Snow - Toddlers

A small crowd today and they came late so just did 2 books and 4 songs.

Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney

Supertruck by Savage

Winter Wonderland with bells
Shakin' Everywhere
If you'er Happy and You Know it
What a Miracle

Body Parts - Toddler

I haven't done body parts for a while and it went very well.

Books:

Head to Toes by Carle
Hop Hop Jump by Thompson
Can you Make a Scary Face by Thomas

Songs:
Body Rock
Beanbag Rock (with bean bags)
Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
Shake your Sillies Out
Hands are for Clapping

Finger Play
On my face I have a nose https://kcls.org/content/on-my-face-i-have-a-nose/

We had fun and the kids were very active so it was a good one for today.

jungle animals - toddler

I repeated this one: http://storytimewhoopdeedo.blogspot.com/2016/05/jungle-animals-for-toddler-storytime.htm

Only instead of Orangatangled, I did Kiss, Kiss by Wild. It is a better fit for the young ones.

Hats - Toddler

Today I did one of my favorites...Hats.

Books:
A Hat For Minerva Louise
Silly Goose
Caps for Sale

Songs:
Mexican Hat Dance

Flannel:
H-A-T-S

It was okay. The kids were very restless so I cut it a little short but everyone seemed to have fun.

Preschool Storytime - Dogs

I did this once for a preschool class and once for our regular preschool storytime.

Opening song - Open Shut them

Book #1 -  Motor Miles by Burningham
- This is a new book that the kids liked.
Song -
Shake Your Sillies Out
If you're a Dog and You Know It

Book #2 - A Dog is a Dog  by Shaskan
 - a cute one

Flannel - Dog's Colorful Day
Flannel and song - BINGO with uke
Song with uke - There's a Dog in School

Book #3 - The Doghouse by Thomas
 - not as interactive as some of hers but good

Closing song - What a Miracle

Craft - Paper bag Dog Puppet

Babies Storytime - my favorites

This is our weekend baby program which has had sporadic attendance so I figured I would just do my favorites and if no one showed up no problems.

Book - 10 Tiny Tickles by Katz

Songs -
The more we get together (on uke)
The wheels on the bus
Alabama Mississippi
May there always be sunshine (on uke)
Itsy Bitsy Spider
I know a chicken by Berkner with shakers
So Free by Charlie Hope with scarves
Bubbles by Raffi with bubbles

Finger Play
5 little monkeys (jumping on the bed)

This went so well, I think I will do it again. Since I knew all the songs well it was a pleasure to do this one!

Dog Toddler storytime

My first Toddle Storytime since September!!! Wow!!!

I used my dog theme.

Books -
Pudgy by Goodhart
 - Didn't a lot of help from the kids but the parents loved it
The Doghouse by Thomas
 - did this one after the rhythm instruments with expected results
A Hop is Up by Dempsey
 - a new book I really love. It gets the kids moving.
A Dog is a Dog by Shaskan
 - the dog is in a cat costume as well as others. I couched it by saying this is like halloween when you dress up. We over pretty well.
Dog's Colorful Day
- a flannel story

Music-
 - I want a Dog by Lunchmoney (instruments)
 - This Old Man (while coming in)
 - Who Left the Dogs out by Kidzbop (instruments)
 - If You're a Doggy and you Know it
 - BINGO flannel and on uke

How it went:
 It went pretty well considering how long it had been. There were only 5 toddlers and 1 baby. I ran out of stuff so I did many books. I didn't realize how many until I wrote them here. 2 of them are action books and one a flannel so I think it was okay.

I will be using this theme for outreach and preschool storytime next week.

Toddlers - Balloons

Open Shut them

Book #1 It;s Tough to Lose Your Balloon by Krosoczka
Flannel Rhyme – Four Balloons

               Four balloons up in the sky

               See them flying way up high?

               If one of those balloons should happen to pop!

               Only 3 balloons will be left floating up top (2…1…)

If you’re Happy and You Know It/Shake your Sillies out

Book #2 My Red Balloon by Yamarla
  This book mentions a bus so we did wheels on the bus

Little Balloon
I had a little balloon (make a circle with hands) That I hugged tight to me (hug self tight)
There was a great big BANG! (clap hands loudly)
No more balloon, you see. if I had this many more (hold up five fingers)
I wouldn’t hug them tight (shake head “no”)
I’d just hold onto the strings (grasp strings)
And fly them like a kite. (raise both arms high)

Book #3-Balloons Balloons Balloons

Song: Hot Air Balloon by Charlie Hope with scarves
Closing Song: Oh What a Miracle

Extra books:
Can you see the Red Balloon?

