For immediate release | February 29, 2016

Catch the programming bug with Rob Reid's lively, humorous eCourse!

CHICAGO — ALA Publishing announces a new iteration of its popular eCourse, Storytime Shenanigans: Building Great Programs for Preschoolers. Rob Reid will serve as the instructor for a three-week facilitated eCourse starting on Apr. 18, 2016.

Readers of Rob Reid's bestselling books know his knack for freshening up storytimes through imaginative programming themes and content. Whether you’re getting started in programming or are a veteran in need of a battery-charger, you’ll catch the programming bug with Reid’s lively, humorous eCourse. With his guidance, you’ll learn how to move past bunny rabbits and teddy bears to create unique themes, while spotting audience participation elements that are often overlooked in picture books. He’ll show you how to add fingerplays, nursery rhymes, songs, movement activities, and crafts to make for even more engaging storytimes. Through a podcast and several videos, he’ll tell and show his presentation techniques, while assignments and discussion forums will encourage idea and resource sharing among your fellow attendees.

By the end of the eCourse, you will be able to:
  • Create unusual, humorous, and highly participative story program themes
  • Build programs around high quality picture books;
  • Incorporate activities such as fingerplays, nursery rhymes, songs, movement activities, and crafts into storytimes

eCourse outline

Week One
  • Introduction: Podcast with Rob Reid talks about his start in storytime programs, finding his strengths, and developing techniques
  • Storytelling: Demonstration of oral stories without a book (videos and assignment)
  • Read Aloud Tip: From picture book selection to how to hold the book (videos)
  • Themes: How to eliminate some themes and dream up new ones (discussion forum posting)
Week Two
  • Song and Music Activities, with links to specific picture books (video and assignment)
  • Fingerplay and Movement Activities, with links to specific picture books (videos)
  • Creating Original Rhymes and Songs (readings and video)
Week Three
  • Putting it All Together: How to make a lesson plan (assignment)
  • Fun Extras

About the Instructor

Rob Reid is a full-time instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he teaches Children’s Literature, Literature for Adolescents, Trends and Issues in Literature K-1, and other courses in library science. A children’s librarian for 14 years, he has also taught for the Indianhead Federated Library System. He is the author of numerous books on children’s programming for ALA Editions, has a regular column in Book Links magazine titled “Reid Aloud Alert,” and also writes for LibrarySparks magazine. His website is Rappin' Rob.

Registration for this facilitated eCourse, which begins on Apr. 18, 2016, can be purchased at the ALA Store. Participants in this course will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection for online message board participation, viewing online video, listening to streaming audio (MP3 files), and downloading and viewing PDF and PowerPoint files.

ALA Editions publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at editionscoursehelp@ala.org.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness, and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide.

Contact:

Liz Steiner

Marketing Manager

ALA Publishing

esteiner@ala.org

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