Tech, Talk, and A Round-up of Children's Coding Apps

If you were at the YSS Pre-Conference in October, you heard Caitlin Schaffer from the Oconomowoc Public Library talk about using technology and coding in School Age Programming. If you weren't able to make it, you can still check out the slides HERE. Caitlin's session was called Tech Tac Toe.

Or maybe you want to learn more about merging apps with your storytime programs. Then you'd want to listen to the recorded webinar Toddlers and Tablets in Storytime presented by Cathy Kolbeck of the Algoma Public Library presented by the Nicolet Federated Library System and archived HERE.

If you'd like to read reviews of some top apps for introducing children of various ages to coding, programming and robotics, then the recent post in Children's Technology Review has you covered. From free apps to some pricier ones, there are a tremendous variety described in that article HERE.

School Age Preconference Passive Program Call

Have you done a passive program for school-age patrons you loved? Your fellow YSS members want to try it, too. After all, our ideas are "Better Together." So, the preconference committee is looking for YSS members to share a successful passive program used at their library. Passive programs will be set up as booths for attendees to browse during the Tuesday, October 25 Preconference snack break. 

If you're interested, please contact Terry Ehle, YSS Chair-elect, at tehle@lesterlibrary.org for more details.

Early Literacy Pre-Conference Ideas, Part 5

Claire Kindt from the Kress Family Branch Library of the Brown County Library contributed some great photos for the Early Literacy PreConference.  She says she got a lot of her inspiration from touring the Ridgedale Branch of the Hennepin County Public Library.

This logo goes next to all the early literacy activities in the library to alert people to the fun learning ahead!

Measuring fun

Engaging with pictures, symbols, words and feelings

Numbers on the stairs encourage counting and math!

Early Literacy Ideas from Pre-Conference: Early Reader Kits

 Kent Barnard from Wild Rose shared this idea from his library for the YSS Pre-Conference in October:

Our best idea to date is our Early Reader Kits.  Using materials from the Mailbox and books from the collection  Rena Hurst creates these kits, as well as a crafts-to-go kit for our young patrons to take home with caregivers.

Attached are photos of the kits showing the contents.  We take the books out of the collection, so we do check out each item separately, but because we rotate the contents, I feel this is justified, not just a ploy to increase circulation.

Early Literacy Ideas from Pre-Conference, Part 2

Today, we are featuring a few more ideas from Jody Hanneman from the Black River Falls Public Library. (Thanks, Jody!)  These are a few more items in her library that enhance early literacy experiences for kids and families.

The treehouse is the star of my activity area.  I chose a treehouse and call the dolls either people or figurines to encourage both boys and girls to play.  Calling it a treehouse rather than a dollhouse and people rather than dolls does get boys and men playing with it together.  

Here's a close-up of the treehouse, submitted by Julie Belz from the Ellsworth Public Library, who had similar things to report about its appeal to both genders:

Jody says:  I also have a large set of nice wooden blocks, a barn with animals, wooden patterning blocks, and various puzzles.  I couldn’t be happier with the purchase of a Boogie Board, which is an LCD version of a magnadoodle—it is much more durable than I thought and has some sort of hip technology appeal to it that really encourages drawing, writing, and play.  The kids and parents love it.  

Lastly, a rather cheap purchase that gets endless use is the hopscotch rug that leads kids into the children’s library.  This encourages number recognition and play.  An easy purchase that is appealing to all ages! 

Parachutes, Play and Early Literacy

Anne at So Tomorrow has a great blog post this week about using parachutes with preschool kids.  Lots of great ideas about what she does, plus lots of references to other resources.

Toddlers in Eau Claire enjoy the parachute

 

To get even more ideas about incorporating play into your early childhood programming, don't forget to sign up for the YSS/DLT  Early Literacy Pre-Conference on October 22.  Jim Gill will show us some great ways (and reasons) to play and sing with kids.  Anna Haase Krueger (now from Minnesota) will talk about making your storytime more engaging with flannel boards, puppets, props, and more.  Shelly Collins-Fuerbringer and Ashley Bieber will discuss early literacy areas and show you some things that work in their libraries.  If you want to learn about bringing the Every Child Ready to Read message to a diverse audience, then you can attend a session with Tanya Misselt and Yee Vue.  And the CCBC will be there, talking about great books for young children.  Plus, there will be a chance to see what other librarians from around the state are doing.  You can register today!

Library Magic...at a Pre-Conference!

YSS and PLDT to Host Early Literacy Preconference at WLA

The Youth Services Section of the Wisconsin Library Association and the Public Library Development Team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction are pleased to announce the joint hosting of an early literacy preconference at the 2013 Wisconsin Library Association annual conference.  The preconference will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at Hyatt on Main and KI Convention Center in Green Bay, WI. 

The conference theme of “Play, Create, Innovate,” will be emphasized in a variety of ways by the preconference presenters.  Jim Gill, celebrated musician and author, will serve as the preconference keynote speaker as well as offer additional breakout sessions on the topic of music and play for young children.  Other breakout sessions include: Bringing “Every Child Ready to Read 2” to Diverse Audiences—Tanya Misselt and Yee Vue, Appleton Public Library; Early Literacy Library Spaces—Ashley Bieber and Shelly Collins-Fuerbringer, L. E. Phillips Memorial Library, Eau Claire; Developing an Early Literacy Collection: Books That Work for Kids, Parents, and Librarians--Megan Schliesman and Merri Lindgren, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC); Engaging Early Literacy Storytimes—Flannelboards, Puppets, Props, and More!—Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN. 

The preconference will run from 12:30-5:00 pm.  Look for WLA conference registration information later this summer.  In the meantime, save the date for this incredible early literacy preconference!

 

WLA 2009

It's less than one week until the WLA Annual Conference in Appleton.

Don't forget that to download your pre-conference and conference handouts ahead of time. In support of the WLA Go Green Iniatiative, all handouts for YSS sponsored programs will only be available online. Many of the preliminary handouts are already available at http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/yss/preconferencehandouts.htm and http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/yss/2009WLAHandouts.htm.

Also, don't forget to join the YSS board for our annual business meeting on Wednesday, October 21 at 8am in the Clarke Room. Find out what the board has been up to this year, meet the officers and congratulate this year's Penworthy Award Winner Mariel Carter of the Marinette County Public Library!

See you in Appleton!