I forgot to reflect on my storytelling program last week, so I'm doing that now.
There were around 10 people who attended, including two adults and one teenage chaperone. I told the stories, "The Simple Saame Man" (Finland, retold by Jamila Gavin in Our Favorite Stories), "The Mitten" (Ukraine, retold by Jan Brett in The Mitten), and "How Loon Outsmarted Winter" (native North America, retold by Linda Raczek in Stories from Native North America). I did use the felt mitten and laminated animals for "The Mitten" but only to briefly hold up each one.
For the most part, the kids were quiet while I told the stories, but it was hard to gauge their reaction from their faces. One girl was sort of frowning the whole time, but it may have been a concentration sort of frown. The highlight was definitely "The Mitten," which several of the kids said that they knew. At the end, they said that this was their favorite story, although the one teenager said that she liked, "The Simple Saame Man" for its lesson about courage.
One younger boy definitely enjoyed "The Mitten" and did react during "How Loon Outsmarted Winter," when Loon is trapped under the ice, by looking at his mom with surprise! That was definitely the highlight for me because I got him to become invested in a story (without pictures or props) that he hadn't heard before.
Many of the books that I had displayed were taken at the end of the program, especially compared to how few are normally taken after Toddler Time, for example. I also set out a basket with packets of hot chocolate, which was also popular.
One mother stayed behind to tell me that she really appreciated the program, and that she was trying to get her son to begin enjoying stories without pictures.
Overall, I think the program was a success. It definitely got some of our folktale books circulating, and I think everyone found the storytelling enjoyable. I wonder if I would get more reaction on the future if I told more energetic stories, if I told stories meant for younger children, or if I used more props of some kind.
Should I try it again?
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Just read, read, read
I've noticed a couple of things that parent/caregiver patrons do that make me sad.
I overheard a child asking his grandma what books she would be checking out to read, and she said, "Oh, no, I have things to read for work, and I'll just read with you." Now, it's up to the adult if he or she wants to read in his/her spare time (although I would personally encourage it!), but I do think it's important for kids to see adults reading for pleasure. Reading isn't something you do only as a kid because you're told to - it should be something you do your whole life because it's enjoyable and enriching!
It also makes me sad when adults limit what their children can read. "Oh, he has to read Level 1 books." (As if every book fit into a well-defined Level.) "Don't take out more than five picture books." (I understand it's hard to keep track of them sometimes, but reading is so important for your child - can't you make it work?) "That one is too easy. Put it back. That one is too easy too." (I know you want your child to be challenged, but you're close to turning reading into a chore instead of a pleasure. Sometimes we read below our reading levels and that's okay!)
Just some thoughts from this week. :)
I overheard a child asking his grandma what books she would be checking out to read, and she said, "Oh, no, I have things to read for work, and I'll just read with you." Now, it's up to the adult if he or she wants to read in his/her spare time (although I would personally encourage it!), but I do think it's important for kids to see adults reading for pleasure. Reading isn't something you do only as a kid because you're told to - it should be something you do your whole life because it's enjoyable and enriching!
It also makes me sad when adults limit what their children can read. "Oh, he has to read Level 1 books." (As if every book fit into a well-defined Level.) "Don't take out more than five picture books." (I understand it's hard to keep track of them sometimes, but reading is so important for your child - can't you make it work?) "That one is too easy. Put it back. That one is too easy too." (I know you want your child to be challenged, but you're close to turning reading into a chore instead of a pleasure. Sometimes we read below our reading levels and that's okay!)
Just some thoughts from this week. :)
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
New Years Resolution
Well, it's been over three months since I last posted anything, and I've decided that writing on this blog regularly is going to be one of my New Year's Resolutions for 2013.
How have the past few months been? Great, actually. I'm feeling so much more comfortable with many of the aspects of my job, and I really feel like a good, contributing member of the children's services team. I even went to my first professional conference as an actual librarian, which was pretty darn cool. Sometimes I still can't believe that I really succeeded in making this my career, but on the other hand, I feel like I'm definitely in the right place.
My worry currently is about a storytelling program that I'm doing this week. I'm telling three folktales that have to do with winter, and the children (ages 5-10) who are attending are encouraged to bring their own stories to share. I hope that I know the stories well enough. At this point, I feel like I know them but am not telling them very fluidly. As long as I don't freeze up with nervousness, I'll be fine, but I'm going to keep working on it because I want it to be better than fine.
I don't know how long my entries are going to be here, but just writing something will be good for me in order to reflect and absorb what I learn. Thanks for reading, if anyone is! :)
How have the past few months been? Great, actually. I'm feeling so much more comfortable with many of the aspects of my job, and I really feel like a good, contributing member of the children's services team. I even went to my first professional conference as an actual librarian, which was pretty darn cool. Sometimes I still can't believe that I really succeeded in making this my career, but on the other hand, I feel like I'm definitely in the right place.
My worry currently is about a storytelling program that I'm doing this week. I'm telling three folktales that have to do with winter, and the children (ages 5-10) who are attending are encouraged to bring their own stories to share. I hope that I know the stories well enough. At this point, I feel like I know them but am not telling them very fluidly. As long as I don't freeze up with nervousness, I'll be fine, but I'm going to keep working on it because I want it to be better than fine.
I don't know how long my entries are going to be here, but just writing something will be good for me in order to reflect and absorb what I learn. Thanks for reading, if anyone is! :)
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