 A very nice toddler storytime. I really liked the scarf song and I might use it again!

Preschool Storytime - Boats

I filled in for a co-worker today. I had a great time!

Here is my outline:

Opening song - open shut them

Book #1 Alistair and Kip’s Great Adventure by Segal

Song – Baby Shark by Learning Station

Book #2 – The Toy Boat by DeSeve

   
Song –Row Row Row your Boat by Cabrera - with puppets

Book #3 –Sail Away by Crews

    
Draw and tell – I love sailing

   
Bean Bag Rock - Learning Station

Closing song - Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill

Craft – Boat out of shapes

I had a lot of fun with the kids. I had 35 people today! Baby Shark was a big hit. It is short so I think I might do it twice in future. Sail Away was the least successful but it was okay. Bean Bag Rock was great. Then I did put your bean bag on your...until it was put your bean bag in the bin. Worked great!

I really love having lots of kids for this age because I get very excited and pumped up. 

Things to change next time: change out book 3, baby shark 2 times, practice puppets at least once.

County Fair - toddler storytime

We're back! After a 6 week hiatus to recharge our batteries, we have started storytime again.

Since our county fair is this weekend, I did fair as my theme.

Opening song - Open Shut them

Book 1 - Minerva Louis Goes to the Fair by Stoeke

Rhyme - Simple Simon

Action song:

Shake Your Sillies out
If you're Happy and you know it

Book #2 - Let's Count Goats by Fox

Puppet song - Old MacDonald

Shaker Song - I know a Chicken by Berkner

Action Rhyme - Look at Piggy

Closing song- What a Miracle

How it went:

The first book went pretty well. I think the rhyme went very well, I might use the more often in future. The second book was a little long and some lost interest. That is why I only did 2 books. We ran a little short but it was successful.

Saturday Babies Program - Gardens

I had fun doing my Saturday babies program which I will do once per month.

Opening - The More We Get Together - with uke

Bounce - Roll Roll Sugar Babies

Fingerplays -In my Garden
                     5 little flowers
                     Itsy bitsy spider
Action Song - In My Garden by Raffi

Puppet song -
There's something in my garden

Choral Reading - One Mole Digging a Hole

Shakers - Grandpa's Farm by Raffi
                Garden Song - with uke

Closing - May there always be sunshine

Bubbles

How it went:

I was a little worried I wouldn't get anyone but I got 2 lap babies, a 4 year old,  and a 14 month old.
I might make sure I have more bounces next time. We were getting more 1 year olds before the break so I needed to have them up more. It went well. Not sure how the parents feel about it but I felt pretty good.

Regular Toddler Storytime starts next week. Can't wait!

Things that Go - Toddlers

Today I did Things that Go...or Transportation

Books:
Go Go Gorillas by Durango
Freight Train by Crews
A Bus For Us by Bloom

Songs:
Drive My Car by Berkner - did this twice since it is quick
Wheels on the Bus
Row Row Row your Boat
Zoom Zoom Zoom by Jbrary

How it went:
Just a few kids today and it really showed. I just haven't got as much energy today. Anyway, they really like Drive my Car, Freight Train, and Go, Go Gorillas but the star was A Bus For Us. It is always a hit. I messed up Zoom Zoom Zoom because I didn't have the words written down. So I just did one verse. Lesson learned!

Now a 6 week break! What will I do with myself? I think I will just make about 25 new toddler storytimes! Or not...

Cake - Toddler storytime

Today I did the theme Cake. I had a small group but a fun group.

Here is what I did:

Books:

If You Give A Cat A Cupcake by Numeroff
Who Made This Cake? by Nakagawa
Oh, No, George! by Haughton

Songs
Shake Your Sillies Out
Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
If You're Happy and You Know it
Cupcakes by Battersby Duo (shakers)
What a Miracle by Palmer

Fingerplays
Pat - a - Cake
Ten Little Candles

Flannel Rhyme

5 Little Cupcakes
5 little cupcakes, with frosting galore.
Mother ate the blue one, then there were 4.
4 little cupcakes, two and two you see
Father ate the green one, then there were three
3 little cupcaeks, but before I knew
Brother ate teh pink on, then there were two
2 little cupcakes, oh what fun.
Sister ate the white one then there was 1
1 little cupcake, we're almost done
I ate the last one,then there was none!

