She uses a dog puppet named Rowsby with a red scarf cape, and a headband with the letter of the day featured on it. It's rather cute. Rowsby takes items out of the "letter box" (a plush toy mailbox) that feature the letter of the day. Our letter of the day was "T" so she had put a toothbrush, toothpaste, a turtle, a tyranusaurus, and tape in the box.
One thing I've seen other librarians do at storytime, and something Franja does, is give kids paper to write their name on as name tags in the first session. Then the kids leave their name tags and use them again in the next session. I didn't include this ritual and I regretted it. The name tags serve two purposes: it makes the kids feel welcome, and it gives the storyteller the ability to call the child by name when they need to sit down!
At the end of the storytime Franja offers the children a hand stamp with the letter of the day featured. She had supplied me with a tree, a train, and the letter "T". When I was finished I said "Who would like a hand stamp?" and I swear the entire group of kids got up and rushed me! There were kids being pushed over and hands thrust out towards me. It was chaos! I stood up and asked them to form a line but it was too late. Children were crying and desperate for a hand stamp. Next time I will have them form a line first - then offer the hand stamp.
I had made an outline to guide me through the storytime. I'm still green at this and I don't have a rhythm or a routine yet. I got myself started but then I couldn't find my outline! I had prepared well enough so I just winged it, but my face turned scarlet and hot. Oh well, 'tis my dermatological fate to blush easily.
Here's the outline of what I did:
Storytime at Crossroads, 3-12-08
Early Literacy Skill: Letter Knowledge
Letter knowledge is knowing that letters have different names and sounds.
On a flannel board, display cardboard letters. Use carpet squares with featured letter.
I. Introduction
A. If You’re Happy and You Know It (Ending in “Wave Hello)
B. Introduce the Early Literacy skill. “Today we will be singing songs and reading stories, and having fun with the letter T”
C. The dog puppet Rowsby pulled out “T” items from letter box
D. “Where is T?” (sung to the tune of Frere Jacques)
II. First story
A. Tikki Tikki Tembo by Mosel – I used a giant book version of this one.
III. Fingerplay: Terry Thumb
IV. Second story
A. Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha
V. Fingerplay: Mr. Turkey and Mr. Duck (sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle)
VI. Third Story
A. Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo by Kevin Lewis
VII. Ending
A. Give the children each a die cut of the letter of the day
B. Sing, “Hooray for T” (sung to the tune of the Farmer and the Dell)
Play “I’m going to try and trick you”. If the word starts with T, say ‘Hooray!’ and wave your T. If it doesn’t start with T, keep the letter in your lap.
VIII. Conclusion
A. Sing “If You’re Happy and You Know It” (5 verses ending in “Wave Goodbye)
B. Give parents Handout for the letter “T”
C. Hand stamp (watch out for the stampede!)
Additional Stories:
Duck in the Truck by Alborough
The Turnip by Morgan
What Newt Could Do for Turtle by London
Red-Eyed Tree Frog by Cowley
Grandpa Toad’s Secrets by Kasza
Song:
“Where is T?” (sung to the tune of Frere Jacques)
Where is T ? Where is T?
Here I am ! Here I am !
Can you make the T sound ? Can you make the T sound ?
T,T,T / T,T,T
Song:
Hooray for T (sung to the tune of the Farmer and the Dell)
Say Hooray for T
Say Hooray for T
We love to make the T sound
Say Hooray for T
Fingerplay: Terry Thumb
Terry Thumb is up
And Terry Thumb is down
Terry Thumb is dancing
All around the town
Dance him on your shoulder
Dance him on your head
Dance him on your tummy.
Now tuck him into bed.
Fingerplay:
Mr. Turkey and Mr. Duck (sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle)
Mr. Turkey went out one day in bright sunshiny weather
(bring one hand out from behind back)
He met Mr. Duck along the way (bring other hand out )
They stopped to talk together. (hand “talk” to each other)
Gobble, gobble, gobble
Quack!Quack!Quack!
(repeat gobbles and quacks twice)
And then they went back (hide hands)
Quack! (one last surprise quack from duck hand)
