I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to attend Kids are Customers Too this year. I have come away with many good ideas that I am looking forward to share with our staff.
One of my favorite parts of the day was Gloria-Anne Bartas’ session on Storytime Transitions. She had so many good suggestions for transitions that were easy and fun to use. It was also useful to see what themes and books she might choose for her programs. One of my favorite ideas was using the song “The Bear Went over the Mountains” with a bear puppet heading over a flannel board mountain and then seeing…whatever object you might choose from your collection of flannel boards, stuffed animals, etc. The sillier the better! I couldn’t help wondering many times during her presentation, “Why didn’t I think if that?” Hoping her handout will be up on the MLA website soon, so that we can make full use of all of her ideas!
Jill Hutchison presented a very interesting program called “Wiggle Giggle Storytimes”. Her library in St. Mary’s County present these storytimes with the goal of mainstreaming children from the Infants and Toddler Program with other “wiggly” children who may also benefit from a shorter, more interactive program. Jill presented many practical tips to consider in organizing such a program. It was especially useful to be reminded that we might inadvertently over stimulate these children with our choice of really bouncy, active music. Jill suggested using more calming music from artists such as Raffi and Hap Palmer. I will definitely keep the information presented and share it with our staff at Wheaton to help in planning future visits from the Infants and Toddlers program.
Other highlights included the lively presentation by author, Jennifer Holm on the creation of her popular graphic novel series, Baby Mouse and the discussion of the Blue Crab Young Readers’ Award (thanks, Susan Modak and her committee!) Some of titles presented, such as Abracadabra! Magic with Mouse and Mole will be perfect for upcoming visits with the early grades. It was also good to see how easily Mo Willem’s Piggie and Elephant books lend themselves to being acted out.
All in all, the conference was a great way to get recharged with new ideas and to get the time to visit with colleagues from MCPL and other systems.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
12th Annual Kids Are Customers Too
It was held at the lovely Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Maryland. The first session was called "Storytime Transitions" conducted by Gloria Bartas of Enoch Pratt. At a break neck pace she introduced songs, chants, flannelboards, games, etc. to link books in your preschool storytimes including nonfiction book ideas. She said if you email her at Pratt Library she will actually send you all of them (gbartas@prattlibrary.org). I also attended the breakout session called "Wiggle Giggle Storytimes" conducted by Jill Hutchison from St. Mary's County Library. This a based on a program that the library does in partnership with the Infants and Toddlers Program for children with developmental delays and includes peers from the general public. I think this is very adaptable to our programs which may or may not include children with some of these same issues. She emphasized: shorter storytimes for shorter attention spans, realistic and clear expectations, no single sit time activity longer than 3 minutes, follow each sit time activity with a wiggle activity, bridging between every activity, and incorporating sing language if possible. She also said to choose only big books or stories with flannelboards or puppets, stories with simple concepts and short lines, repeating a story across several storytimes, singing and chanting, etc. Jennifer Holm author of Babymouse fame also spoke about the appeal of her character and graphic novel to not just girls but all children. The second break out session I attended was called "Booktalking Bonanza" conducted by Betsy Diamont-Cohen and Selma Levi both of Enoch Pratt. They showed how to incorporate both fiction and nonfiction booktalks into themes interspersed with videos, games, etc. They also have a new book called "Booktalking Bonanza" for sale from the ALA store that contains ready to go programs - only $36.00 for ALA members. The last two sessions were devoted to the Blue Crab Young Readers Award winners (these are beginning readers) and effective school and library partnerships.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
12th Annual Kids Are Customers,Too
10/16/08, 8:30 to 4:15, Turf Valley Resort, sponsored by MLA
Vendor Exhibits-I had the opportunity to speak to a vendor that I do business with regarding some needed financial information.
Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader's Award presentation-I will check their book list to see if any titles need to be ordered.
LEAP Science is Fun!-ideas for assembling science kits to circulate. I attended this because I thought that there might be some J non-fiction titles that I should know about. However, the focus was on science equipment and where to obtain it.
