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.