I have been providing preschool outreach for 14 of the practically 15 years I’ve labored within the library. Over the previous few years, I’ve appreciated the problem of reimagining what preschool outreach would possibly appear like. Whereas I nonetheless give conventional story instances, the completely different approaches I’ve added have breathed new life into me and captivated the preschoolers I serve.
For many of my preschool outreach, I relied on conventional story instances. Rigorously chosen image books and non-fiction shaped the idea and supported the month-to-month themes I selected. Songs, fingerplays and actions made my time in kindergarten full. It was good. Snug. Easy. However is straightforward at all times good? In some unspecified time in the future I knew I needed to provide extra to the preschoolers I served…and fewer. Extra them† Fewer me†
Math
I bear in mind the primary time we made a bar chart collectively throughout a storytime. I drew columns on a transportable whiteboard and labeled every with forms of pets to associate with my animal-themed story. Then I handed every little one a sticky observe. Sticky notes are nice for bar charts as a result of they’re all the identical dimension, making comparisons simpler. The children voted for his or her favourite pet. Then, utilizing the sticky notes columns, we may simply decide which pet was the preferred. One other strategy to bar charts is to make clean charts on 11×17″ paper and make X’s whereas the youngsters vote. We talked about how simple it’s to find out the preferred. You do not even should rely! Simply examine the peak of the columns. I’d hold the chart going through me all through the voting course of and save the massive reveal for the top! Unifix® cubes (interlocking cubes) or LEGO® bricks are nice for creating 3D column charts.

Picture courtesy of creator.
I began recording what I known as a ‘Math Minute’. I’d announce a subject (methods to maneuver your physique, meals you prefer to eat, and so forth). Then I set a timer for 60 seconds. The kids yelled out responses I wrote on the board. On the finish, we counted all of the responses to see how a lot we brainstormed.
There are such a lot of different methods to include math into story instances, and I might love to listen to your concepts within the feedback beneath!
Motion and mindfulness
One other method I used to be capable of reshape the attain of preschool was by incorporating motion and mindfulness into my tales. I used to be fortunate sufficient to be licensed as a Tales, Songs, and Stretches!® facilitator. The pandemic struck throughout my group’s certification course of, nevertheless it did not cease me from utilizing what I realized from Katie Scherrer.
My coaching allowed me to supply a distinct sort of story time to the kindergartens I served. These mindfulness and motion tales even labored through Zoom! Though I inspired motion throughout my tales, the Tales, Songs, and Stretches!® coaching took my planning to a brand new degree. I addressed the entire little one: “physique, thoughts and coronary heart,” as Katie’s web site says. Though Katie is presently unable to supply coaching attributable to a critical, power sickness, her web site is stuffed with fantastic, free assets.
What are a few of your favourite train actions with preschoolers? Do you employ mindfulness strategies? Please share it within the feedback!
Change it up!
A 3rd method I reshaped my preschool outreach was by switching from story time to STEM packages. Impressed by a valued colleague from one other space library, who provided STEM outreach packages, I began doing the identical. I began with three matters: pre-algebra, physics and symmetry. Subsequent month I’ll share particular particulars about these packages. Nonetheless, I can say that these had been very properly acquired by each the preschoolers and the scholars! From forming hypotheses to conducting the experiment to sharing observations and conclusions, these packages once more allowed extra themfewer me. Whether or not it was rolling balls down ramps or weighing plastic teddy bears on a scale, this reinvention of preschool outreach could have been my hottest!
Do you provide preschool outreach? packages as an alternative of story instances† Share your concepts within the feedback beneath.
This put up covers the next ALSC core competencies: I. Dedication to Consumer Group, III. Programming Abilities, and V. Outreach and Advocacy.
#Preschool #Outreach #ALSC #Weblog