KINDERGARTEN READINESS
STORYTIMES
Megan Stith
Meade County Public Library
Kentucky Public Library Association
2011 Annual Conference
TODAY’S PRESENTATION
Starting your own
kindergarten readiness
program
 Program plans
 Storytimes for new
librarians
 Helpful resources
 Take-homes

CREATING YOUR STORYTIME
No standard program that fits all libraries
 Know your community
 Listen to patrons
 Marketing what you’re already doing
 Standalone program (Kindergarten 101) or
periodic focus

WHY KINDERGARTEN READINESS IS
IMPORTANT?

Children who read or are read to become better readers
(Allington, 2006; Krashen, 2004; Ross, McKechnie, & Rothbauer, 2006).


“There is a 90% probability that a child will remain a poor
reader at the end of the fourth grade if the child is a poor reader
at the end of the first grade. Therefore, children who start
school behind typically stay behind (MacLean, 2008).”
Library storytimes provide
encouragement,
access, and
time for reading
(deGroot & Branch, 2009).
SOURCES FOR KINDERGARTEN READINESS
SKILLS

Community partnerships:
Kindergarten teachers
 Board of Education
 Daycare providers


Countdown to Kindergarten (Boston Public
Schools)
http://www.countdowntokindergarten.org
 Fun By the Month activities, free printables

MATH READINESS
Identify the eight basic colors.
 Count out loud to ten.
 Count a set of objects to five.
 Sorts objects.
 Recognizes and extends simple patterns.
 Recognizes shapes.
 Compares sizes and sets of objects.

LITERACY READINESS
Write his/her first name.
 Know full name.
 Sing or say the Alphabet Song.
 Recognize at least thirteen letters of the alphabet
(Any 13).
 Printing first name.
 Recognizes beginning and ending sounds of
words.
 Produces rhyming words.

MOTOR AND SOCIAL SKILLS
Cut on a straight line.
 Color within the lines.
 Use glue and paint.
 Zip and button pants without adult assistance.
 Put on and take off coat without adult assistance.
 Self-sufficient in all toileting responsibilities.
 Tie shoes.
 Listening to a story.
 Sharing and cleaning up toys.
 Walk in a line.

STORYTIME PROGRAM
Independent time for preschoolers
 Rituals similar to circle time

Rhyme dice (phonological
awareness, rhyming words)
 Alphabet song/letter of the day
(letter knowledge, beginning
sounds, rhyming)
 Calendar (counting, numbers)

Themes: skill based or topic based
 Setting standards

SPECIAL EVENTS
School bus visit
 Kindergarten teacher meet
and greet
 Storytime graduation
 50 Books to Read Before
Kindergarten Challenge
 Storytime for adults

Best books for kids
 How to select books
 Giving gift books
 New releases/Previews

BASIC PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Circle time:
Welcome song
 Rhyme dice
 Alphabet song
 Calendar
 Musical instruments

Story time
 Craft

Process over product
 Use a variety of materials

Creative playtime
 Closing song

WHY GO BEYOND BOOKS?
“Children have further opportunities to improve
comprehension skills, accelerate language development, and
evoke creativity through extension activities, such as art,
drawing, and cooking; large motor activities, such as
dancing, parachute games, and obstacle courses; and fine
motor activities, such as threading and lacing.”
-Cahill, 2004, p.61
“Executive function has a number of elements, such as
working memory and cognitive flexibility. But perhaps the
most important is self-regulation — the ability for kids to
control their emotions and behavior, resist impulses, and
exert self-control and discipline…Poor executive function
is associated with high dropout rates, drug use and
crime. In fact, good executive function is a better
predictor of success in school than a child's IQ.”
-Spiegel, 2008
SAMPLE PROGRAM: FOOD
Storytime: Eating the Alphabet (letters), The
Doorbell Rang (numbers), Gregory the Terrible
Eater (types of food), The Very Hungry
Caterpillar (days of the week)
 Craft: pasta and cereal necklaces (fine motor
skills)
 Playtime: kitchen and food toys, grocery store,
restaurant, sort food

SAMPLE PROGRAM: BEHAVIOR
Storytime: No, David!, Curious George, I Ain’t
Gonna Paint No More
 Craft: Watercolor splatter paintings
 Playtime: Sort mixed up objects

SAMPLE PROGRAM: ZOO
Storytime: Color Zoo (colors), My Heart is Like a
Zoo (shapes), 1 Zany Zoo (numbers)
 Craft: Use cut shapes to make their own animals
 Playtime: Animal masks, veterinarian

SAMPLE PROGRAM: GARDENING
Storytime: Count on Pablo (numbers), Planting a
Rainbow (colors), Garden of Opposites (opposites)
 Craft: Make sweet potato people
 Playtime: Seed viewer, observe as they grow

SAMPLE PROGRAM: SAFETY
Storytime: No Dragons for Tea, Emergency,
Officer Buckle and Gloria
 Craft: Phone number magnet
 Playtime: Practice dialing phones, rehearse 911
calls, dial a phone with your feet

SAMPLE PROGRAM: COMMUNITY HELPERS
Storytime: Millie Waits for the Mail, Guess Who,
I Stink (alphabet), Trashy Town
 Craft: Recycled artwork
 Playtime: Match the mail, sort recycling

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
“Report card” of the day’s program
 Short video at pick-up time
 Take-home activities
 Bibliographies or a special school readiness
section

STORYTIME TIPS FOR NEW LIBRARIANS

Working with a limited collection
Repeat favorites
 Use AV materials
 Online books

Know your population
 Visit other libraries
 Offer to co-present

STORYTIME DON’TS…









Be afraid to go beyond books
Rush the pictures
Simplify the vocabulary
Barrel through the story without
interacting
Forget the goals of your program and
your library
Try to do something unprepared
Be opposed to change and spontaneity
Be afraid to act silly!
Any advice you’d like to share?
GETTING IDEAS AND STAYING ORGANIZED

Using blogs


Google Reader
Listservs
KYAC
 PUBYAC
 KITLIT/CHILDLIT


Making your plans available
Blog
 Facebook page

PLANNING TOOLS

Everything Preschool


http://www.everythingpreschool.com
Letter-based themes
Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California
http://www.bayviews.org/storytime/

SurLaLune Storytimes:
http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/storytime/index.html

Storytime Katie:
http://storytimekatie.wordpress.com/

Awesome Storytime:
http://awesomestorytime.wordpress.com/

Enterprise Library Storytime:
http://storytimeinenterprise.blogspot.com/

Constructive Playthings

Educational toys
TODAY’S TAKE-HOMES
Craft template
 Resource list
 Reader’s advisory notebook
 50 Books to Read Before Kindergarten list

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
MEGAN STITH
Meade County Public Library
400 Library Place
Brandenburg, KY 40108
megan@meadereads.org
270-422-2094