Embedding voting practices into storytime is one of the ways we’re working locally to assist our youngest patrons (and the grown-ups in their life) to use their voice and make choices. During our weekly storytimes, for children developmental ages birth-eight and their grown-ups, we read two books. After the first book we ask everyone to stop and think about the book we just read. Then we ask both the children and their grown-ups to give the book a thumbs up (I liked it), thumbs down (I didn’t like it), or thumbs in the middle (It was okay). We also offer different facial expressions/body language to accompany each of the three choices for inclusivity: After the second book, we hold each of the books in different hands and move them away from our bodies. We then tell children and their grown-ups, “Point to the book you preferred. This means point to…
Tag: early childhood
Transforming Everyday Spaces at #alaac23 and Beyond
I had the distinct pleasure of attending a thoughtful panel on transforming everyday spaces to support children’s literacy development. Titled Transforming Everyday Spaces: Deepening Equity in Early Childhood Learning, this panel was full of insight and inspiration. I’m not sure my summary will do it justice, but I’ll certainly try.