your boat

Gently down the stream.

Merrily Merrily merrily

Life is but a dream.
Twish, Bounce, Sway, Wiggle, Tickle

Song: SONG WITH PUPPETS: Did You Ever See a Fishy?
Sing to “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”

Did you ever see a fishy, a fishy, a fishy
Did you ever see a fishy swim this way and that?
Swim this way, swim that way, Swim this way, swim that way,
Did you ever see a fishy swim this way and that?
Crab crawl
Seal Clap
Sea Horse whinny

Flannel Story - three little jelly fish

Choral Reading - In my Ocean

Action song: Waves at the Beach ( Sung To: " Wheels on the bus")

The waves at the beach go up and down.

Crabs… crawl back and forth,
Lobsters… go snap, clams… open and shut, jelly fish… wibble wibble wibble

Shakers song: Under the Sea

Closing song: May there always be sunshine (on my uke)

Bubbles - Octopus's Garden

I had 5 babies and most were lap babies so I added a couple of bounces at the last minute. 

Baby Storytime #10 - Farms

This week I did Farms. I talked about how using animal sounds can help babies with phonological awareness.

Opening song - The more we get together (uke)

Bounces:
Roll, Roll Sugar Babies

When Animals get up in the morning

When ducks get up in the morning,this is what they say
When ducks get up in the morning, this is what they say
Quack, quack, quack, quack, that is what they say
Quack, quack quack, that is what they say.
Continue with Cows, Dogs, Sheep, Pigs, Cats

Flannel Rhymes - Bo Peep, Baa  Baa Black Sheep

Action song – Alabama, Mississippi - Jim Gill

Puppet story -  Old Macdonald

Animals on the Bus (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus” )

The pigs on the bus go oink, oink, oink.

Oink, oink, oink, oink, oink, oink.

The pigs on the bus go oink, oink, oink,

All through the town.

Substitute other animals and the sounds they make.

Cows, Dogs, Frogs, Pigs, Cats

Choral reading – My First Farm

Song with shakers – Grandpa’s Farm

Bubbles

Toys and Balls

I forgot to do "May there always be sunshine" so I played it on CD during bubbles and a grandma said she missed singing the song. My voice was pretty shot after Alabama, Mississippi - I forgot to bring my water - so maybe it was just as well. It is nice that she told me - I will do it next week.