It was a good storytime even though I had to read over a loud little boy and later a mom coughing. The first book was the best. I have gotten much better participation from Oh No George but they were pretty passive today.

I have one more Toddler storytime before our summer break...I am looking forward to it!

Buggy Toddler Storyime

Today I did my Bugs storytime and it was great! I often do bugs for preschool and outreach but not as much for toddlers. (here's the last one) Here's the line up:

Books -
Tiny Little Fly by Rosen
Big Bug by Cole
Can you Make a Scary Face? By Thomas

Songs:
Itsy Bitsy Spider (with puppets)
Shake your sillies
Open Shut them
If you're happy and you know it
What a Miracle
Ants go Marching (with instruments)

Flannels-
Pretty Little Lady Bug
5 little lady bugs

How It Went:
I had a pretty big group but because about 4 people with strollers came in during the first book they were all clumped up by the door. I might try changing the direction and stand against the back wall. I have done that for babies but not toddlers. The Ants Go Marching is about a 4 minute song and by the end I had everyone marching (almost). All in all, a great one!

Bathtime at toddlers

Today's toddler storytime started with a screaming kid and ending with a whimper.

I have never had a child scream and run and poke other children so much in a storytime. I gave the parent hints in the beginning about keeping the child from blocking other kids, leaving if she is unhappy, and that sort of thing but to no avail. I had to ask her to leave. I felt bad
not as bad as my throat is feeling from yelling over the kid.

Anyway, here is what I did.

Books: Get Out Of My Bath! by Techentrup

Who's In the Tub by Jones

Game - Colored Bubbles

I got this one from Pinterest from Kathryn Roach

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B71rHAiZr7FMLTBaelhQQWJTdDA/view

Songs:

Open Shut them

Shake your sillies out

If you're happy and you know it

Bathtime by Raffi

 - We did bubbles while listening

What a Miracle by Palmer

The child I spoke of was not really a bad kid, just excited. If the parent had kept better control over her...making sure she didn't block the book, not poking other children, I would have been okay with the loud screaming...I think.

Not the best but I have next week off for the week of the 4th.

Happy 4th!

Colors at Toddler storytime

I did colors today since it has been a while since I have done them.

Books:
Brown Bear Brown Bear by Brown (as a flannel)
Pete the Cat: I Love my White Shoes by Dean
Maisy's Rainbow Dream by Cousins

Songs:
What are you wearing?
It's Gonna Rain if you want a Rainbow - The Harmonica Pocket (with scarves)
Shake your sillies out
Open Shut them
If You're Happy and You Know it
What a Miracle

A really nice storytime. The kids really liked the music and books. This is one I have done many times so I love to revisit it on occation.

Down on the farm with toddlers

I did my farm theme today.

I planned to do it just like this 

However, it ended up a bit shorter due to short attention spans.

Books -
Farmyard Beat by Craig
I often do this one with puppets but it works as a book as well. Since I had the puppets for Old MacDonald I opted to read this one.

Stuck in the Mud by Clarke
They like this one. I had to read very loudly and slowly due to the noise level. I didn't say anything and the kids were taken out for a bit. Peer pressure is awesome!

Songs -
Open Shut them
Shake your sillies out - Raffi
If you're happy and you know it
Old MacDonald - with puppets
Down on the Farm - Red Grammer with instruments
What a Miracle - Palmer

Flannel-
Baaa Baa Black Sheep

I did a longer intro that I sometimes do because I had a number of new faces. I might do more with the kids next time...listening ears works well but this bunch was out of control so early I never had the chance. I do think they had fun.

Beach Toddler Storytime

Today seemed like a good day to celebrate the beach!

Songs: Open Shut them
            Shake your Sillies out

            Down by the Sea by Red Grammer

            Surfin' USA by the Beachboys (with shakers)
            What a Miracle
         
Books:
           Fun Dog, Sun Dog by Heiligman
           To the Beach! by Lakin
           Seashore Animals by Galko (selected pages)
           Uh, Oh! by Crum    

Flannels:
           3 Little Jelly fish
           5 Little Ocean Friends


It started out okay but I lost them when we did the shakers. I tried to get them back for Uh, Oh! but they were not having it. I think this book is better one on one. So we just shut the book and went straight to the closing song.
         

