New Course: Supercharged Storytimes
Children’s storytimes are a hallmark of library programming, and thanks to the VIEWS2 research, we know that library storytimes do matter. Intentionally including early literacy strategies with an interactive approach in storytime leads to corresponding early literacy behaviors in children. Furthermore, libraries are in a unique position to reach children very early in their lives and to connect with parents and caregivers at the same time. The expanded and updated Supercharged Storytimes course turns the findings from the VIEWS2 research into practical strategies for library storytime practitioners.
Saroj Ghoting, early literacy instructor, collaborated with WebJunction to expand the program’s core curriculum to cover foundational early literacy concepts (oral language, phonological awareness, print awareness/concepts, letter knowledge, vocabulary, and background knowledge) and align with other library training that educates parents and caregivers about their role in supporting early literacy. Using the Early Learning Planning Tool provided in the course, practitioners learn how to be intentional as they plan how to incorporate early literacy strategies into their storytimes.
CiKeithia Pugh, Early Learning Program Manager at The Seattle Public Library, contributes important content on how to supercharge storytimes through an equity lens. The course also includes instruction on using the Public Library Association’s Project Outcome evaluation tools to capture the community impact of programming and services.
Interested in learning more? Check out the recorded webinar, New Ways to Supercharge Your Storytimes. The webinar includes more about the course structure and content, as well some great questions from the webinar participants which were shared through chat.
Here is some helpful information to get you started on supercharging your storytimes:
How do I enroll?
To take a course, create a free account in our course catalog at Learn.WebJunction.org,
- Click on the Log in link in the top right corner;
- If you’re new to the course catalog, follow the instructions under "Is this your first time here?"
If you already have an account,
- Sign in to the WebJunction Course Catalog with your username and password.
- Go to the Supercharged Storytimes course in the catalog.
- Enroll in the course by clicking the “Enroll me” button
How long will it take to complete the course?
Working through the course involves watching a total of six hours of video recordings (approximately 1 hour per module) and doing the applied learning on each topic, which can often be combined with storytime preparation and delivery that you are already doing. It is optimal to allow two weeks in between modules for the applied learning, so the course takes approximately 8-10 weeks to complete.
How long do I have to finish a course once I have enrolled?
There is no time limit to complete courses. You will have access to a course for as long as you need.
Is it really free?
Yes, thanks to the support of OCLC and funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (grant number RE-95-17-0085-17) this course is free to all who work or volunteer in libraries.
You can watch a recording of the webinar to learn more or jump on in and enroll in the course today!
This project is funded in part by OCLC and by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [grant number RE-95-17-0085-17] and made possible through collaboration with Project Outcome and the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.
