STEP into storytime for newborns to 5-year-olds

CHICAGO — Story Time Effective Practice (STEP), developed by Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting and Kathy Fling Klatt, is an approach that articulates the link between child development theory and storytimes. “STEP into Storytime: Using StoryTime Effective Practice to Strengthen the Development of Newborns to Five-Year-Olds,” published by ALA Editions, shows how presenters can use STEP to craft a storytime that is effective for mixed-age groups and adheres to best practices for emotional, social, physical and cognitive support. In this book, early literacy experts Ghoting and Klatt:

• offer more than 30 complete ready-to-use storytimes appropriate for newborns to children age 5, along with extension activities;
• show how STEP relates to emotional, social, cognitive and physical development;
• explain how storytime materials and activities directly connect to language and literacy development;
• include preparation, planning and performance tips, plus guidance for interacting with parents and caregivers;
• provide lists of recommended additional resources, including organizations, websites and sources for storytime time activity ideas.

Ghoting has been a children’s librarian for more than 35 years and is now an early childhood literacy consultant. She is coauthor of the best-selling books “Early Literacy Storytimes @ your library®: Partnering with Caregivers for Success,” “The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards,” and “Storytimes for Everyone: Developing Young Children’s Language and Literacy.” She presents at conferences and conducts face-to-face trainings and online trainings on early literacy, science and math in storytimes, and Every Child Ready to Read. Visit her website for more information.

Klatt has worked as an assistant children’s librarian and program coordinator for 35 years at the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library in Broomfield, Colo., where she presents weekly baby and family storytimes and is responsible for scheduling arts, science, and cultural programs for children ages newborn through fifth grade. She presents Every Child Ready to Read trainings for parents and grandparents and, most recently, Confident Parenting trainings for parents and children, focusing on social and emotional skills. She taught preschool for 30 years, working with 3-to-5-year-olds and developed and taught preschool science classes at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. She has also copresented on early literacy and music for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and ALA.

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Related Links

"STEP into Storytime: Using StoryTime Effective Practice to Strengthen the Development of Newborns to Five-Year-Olds"

"Building a Core Print Collection for Preschoolers"

"Baby Storytime Magic: Active Early Literacy Through Bounces, Rhymes, Tickles and More"