Babies storytime - Gardens

Today I am filling in for a colleague in Babies storytime.
I did my Gardens theme.
See where I did it before here.

It went pretty well. I haven't done a Babies for a while so I was a little stiff. Everyone got into it after a bit.

Sports - Toddler storytime

Today I wanted to promote our Summer Reading program - the theme is Ready, Set, Read!

Books:
Stretch by Cronin
Get Up and Go by Carolson
Hop Hop Jump by Thompson

Songs:
Shake your Sillies out
If Your Happy and You Know it
Open Shut Them
What a Miracle

Flannel game/rhyme
Down on the corner at the sporting goods store
was a baseball hat and not one more
Along came someone with a nickle to pay
and they bought that hat and they took it away.

Bat, mitt, jersey, and baseball

I handed out felt nickles and had the kids come up and put their nickle on the flannel board. Each kid got a chance.They loved it!

Parachute
Wheels on the Bus
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Alabama Mississippi
Ring around the Rosie
Grand old Duke of York

We had a good group today. I got very tired from the parachute.

Fun with Food! toddler storytime

I had a great time in storytime today! My theme was Food and it was Fun!

Books:
A Very Hungry Caterpillar by Carle (as a flannel from here)
The Little Kids Table by Riehle
How do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? by Yolen

Songs:
Aiken Drum (on Uke)
-I ask them to tell me what Aiken Drum's parts are made of and I draw on the white board.
Oats Beets Beans and Barley Grow with instruments
Shake your Sillies out/If You're Happy and You Know It
Open Shut them
What a Miracle

Flannel:
5 Little Hot Dogs (http://flannelfun.weebly.com/5-little-hotdogs.html)
 - They loved this one!

I wonder if I had such a good time because there were 20 kids today. But maybe it was just such a wonderful day and I like this particular theme very much!

Another song I was going to do was this one: I am Hungry
But I did Aiken Drum instead. I know it better and as long as there are alot of kids it goes well. It was a challenge to draw, sing and play all at the same time but I managed!

Jungle Animals for Toddler storytime

I had a big crowd (for me) today. 19 kids and 15 adults.

Here is what I did:
Books:
Tiny Little Fly by Rosen
Orangutangled by Bardhan-Quallan
I'm the Scariest Thing in the Jungle by Derrick


Fingerplay/flannels:
5 Little Monkeys jumping on the bead
5 little Monkeys teasing Mr. Alligator

Songs:
Shake your Sillies out
If you're Happy and You know it
The Lion Sleeps Tonight with shakers (Berkner)
I know a Chicken with shakers (Berkner)
Open Shut them
What a Miracle (Palmer)

Action Rhyme:
I am a big tall giraffe (from Storytime Katie)

This was a fun storytime. I like the books and the songs. The kids were very wound up and some were talking throughout but I just raised my voice and kept going. Not much you can do when a 19 month old is going to talk or scream. I prefer the talking. By the end they were running in circles. I guess all the rain this month is taking its toll. I added a second shaker song because I knew another book was out of the question. After 2 days of outreach and today, my voice is shot. Must rest up for next week. :-)

Dogs! Toddler storytime

I had a great time doing Dogs today!

Books:
Oh No George! by Haughton
- they really got into saying Oh No George!

Please Puppy Please by Lee
- They liked the pictures but not a great hit.

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! by Willems
-Everyone loves Pigeon

Songs:
Rags (I have a dog his name is rags)
-They weren't very good at the motions but they tried
If you're a Dog and You Know it
Take your Bean Bag by the Learning Station
What a miracle by Palmer

Flannel/song
BINGO
-this one went well
Flannel Book
Dog's Colorful Day by Dodd
-cut it short at 6 spots but still good.

Game-One of these things are not like the other
-This one didn't go so well. It took a little bit to set up and then they really didn't get the concept.I think it is better for preschoolers.

This was a good theme that everyone liked. I will use it for outreach next week as well.

Mother's Day toddler storytime

Whew! After doing 3 weeks of Preschool and a long weekend in New Orleans, this toddler storytime was crazy!

I had an Early Literacy Training last week so I put some of the suggestions in action today. I asked who had never been in storytime before. One Dad raised his hand and I then told him the rules and expectations and introduced myself. I used my usual opening and closing song and 3 books (actually did 4).

