My Basic Storytime Plan

By the time I started doing storytime at the daycare, I had worked in youth services at the library for almost two years, and had been able to observe and learn from the talented children's librarians I work with.  I started with the way they do storytimes at work as a general guideline, and adapted it to fit my group of kids.  I already knew that I knew how to read to kids from reading to my own kids, it was just a matter of adapting from reading to one or two kids beside me or on my lap to reading to a group of kids in front of me:  holding the book out, using gestures, etc.  The group I have is the 3-year old class at a local neighborhood center daycare sponsored by two of the local churches.  There are 16 kids registered in the class, but there are typically only about 10 there when I come to do storytime.

First we start with a welcome song to get everyone settled on the rug and focused on me.  I'm sorry I can't give proper credit for the source.  I thought I came up with it, but I have since seen other versions of it.  So, it's either parallel evolution or I may have heard it years ago at a program I took my kids to.  It is sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star":

          "Welcome, welcome everyone; now it's time to have some fun.

           First we'll clap our hands just so; then we'll bend and touch our toes.

           Welcome, welcome everyone; now it's time to have some fun."

Next, I give a very brief welcome and introduction.  I tell them my name, go around the group and say their names, briefly introduce the theme and remind them of the rules:  sit on your bottoms so everyone can see, hands to yourself, eyes up front, listening ears on.

Then I have lead-in song before the first book, based on the song "If You're Happy And You Know It".  This is one I know I came up with on my own, but I know many other people have as well, and there are lots of other variations to fit different themes.

            If you want to hear a story, clap your hands.

           If you want to hear a story, clap your hand.

           If you want to hear a story, a ___  ____ ____ story;

           If you want to hear a story clap your hands.

I try to fill in the blanks with something related to the theme for the day, like "a farm animal story", but if nothing works then I just repeat the previous line.  We repeat with different actions, becoming quieter each time.  For example, tap your toes, nod your head, sit so still, say "Shhh"...  I change it up a little, depending on how quickly they are settling down.   Sometimes I'll add something theme-related, like "Say Ho, Ho, Ho" for Christmas, "Kiss, kiss" for Valentine's day (followed by lots of giggles).

Then we are ready for our first book, followed by an action song or rhyme, then the second book, another action song or rhyme, then the third book.  The action songs/rhymes/fingerplays change each time and fit the theme of the day.  These give them a chance to move a bit between stories so they don't get too bored, exercise gross and/or fine motor skills a little, reinforce the theme, and are just fun.  Since these are new each week, we do them twice.

Now, storytime is over and we end with a closing song I found here (and modified a bit), also to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle....":

         
          Hands go up and hands go down;

          I can turn myself around.

          I can jump upon two shoes;

          I can clap and so can you.

          I can wave; I'll show you how.

          Storytime is done for now.

Then I thank them for letting me come and say that I will see them again in two weeks.  If I have already decided on a theme for the next one, I might mention it.  I have also started giving them either a sticker or hand stamp at the end.

This is pretty much how I do it every time, but sometimes vary a little bit.  I may add an extra song/rhyme/fingerplay or some other activity here or there and usually throw in a good stretch somewhere in the middle, but this seems to be working well and usually fills the 30 minutes I have.  At the beginning of the school year I start out with a shorter storytime, with just 2 shorter books, for about 20 minutes.  Then as the they get used to the routine and get older I'm able to gradually increase it to 2-3 longer books for a 30 minute storytime. 

I look for books that have some interactive element:  guessing what objects are, what will happen, naming colors, repetitive lines that the kids can say with me...  I also like books that are funny, but the humor can't be too sophisticated for this age.  I know most people do the longest books first, but I have found with this group, it seems to work better in the middle. I pick really simple songs, generally to the tune of traditional children's songs, because I don't have much of a singing voice.  Actually, I couldn't carry a tune with a bucket, but the kids don't seem to mind :)  I incorporate props and visual aids as well, and purchased a small magnetic white board to serve as a travel "flannel" board.