So I finally got round to finding a podcast to listen to...not the whole thing...but a section of one. I haven't worked an evening and have done Storytime and Toddler Tales this week so the time to do the 23 things has been short. I found a podcast about Storytime on Circulating Ideas (Episode 34: Storytime). There are a number of speakers who take part in the podcast - children's librarians from around Canada and the US who are experienced storytellers and bloggers.
For the 15 minutes I was able to listen they were discussing what makes a successful storytime. They point out that a successful storytime is not necessarily quantified by numbers. You can have a bad storytime with 90 kids and a great one with 6. In our experience in Nashwaaksis is that this true - not that we get 90 kids coming along...our highest number for a regular storytime is usually around 30. It varies with the group of kids who are there and how engaged they become in the stories. The speakers on the podcast stress how engagement with the audience is key. If you're worried and self concious people get disengaged, but if you're interacting with the audience and flexible with the stories and activities you've planned it's more likely that it will be a success. They pointed out that consistency in energy level throughout the programme is important in order that you don't lose your listeners. The thing I liked was what one speaker called the 'storytime bubble', the time when everyone is into the stories, parents and children, and you don't lose anyone at any point. That's the magic I'm looking for.
Friday, 28 February 2014
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
Tell me a story, jackanory...
Some years ago in a land far away there was a story telling programme called 'Jackanory'. It wasn't usually the highlight of this girl's after school TV watching, but one time my interest was captured by Rik Mayall - he was famous in the UK for his role in 'The Young Ones', maybe not so much here in Canada. He read George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl - I loved every minute. I already loved Roald Dahl books, but I loved seeing the story read in such an animated way. A few weeks ago I showed this to my youngest daughter who is going through a Roald Dahl phase. For once she agreed with me and loved something 'from the olden days' too.
This is the first of my 23 things this week...more coming later this week...
Friday, 14 February 2014
Happy pinning!
Last week I didn't do so well on the 23 things. Whichever image I chose to post on my blog, it didn't seem to be visible. I'm still working on it. It's a bit quiet in the library today due to a winter storm, so, maybe I'll have a chance to find something that will work.
This week - Pinterest! I had a dormant pinterest account for a while, but working at the library has revived my use of it. Often I use it to search for craft and storytime ideas, and I love looking at some of the displays people create. This week, at home, looking at one of my favourite clothing brand's boards - Boden -I strayed onto pictures of places around the world. With all the snow and cold here, it made my feet a little itchy to travel. For now, I'll just have to dream about it!
It's easy to get a bit distracted by everyone else's pins, so I did some updating and posted some cakes on one of my boards, which then led me to be a little bit creative with my Valentine's Day baking. Watch this space for a picture.
Happy Valentine's Day!
This week - Pinterest! I had a dormant pinterest account for a while, but working at the library has revived my use of it. Often I use it to search for craft and storytime ideas, and I love looking at some of the displays people create. This week, at home, looking at one of my favourite clothing brand's boards - Boden -I strayed onto pictures of places around the world. With all the snow and cold here, it made my feet a little itchy to travel. For now, I'll just have to dream about it!
It's easy to get a bit distracted by everyone else's pins, so I did some updating and posted some cakes on one of my boards, which then led me to be a little bit creative with my Valentine's Day baking. Watch this space for a picture.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Friday, 7 February 2014
Friday thoughts...
It's Friday in the library!
Friday mornings are great here at Fredericton Public Library - Nashwaaksis. Lots of toddlers and parents come in for Toddler Time. It can be noisy and that's great. It's lovely to see them all enjoying the stories, songs and craft.
Personally, it's been a landmark week. Firstly, I have employee status from this week. Yay! Secondly, My family is celebrating four years in Canada. We landed in Halifax on February 4th 2010. I remember stepping out of the plane and into a freezer, that's how it felt. Thirdly, I'm filling out our citizenship application having reached the required amount of qualifying days. My two days off this week were filled with photocopying documents for said application and filling out the forms.
I have been reading too. Ever looking for what to read next, I decided to read some books before I watch the movies. I like to read the book first - it's almost always better. This week I finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The story is set in Germany in World War II. On reflection, I seem to be drawn to books that are set in times of conflict and particularly the second world war and that era. Maybe it's just because there are so many books based in that time period, I don't know. While my husband loves old war films about the big battles, I like the micro stories of individuals and communities. I think my fascination came when I was a child listening to my Grandmother telling me stories about her experiences in the war.
The Book Thief is narrated by Death. Sounds gloomy but the result is actually a very moving story. Certainly not light relief, true, but I like a book that makes me think and feel. Death tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a young German girl whose brother has just died and is just about to be left by her mother with another family. Liesel is the book thief. Words comfort her even before she can read them. As her story goes on she realises that words can be powerful for both good and evil, and she and those around her experience this for themselves as the war goes on and they struggle to survive in war-torn Germany. The book is full of tragedy, but the reader is given plenty of warning that it is coming.
I thought this was a beautifully told book. It brought home again the horror and madness of what went on in Nazi Germany and across Europe. Death, at one point, describes himself sitting at the mouth of chimneys collecting the souls of Jews. It's sinister yet deeply moving. As ever in a book set at a time of war, the most extreme emotions and character traits of humanity are on show. These are some of the things it made me think about:
Friday mornings are great here at Fredericton Public Library - Nashwaaksis. Lots of toddlers and parents come in for Toddler Time. It can be noisy and that's great. It's lovely to see them all enjoying the stories, songs and craft.
Personally, it's been a landmark week. Firstly, I have employee status from this week. Yay! Secondly, My family is celebrating four years in Canada. We landed in Halifax on February 4th 2010. I remember stepping out of the plane and into a freezer, that's how it felt. Thirdly, I'm filling out our citizenship application having reached the required amount of qualifying days. My two days off this week were filled with photocopying documents for said application and filling out the forms.
I have been reading too. Ever looking for what to read next, I decided to read some books before I watch the movies. I like to read the book first - it's almost always better. This week I finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The story is set in Germany in World War II. On reflection, I seem to be drawn to books that are set in times of conflict and particularly the second world war and that era. Maybe it's just because there are so many books based in that time period, I don't know. While my husband loves old war films about the big battles, I like the micro stories of individuals and communities. I think my fascination came when I was a child listening to my Grandmother telling me stories about her experiences in the war.
The Book Thief is narrated by Death. Sounds gloomy but the result is actually a very moving story. Certainly not light relief, true, but I like a book that makes me think and feel. Death tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a young German girl whose brother has just died and is just about to be left by her mother with another family. Liesel is the book thief. Words comfort her even before she can read them. As her story goes on she realises that words can be powerful for both good and evil, and she and those around her experience this for themselves as the war goes on and they struggle to survive in war-torn Germany. The book is full of tragedy, but the reader is given plenty of warning that it is coming.
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