Early Literacy in Action: Narrative Skills

Presenter: Alyssa Crow, Children’s Librarian

South Branch Library

A Workshop Presented By The Children’s Department

Of The Abilene Public Library

February 12, 2015Abilene, Texas

What Is It?

• Expressive language, including being able to describe things, to tell events in order, and to retell stories.

Babies…

• Name things.

• Use books with real objects and pictures.

• Point to things as you say them.

• Sign language

Toddlers…

• Narrate what’s happening

• Stress beginning, middle, and end

• Action rhymes

Preschoolers…

• Re-telling a story

• Detailed descriptions

• Comprehension

School-Age…

• Talking about a story

• Re-telling story

• Tell own story

Storytime Elements

• Ask children leading questions.

• Use fewer books and extend them.

• May need to read a story twice.

Storytime Elements

• Encourage participation.

• Let children finish repetitive books.

• Retell a book with props or other aids.

• Display and encourage books for checkout.

Possible Storytime Extensions

• Act out stories

• Make puppets and props

• Make ‘plot points’ cards or feltboard to retell the story

• Tell own stories

• Lots more ideas at www.abilenetx.com/apl/kids_crafts.html.

Useful Types Of Books

• Repetitive phrase

• Definite beginning, middle, and end

• Cumulative or sequential storyline

• Repetition in the plot

• Wordless picture books

Awesome Books

• Stop That Pickle! by Peter Armour

• Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Emma Clark

• The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone

• The Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone

• Shh! We Have A Plan! by Chris Haughton

• You Read To Me, I’ll Read To You by Mary Ann Hoberman

• The Doghouse by Jan Thomas

Craft: The Three Little Pigs Table-Top Props

Materials:

• Patterns

• Markers or Crayons

• Scissors

• Glue

• Toilet rolls

Directions:

• Color and cut out patterns.

• Glue to toilet rolls.

Craft: 3 Billy Goats Gruff Storytelling Masks

Materials:

• Patterns

• Markers

• Craft sticks

• Tape or glue

• Scissors

Directions:

• Color and cut out patterns.

• Tape craft stick to back.

Questions?

Bibliography

Books– Ghoting, Saroj Jadkarni and Pamela Martin-Diaz. Storytime for

Everyone! Chicago: American Library Association Editions, 2013.– Hastings, Kay, Cathy Clemons, and April Montgomery. Daily

Preschool Experiences. Marylnad: Gryphon House, 2008. – Herr, Judy and Yvonne Libby Larson. Creative Resources for the

Early Childhood Classroom. 5th ed. New York: Thompson Delmar Learning, 2009.

– Mayesky, Mary. Creative Activities for Young Children. 8th ed. New York: Thompson Delmar Learning, 2006.

– Schiller, Pam. Bountiful Earth. Maryland: Gryphon House, 2006. – Stoltz, Dorothy, Elaine Czarnecki, and Connie Wilson. Every Child

Ready For School. Chicago: American Library Association Editions, 2013.

Bibliography

Websites – Early Literacy. Zero To Three, 2003.

www.zerotothree.org/BrainWonders– Early Literacy And You: An Overview of Early Literacy.

Library of Virginia. www.earlylit.net– Early Literacy Storytimes. Fairfax County Public Library.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library– Every Child Ready To Read.

www.everychildreadytoread.org– Roskos, Kathleen, James Christie, and Donald Richgels. The

Essentials of Early Literacy Instruction. National Association for the Education of Young Children. www.naeyc.org/resources/journal