In retrospect, I should have skipped the last book since I had lost them but some of them came back.

Books -
Is Your Mama a Llama? by Guarino
They liked this one. It is a big book and took a long time to do.
Baa Baa Black Sheep by Cabera
I really like this one, it is singing but with new words.
Pete the Cat, I Love My White Shoes by Litwin
Nothing to do with Moms but it is a favorite of mine and others in the room.
Mommy Mine by Warnes
This one is short and sweet.

Songs-
Open shut them
If your happy and you know it
Shake your sillies out
I love my mommy by Litwin
 - great song for Mother's day

Finger Play
5 little monkeys jumping on the bed

One set of twins was talking throughout the entire program. Not loud enough for me to call them out but enough to be distracting and so I had to read louder. Not a great day for that since my voice is shot. (mostly from flying)

I hope next week is better!

Self evaluation of my 3 weeks of Preschool Storytime

I started our pretty slow. It is tough to switch gears from Toddlers to Preschool. I tend to have too few books and too many songs at first.

By the second week, I was doing better. I also had a big crowd (30) of people so the energy in the room really helped.

The third week I was not as happy with it. The theme I chose was good but the kids just didn't get very excited. Then there was a baby who was crying through a couple of books that distracted everyone.

I am sure I would do better with a 4th week but I am glad to return to the Toddlers. I will still have my outreach preschool and I might take what I learned here to them. I definitely do better when there is a large crowd. Since we don't have signups and we never know how many people will come and that is a challenge. I am hoping I can learn how to do just as good a job with just a few kids. I think it takes a different mindset.

Preschool Storytime - Weather

This is my last Preschool Storytime for now. My colleagues and I did 3 each of the type of storytime that we are backup for. I think it will help that I did this if someone is sick or on vacation.

Today I did Weather. It started as clouds so I mostly did books about clouds. I did a new opening song and closing song with mixed results.

Opening poem: Bread and Butter (jbrary)

Book #1 - Boom! by Ray

They liked this one.

Felt story - It Looked Like Spilled Milk by Shaw
 (the reason I wanted to do clouds in the first place)

Lots of participation.

Book #2 - The Police Cloud by Niemann
They liked this one

Song - Shake your sillies out & If you're a cloud and you know it
Not too bad but they seemed tired.

Book #3 - Raindrops Roll by Sayre

Fingerplay - Itsy Bitsy Spider ( and big gigantic and tinny winnie)
They liked this better than I expected.

Song on uke - If all the Raindrops
I messed up the lyrics as usual. They got into it after a while. I mostly was solo.

Book #4 - One Rainy Day by Gorbachev

This one went over well.

Closing song: (on uke)
See ya later alligator
I like how this is easy to sing and play. If I was going to continue Preschool storytime I would do it often and they would learn it pretty fast.

Preschool storytime - Piggys!

I am filling in for Preschool again today.

My theme was Pigs.

Open Shut them (one parent gave me such a weird look when I started this song. Not sure why)

Hogwash by Wilson
I love this one...good for a first story

Piggy Pokey (substitute piggy parts)

If you're happy and you know it

Pigs to the Rescue by Himmelman
Similar to Cows to the Rescue...very interactive when the kids help with "Pigs to the Rescue!".

List of Dances by Jim Gill

Pigs say Moo!
I found this one on the falling flannel boards blog (here) and it was pretty good. Not at all like story puppet shows I usually do.

If you give a pig a party! by Numeroff
I gave the kids a choice between this one and If you give a pig a pancake.

The Tempo Marches on by Jim Gill
With Instruments

I'm a Pig by Berry
I am surprised I got them to sit down again. But since they did we went ahead and read it.

What a Miracle by Palmer

Jungle Animals - Preschool Storytime

For the next 3 weeks I am doing Preschool Storytime...it is fun to do something different.

Open Shut them

Book #1 - The Parrot Tico Tango by Witte
I love this story. It has alot of rhyming so good for Phonological Awareness.

Song 1 - Shakers to The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Laurie Berkner

Book #2 - I’m the scariest thing in the Jungle by Derrick
Cute story.

