This post could be 20 pages long, there is so much great stuff out there about storytime! If you are looking for resources to help you learn some new songs and rhymes, think about STEAM projects, learn about using media, or just find some great blogs, take a look at the recently updated IFLS Storytime Page. I’m highlighting a few rich resources in this post that will provide you with several hours of quality learning and exploring.
Mel Depper, youth services manager in Arapahoe County in Colorado and author of the blog Mel’s Desk has created some off-line exercises related to storytime mission and planning. This is important work that can be difficult to find time for. I love this because it offers an opportunity to rest your eyes from all that screen time, and if you are sharing Internet access at home (or have a crummy connection) it gives some great pen-and-paper exercises to do that are relevant and important.
Super-Charged Storytime is a 10-hour course offered for free from Webjunction, it is great for beginners AND storytime veterans. A variety of early literacy and storytime experts provide videos, readings, activities and reflection questions to help you amp up your storytime. This will make a difference in your storytime (probably your online storytime as well as your in-person storytime). What better time than now to put some time and energy into learning more about early literacy, ways to evaluate your program, ways to increase the interactivity and read your audience, and generally ways to SUPERCHARGE your storytime.
The Reimagining School Readiness Toolkit has so much great information about the importance of developing a growth mindset, and suggestions for activities and approaches that support that. Webinars, activity suggestions, best practices and case studies, and some wonderful templates for bookmarks and posters.
In 2013, the San Jose Public Library created a series of videos and other resources about making storytimes more inclusive for kids with a variety of disabilities, along with video demonstrations. I know this is old, but there are some good ideas here!
Storytime during Pandemics: The YSS Blog collected some great webinars about virtual storytime!