It’s been a busy week, as usual…<\/p>\n
Monday was my second toddler storytime, and it was SO much fun!\u00c2\u00a0 I’m still using Judy Nichol’s book as a guide (the newest edition arrived at the library for the children’s office professional collection), and I\u00c2\u00a0chose her “Bears” storytime this week.\u00c2\u00a0 Despite my concerns about learning and presenting\u00c2\u00a0“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” I was able to pull it off, and we all had such a great time with it.\u00c2\u00a0 As Jim put it, I actually got out of my own way, and tapped into my inner storyteller.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
At this point, I’m not yet limiting enrollment to the toddler storytime, but it’s clear why Nichols recommends that approach.\u00c2\u00a0 Three families arrived late, and at different times, and the flow of the storytime was definitely interrupted by those late arrivals.\u00c2\u00a0 Perhaps in the future, once this storytime is better established, I’ll be able to require pre-registration and on-time attendance, but I am working in a small town with a limited number of toddlers, and I want to be accessible and open to all.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s a puzzle, one that I’ll have to work out over time.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, I hosted two book groups at the library.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0One was the postponed 6th Grade Book Group, with a discussion of Jane Langton’s The Diamond in the Window<\/em>, and the other was the Teen Book Group meeting, in which we discussed The White Darkness <\/em>by Geraldine McCaughrean.\u00c2\u00a0 (For details on the excellent teen discussion, see Tuesday’s post.)\u00c2\u00a0 The 6th graders totally surprised me, because their opinions of TDITW <\/em>were polar opposite from the 5th graders opinions on the same book.\u00c2\u00a0 The 6th graders unanimously disliked the book, and I was hard pressed to change their minds.\u00c2\u00a0 In fact, Tuesday’s discussion has inspired me to write a\u00c2\u00a0entry on the current state of children and books that will be posted this weekend.<\/p>\n Also on Tuesday, another meeting of the Infant Storytime.\u00c2\u00a0 Not my best showing for the Infant Storytime, in part because I’m still working to put together a Mother Goose on the Loose <\/em>program, which does limit the amount of time I have available to plan the existing infant program.\u00c2\u00a0 As every children’s librarian knows, there is never enough time to accomplish all the tasks on\u00c2\u00a0my plate.\u00c2\u00a0 But with time and perserverence, the Infant Storytime will become the awesome program that I envision.<\/p>\n Thursday morning was the Preschool Storytime, which was oh-so-popular last spring, but is struggling this fall.\u00c2\u00a0 Last week no one attended, but this week two families showed, and the three children were sweet and cute and terrific listeners.\u00c2\u00a0 Once attendance is a bit more regular, I’ll be instituting changes to that storytime, as well, enhancing it with varied, hands on activities in addition to the older stories that have always been at the core of Thursday mornings.<\/p>\n Tonight will be a showing of The Jungle Book <\/em>after the library closes, my first attempt at running an after-hours program in the new building.\u00c2\u00a0 If Lisa’s health has improved (she was struck down by the evil cold yesterday), she’ll be assisting me, as will Jim, who has promised to bring me dinner first.\u00c2\u00a0 What a guy! \u00c2\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n In addition to all these programs, I’ve been working assiduously at book ordering.\u00c2\u00a0 Not just new titles, but also filling gaps in the collection:\u00c2\u00a0 classics that are somehow missing (such as George MacDonald’s \u00c2\u00a0At the Back of the North Wind<\/em>)\u00c2\u00a0and books by popular authors that we don’t have (Andrew Clements’ The Jacket<\/em>)\u00c2\u00a0and books to complete a series.\u00c2\u00a0 And, now that school has started back up, I’ve been adding nonfiction titles to the collection that will support school projects, such as the project that requires study on a country in the Middle East.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n All these tasks have been in addition to the ongoing challenge of monitoring the afterschool crowd:\u00c2\u00a0 all lovely and charming kids, but kids who do need a fair amount of supervision in order to maintain the quiet decorum that a library requires.\u00c2\u00a0 My room is getting to be more manageable, and I’m considering the implementation of a rewards program to recognize good behavior.\u00c2\u00a0 When I was at Alcott School, one of the 4th grade classrooms that I helped in (help is such a weak word for SPED tutoring, but whatever) used an approach gleaned from the masterful teaching of Kitsy Rothermel.\u00c2\u00a0 (Kitsy was my 5th grade teacher, and is a fabulously talented woman who still volunteered her time and expertise\u00c2\u00a0at Alcott when I worked there, teaching 4th grade writing classes.)\u00c2\u00a0 Kitsy’s approach: the ticket system.\u00c2\u00a0 The teacher has a giant roll of tickets, and quietly hands out these tickets to kids who are “caught” doing something good, like working independently,\u00c2\u00a0following directions, etc.\u00c2\u00a0 The kids then write their\u00c2\u00a0names on the tickets, and put the tickets into a box for a weekly drawing.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0Each Friday, the teacher pulls out one ticket, and that child gets to choose a prize from a prize box.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s an incredibly successful approach, and creates a cycle of positive reinforcement.\u00c2\u00a0 It would need to be modified somewhat for use in a public library setting, but I think I have a plan for that – I’ll post an update when I’m more secure in my approach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s been a busy week, as usual… Monday was my second toddler storytime, and it was SO much fun!\u00c2\u00a0 I’m still using Judy Nichol’s book as a guide (the newest edition arrived at the library for the children’s office professional collection), and I\u00c2\u00a0chose her “Bears” storytime this week.\u00c2\u00a0 Despite my concerns about learning and presenting\u00c2\u00a0“We’re … Continue reading Friday wrap-up<\/span>