Song 2-Shake your sillies out - Raffi

Book #3 - Orangutangled by Bardhan-Quallen

Song 3 -

The animals in the jungle go …(to Wheels on the bus)
The parrots in the jungle say "squawk, squawk, squawk..."
All day long
Monkeys
Tigers
Elephants

Book #4 - If you're Happy and You Know It! by Jane Cabrera 

Song 4 - What a miracle by Palmer

Craft - Elephant Puppet http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/elephant-coloring-page/

I think I need to work on more interesting songs. The books were okay but the songs too toddler. I will get used to it about the time I go back to toddlers. :-)

Outreach - Rain

I did my Rain program today from a couple of weeks ago. I forgot to bring a couple of books. I feel bad because the Headstart kids are able to sit through long stories now and I only brought one.

lost voice as well...sigh

Worms! - Toddlers

Not the best toddler storytime I have ever had but I have had worse. (c'est la vie!)

Opening song - Open Shut Them
Book #1 - Ned's New Home by Tseng
Song - The Littlest Worm - on uke with shakers
Song - ABC song with shakers
Book #2 - Inch by Inch by Lionni
Puppet Show - Big Fat Worm based on the book by Van Laan
Flannel - Herman the Worm
Song - Shake your Sillies out
Song - What a miracle

When I was doing my puppet show, a child stood right in front of me - blocking the other children. I couldn't get him to sit. His mother ended up having him on the side but still not great. After that he wanted to get to my uke in the worst way so I just went to songs and ended. I normally do 3 books but it wasn't in the stars today.

Rain - toddler storytime

After a week off for the holiday, we had a good crowd for toddler storytime today.

I did my Rain theme. Since I haven't done it for a while here it is in full:

Opening song: Open Shut Them
Book #1 Boom! Big, Big Thunder and One Small Dog by Ray
    This one was a little long and some little ones lost interest.

Fingerplay - Itsy Bitsy Spider
Book #2 - Itsy Bitsy Spider by Trapani
   I skipped the last couple of verses.

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Shake your Sillies out
If you're Happy and you know it

Flannel Story - 5 little raindrops

Five little raindrops plopping on the floor,

One plopped away, and then there were four.

Four little raindrops dripping on the trees,

One dripped away, and then there were three.

Three little raindrops splashing on my shoe,

One splashed away, and then there were two.

Two little raindrops starting to run,

One ran off, and then there was one.

One little raindrop drying in the sun,

It dried all up, and then there were none!

Book #3 - Raindrops Roll by Sayre

   More lack of interest so I just showed some pictures. It is a beautiful book and I will use it for preschool storytime next month.

Book #4 - It's Raining It's Pouring by Eagle

   I sang the first verse and read the rest. I left off the last verse.

Scarf song

Cathy Fink - When the Rain Comes Down

Closing Song - What a Miracle by Palmer

Coloring sheet - Rain on a duck

I knew I was in for it when one child said - I am just not happy! - before I started. The child in question said she felt better after we were done. General lack of interest for longer books, I am guessing everyone wanted to get outside in the beautiful weather.

Pigs for Toddlers

Today I did pigs for my theme.

Songs:
The Piggy Pokey
Laurie has a Pig on Her Head (with puppets) by Laurie Berkner
If you're happy and you know it
Open Shut them
What a Miracle

Books:
Pirate Pigglywiggly by Fox
Zzz-oink by Most

Flannels
Three Little Pigs
If a Pig wore Pants

Rhythmn instruments to Tempo Marches On by Jim Gill

Outreach galore

Preschool 1 - Library/Books
Preschool 2 - Bugs
Headstart - Bugs
Early Headstart - Bugs

I Love Bugs - Toddler storytime

Today I did an old favorite...Bugs! Here is the link for my last post about bugs.

Books:
Big Bug by Cole
Can you Make a Scary Face? by Thomas
Tiny Little Fly by Rosen

Fingerplay:
Beehive

Here is a beehive

Make a fist

Where are the bees?

Hidden away where nobody sees.

Watch as they come out of their hive—

One, two, three, four, five,

Extend fingers one at a time

They’re alive! Buzzzzzz!

Wiggle your fingers

Songs:
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Everyone wants to be a Butterfly by Litwin
Butterfly away by Harmonica Pocket
Open shut them
What a miracle
Shake your Sillies out
If you're Happy and You Know it

Flannel Boards -
5 colorful butterflies
5 little ladybugs


Activities:
Everyone Wants to be Butterfly and Butterfly Away with scarves

A very large and energetic crowd today. It was great fun!