Booktalking Bonanza-tying book talks and web site games and activities together. The presenters also included non-fiction. I am a big fan of booktalking non-fiction, so I was very happy to see this included. I will be ordering the book entitled BOOKTALKING BONANZA:TEN READY-TO -USE MULTIMEDIA SESSIONS FOR THE BUSY LIBRARIAN, a new ALA publication written by the 2 presenters.
Storytime Transitions-the presenter demonstrated how to "glue books together" with songs and flannel board activites between each picture book. She included a section on using non-fiction and a section on phonics activities in storytime. She urged her audience to include non-fiction in their programs. As the J NF selector, I am always glad to hear this!
Attending conferences such as this one, alert me to titles both old and new that I need to be aware of and perhaps can purchase for the system.
Vendor Exhibits-I had the opportunity to speak to a vendor that I do business with regarding some needed financial information.
Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader's Award presentation-I will check their book list to see if any titles need to be ordered.
LEAP Science is Fun!-ideas for assembling science kits to circulate. I attended this because I thought that there might be some J non-fiction titles that I should know about. However, the focus was on science equipment and where to obtain it.
Booktalking Bonanza-tying book talks and web site games and activities together. The presenters also included non-fiction. I am a big fan of booktalking non-fiction, so I was very happy to see this included. I will be ordering the book entitled BOOKTALKING BONANZA:TEN READY-TO -USE MULTIMEDIA SESSIONS FOR THE BUSY LIBRARIAN, a new ALA publication written by the 2 presenters.
Storytime Transitions-the presenter demonstrated how to "glue books together" with songs and flannel board activites between each picture book. She included a section on using non-fiction and a section on phonics activities in storytime. She urged her audience to include non-fiction in their programs. As the J NF selector, I am always glad to hear this!
Attending conferences such as this one, alert me to titles both old and new that I need to be aware of and perhaps can purchase for the system.
Kids Are Customers 2008
For the first time media specialists from throughout the state attended this conference. It was great to see some of our local school media specialists and have their input. In addition there were extensive vendor displays this year.
Jill Hutchinson from St. Mary's County talked about their "Wiggle-Giggle Storytime" where they include children from their local Infants and Toddlers Program (a statewide early intervention program) and they also invite children from regular storytime who find it difficult to sit through a traditional storytime. Some of the hints they recommended were using music that is exciting but that has a calming effect at the end. She found that using music which is more highly frentic tends to get the children too hyperactive. Recommended music included CDs by Hap Palmer and Raffi. She also recommended lots of repetition and using one favorite song like "Twinkle, Twinkle" whenever the children get too excitable to bring their focus back to storytime.
Gloria Ann Bartas from Enoch Pratt presented numerous storytime transitions from music to echo stories to movement. One of her rhymes was "Imagine that. Imagine that. Here's a pretend game just for you. Pick a card. Read and do. " (Then the librarian gives children pictures of something like different animals and has the child act out their animal.) Gloria quickly went through about 50 of these and did not complete her whole outline. She has promised to put this information on the Maryland Library Association website, but it has not been posted yet.
Jill Hutchinson from St. Mary's County talked about their "Wiggle-Giggle Storytime" where they include children from their local Infants and Toddlers Program (a statewide early intervention program) and they also invite children from regular storytime who find it difficult to sit through a traditional storytime. Some of the hints they recommended were using music that is exciting but that has a calming effect at the end. She found that using music which is more highly frentic tends to get the children too hyperactive. Recommended music included CDs by Hap Palmer and Raffi. She also recommended lots of repetition and using one favorite song like "Twinkle, Twinkle" whenever the children get too excitable to bring their focus back to storytime.
Gloria Ann Bartas from Enoch Pratt presented numerous storytime transitions from music to echo stories to movement. One of her rhymes was "Imagine that. Imagine that. Here's a pretend game just for you. Pick a card. Read and do. " (Then the librarian gives children pictures of something like different animals and has the child act out their animal.) Gloria quickly went through about 50 of these and did not complete her whole outline. She has promised to put this information on the Maryland Library Association website, but it has not been posted yet.
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