Programming with ECRR2 in Mind

Staff Training April 9 & 10, 2013

What makes a good story time?

•  It's fun! •  Interactive •  Varied •  Good stories •  Lots of different elements •  Songs •  Paced well to keep kids' attention •  Transitions between activities so there is cohesion •  Flexibility depending on your audience •  Early literacy statements •  Parent involvement

How can you tell when story time is successful? •  Nobody cries •  Nobody leaves •  Good feedback •  Kids don't want to leave •  Kids participate •  Parents participate •  They come back •  They are absorbed in what is being read •  HUGS!

What would you change about story time? •  Anything that doesn't work •  Smaller groups •  Enough kids to make it engaging •  More flexibility to meet the needs of all family types, schedules •  Include more types of storytelling (books, non-fiction, felt stories, puppets,

apps) •  Attitude of coworkers who think it's just loud playing •  Attitude of parents who don't see the critical benefit •  More interactive elements (instruments, etc.) •  Meet more types of audiences, especially including males so kids see men

reading •  More math and science •  More open-ended crafts/art •  More open-ended activities, i.e. play time, picture walk •  Time for grownups to hang out and talk to one another, esp. with babies

Questions to ask about a program - Engagement

•  How does it engage kids?

•  How does it engage caregivers?

Questions to ask about a program - The Five Practices •  Does reading happen? How?

•  Does talking happen? How?

•  Does singing happen? How?

•  Does writing happen? How?

•  Does playing happen? How?

Questions for personal consideration

What are the strongest components of your

story time?

Which of the five practices, if any, are you missing from your program?