Early Literacy Ideas from Pre-Conference, Part 3

La Crosse Public Library -  Brooke Rasche, Early Literacy Librarian submitted these great ideas for the PreConference slideshow:

Activity Center - we trade out activities like flannelboards, matching games, sensory bottles, puppet theater etc each month.

We carved out our Play Learn Read early literacy area in a corner. It includes books and manipulatives perfect for toddler and parent interaction:

 

1000 Books and Baby Book Bees – This is our wall mural garden for 1000 Books – each dot represents 100 books read. You can see the bees for our new under 1 year old program Baby Book Bees. Dots and readers everywhere!

Ipads  - Brand new, our two ipads feature a different app for toddlers each day. We ask parents to stay within touch of their child as they use them so they can get an introduction to recommended apps for their kids.

Guerrilla Storytime Coming to WLA!

Maybe you all saw the earlier YSS post reporting on Guerrilla Storytime at ALA, and hopefully you have checked out the terrific new Storytime Underground:  Literacy Is Not a Luxury blog that was started as a result.  Both are great ways to help support each other, learn new tricks, and get inspired about storytimes and providing meaningful early literacy experiences to children and families.

And now, this fabulousness is coming to the WLA Conference!  Watch for it on Thursday morning in the exhibit hall during the no-conflict time.  This has the added bonus of being a public acknowledgement of the importance of storytime, hopefully inspiring library administrators and others to pay more attention.  Whether you are a storytime veteran or someone just starting out, this event will be a great place to share some energy, get some ideas, and PLAY.  Storytimers Unite!

Maybe there will even be instruments!

* (photo credit: Newton Free Library)

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!