Storytime Plans
posted in children's literature, youth services, storytelling |A Storytime Plan is a program combining read-aloud books, fingerplays, music, and crafts for children to get them excited about the world of stories, learning, and ideas. Stories serve many purposes such as enabling us to share experience, understand our world, and build community.
A good rule of thumb in creating a plan is to BE FLEXIBLE: Storytime involves a teller and audience interaction and the teller should plan flexibly enough to switch the order of the program or swap out the stories told and the books read based on the age and attitude of the kids.
Some quick resources for picking out books to use during storytime: story collections in the 398.2 sections, search catalog by subject, WorldCat, Novelist, Amazon, other librarians, online lists, and anything else that seems helpful
Many people have many ideas about how best to proceed with planning and implementing storytime. One framework that I have found useful was developed by Elizabeth Ellis a teller from the US. Her framework for creating a storytelling Program is the following: Haha!, Aha, Aahh, Amen… (now, to elaborate)
- Ha—start with short, funny stories
- Aha—follow with something clever, witty or with a twist
- Aaaah—continue with a longer interesting tale with some emotional depth
- Amen—end with a powerful or meaningful one (or continue for another cycle)
Now, this program framework, like everything to do with storytime, is flexible. For any given plan, the planner might instead decide it best to insert rhymes, songs, crafts, or otherwise. The most common types of of Library Children’s Programs are: Lapsit (emphasizing adult-child interaction and featuring songs and fingerplay activities. Ages: 6 months to 2 years old.), Toddler Time (like lapsit, toddler time also features interactive stories, picture books, songs, fingerplays, and crafts. Ages: 2-3), Preschool Storytime (more of the same, perhaps including longer stories or games).
Each library’s policies and age divisions will vary. From time to time, I will be creating storytime plans for various age groups, and putting them on my Storytime Resources page. Feel free to send me comments and to add your own ideas.