Hats off for Toddlertime!

My storytime theme for today was hats.

Here is what I did...

Books - A Hat for Minerva Louise by Stoeke
              Silly Little Goose by Tafuri
              Where's Mary's Hat? by Barroux

Songs - Silly Hat Song
             Shake your Sillies Out by Raffie
             Cap, Mittens, Shoes, and Socks (to head shoulders knees and toes)
             H-A-T-S  (with flannels)
             Give me my Hat Back by Bill Harley with instruments
            What a Miracle by Palmer

I had a good group today. Even the wanderers sat more than usual. Very enjoyable.
           

           

Early Head Start and Head Start Outreach - Space

I did a repeat of my space program but for Head Start I added Mousetronaught by Kelly.

It went well.

Toddler Storytime - Dance

I did my dance theme but with a few new books.

The books I used were:

Wiggle by Cronin
Bear Can Dance by Bloom
Dancing Feet by Knopf

Here is my last Dance storytime: http://storytimewhoopdeedo.blogspot.com/2015/07/toddlertime-dance.html

I did the Chicken Dance which I find very fun but the kids were a bit clueless. The parents really loved it!

Here is a video of my doing the Hokey Pokey with my ukulele:

Space - toddler storytime

I did a new one today.

Everyone really liked it.

Books
Dinosaur Rocket by Dale
This is a new book that just struck me as a great storytime book. It is large and colorful and the story is short enough for my 1.5 year olds and interactive.

Higher Higher by Patricelli
This one has very few words so I had the kids "help" me. Went okay.

Flannels
If you're going to the moon Where your suit (http://melissa.depperfamily.net/blog/?p=1967)

A Circle in the Sky A colleague made this flannel from the book by Wilson.

 I tied it into my Early Literacy Tip of using shapes to learn letters. Then we did YMCA. It was fun!

Songs:
Open shut them
Rocketship Run by Berkner
With shakers
YMCA by the Village People
Shake your Sillies out by Raffi
If you're Happy and You know it
What a Miracle by Palmer

Finger Play
Zoom Zoom Zoom (Jbrary)

All in all a great storytime and I wasn't even feeling very well. I did more songs from CDs and had the kids say more words from the books. I might do it for my outreach next week.

Valentine's Day Toddler storytime

Today I did Valentine's/Love, it went well. Here is the run down of what I did:

Opening song: Open Shut them

Book #1 - Plant a Kiss by Willis
This is a very cute book. I wish it was a little bigger.

Song: Shake your sillies out by Raffi

Book #2 - What a Wonderful World by Hopgood
I sang this one but I wish I hadn't since my voice was a little ragged.

Flannel/Ukulele Song: You're my Rainbow (love me Tender) https://storytimeukulele.wordpress.com/2016/01/21/love-me-tender-variations/

Book #3 - How do you Hug a Porcupine? by Isop
I shortened this book a bit for my young audience and since I did it went over well.

Song: Skidamarink with motions https://sites.google.com/site/playbasedlearning/about-me
Song: If your happy and you know it

Book #4 - Sweet Heart by Carr
I don't usually do 4 books but some were still listening (most were not) so I figured this short one might be okay. By the end of the book, more were listening.

Song with instruments: Love in your Pocket by Harper
You really just need a good beat and this song has that.

Closing song: What a miracle. I didn't ask them to return the instruments after the previous song but maybe I should have had them hand them back because it was just too loud. Only one kid did the motions with me.

Circus theme - Toddler Storytime

Today I did a new theme, "Circus!"

Books I used:
Little Monkey Says Goodnight by Paul
Song of the Circus by Duncan

Finger play:

Silly Clowns   

Five silly clowns, jumping all around,

 Jump so high, then touch the ground.

One silly clown said, "I can't stay," 

So he turned around and hopped away.

Repeat with four, three, two, one.

Songs - 

Shake your sillies out

Happy and you know it

Open Shut them

What a miracle

Draw and Tell:

At the Circus

Activity:

Parachute

Impressions: a larger group than I had for a while and it went pretty well. A new theme is always difficult the first time but it went okay. The stories for this theme are either long or very, very short. I chose two long ones and a short draw and tell. The littlest children  had trouble with the long stories but everyone really liked the parachute!

Colors for Toddlers

This is one of my oldest storytime themes I have done. Since I do it about every 4 months...(see here)...I will just give you my impressions.

The kids have been enjoying 5 days of snow so I was expecting a large crowd. Instead I had a regular smallish sized crowd. My 18 month olds didn't make an appearance so it was an easy storytime.

I was surprised how popular Dog's Colorful Day by Dodd was and how much they seemed to enjoy Rainbow Stew. I ended with scarf dancing to "Rainbow Connection" (from "Mary had a Little Amp" CD)

All had a great time!

Jungle Animals - toddler storytime

Opening song - Open Shut Them
Book #1 - If I were a Jungle Animal by Ellery
 -  This book was a bit wordy for this age so I just summarized some of the pages. They liked it.
Song: I went to the Jungle -
 - not bad but I messed up a little
Flannel: Five little monkeys sitting in a tree
Fingerplay: Five little monkeys jumping on a bed
Book #2 - If You're Happy and You know it by Cabrera
 - we sang and acted out this one
Action song; Shake your sillies out
 - This is where I lost the 18 month olds
Song: The Lion Sleeps Tonight with shakers
 - On my uke. Went well
Song: Rhinoceros Tap - Boynton

Book #3 - Tiny Little Fly by Rosen
 - The 3 little ones were running around the room but the rest liked the story.
Closing song - May there always be sunshine - on the uke.

I was excited to do this one because I had a song to play on my uke and a puppet show based on It's a Tiger by LaRochelle. Unfortunately, I didn't get to the puppet show so I will save it for another time.

Baby storytime, early head start and head start storytimes....Farm Animals

On Saturday, I did a baby storytime and today and on Tuesday I did Head Start and Early Head Start.

I figured why not do Farm Animals...again! so I did!  It went great! I used my ukulele for Early Head Start and Babies. I did my usual The More We Get Together and May There always be Sunshine. I did the same books that I did last week for Toddlers with the addition of Book, Book, Book! by Bruss for Head Start. They are 3-5 years old so I thought they might enjoy it. They seemed to like the story but the last joke fell very flat...not surprisingly. And I did Farm Yard Beat with puppets which was a hit!

Tomorrow, Toddlers!!! Bring it on!!!

Body Parts - Toddler Storytime

Opening song - Open Shut Them

Book #1 - I Like Myself by Beaumont

Fingerplay - On my face

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 two 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) 

The kids liked this so we did it twice.

Book #2 - Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Fox

Action songs -

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Tony Chestnut

Hands are for clapping - Gill

Book #3 - All of Baby Nose to Toes by Adler

I might have done a few too many action songs because this one I had to cut short.

Bean Bag Rock with beanbags

The kids just looked a me and shook their beanbags but the parents were doing the song. 

Closing song- What a Miracle by Palmer

Not too bad but there are many little ones in my group now that just graduated from baby storytime. This means more music and less books which I did. The two 4 year old girls might be encouraged to go to preschool storytime where they do more books but it is a scheduling issue for the caregivers.

Farm Animals - Toddler Storytime

Opening Song - Open Shut Them

Book #1 - Hurry Hurry by Bunting
 - Might not have been the best to start with...very young kids book.

Finger Play- Plant a seed
I plant a seed in the cold, cold, ground (put fingers on palm like planting)
Out comes the sun, big and round (arms for sun over head)
Down come the raindrops, soft and slow. (fingers wiggling)
Up comes the flower, grow, grow, grow (arms up and stand up to make tall)
 - did this one twice...they liked it!

If you're happy and you know it...ending with "if you want to hear a story"

Book #2 Farmyard Beat by Craig
 - I have done this one as a puppet show but I think I like it better as a book.

Song with puppets - Old MacDonald

Flannel - Chook chook chook
Chook, chook chook, chook, chook
Good morning, Mrs. Hen
How many chickens have you got?
Madam, I've got ten.
Four of them are yellow,
And Four of them are brown,
And two of them are speckled red,
The nicest in town.

Flannel/Finger Play -Little boy blue
Book #3 - Spots, Feathers, and Curly Tails by Tafuri
 - a nice one but the toddlers were winding down at this point, the preschoolers present answered all the questions.

Shakers to "Down on the farm" by Raffi

Closing song - What a Miracle by Palmer

For my first storytime of the year I decided to do an old standby. This is a theme I could do in my sleep which is good because I am recovering from a cold and didn't have much of a voice or much energy. The kids have bunches, however :-)