Welcome Song (words by Miss Tammy)
(sung to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Welcome all to storytime
We will sing and we will rhyme
Read a book and then we'll play
Time for storytime, hip, hip, hooray!
Now we'll sing our ABCs
We'll do them all just wait and see
(As the children sing the alphabet I use a pointer to point to each letter on a laminated chart)
Now I've sung my ABCs
Let's start storytime, yes, siree!
Puppet
I have a raccoon puppet from Folkmanis named Henrietta. Each week she "hides" in her basket, but I always look in her treehouse first. Each week Henrietta brings an object to show the children that begins with the "letter of the day". First I just let the kids guess random things (cookie, dinosaur, etc.) They often guess what she had brought the week before. Henrietta then gives "clues" about the object--the first being the letter it starts with and the sound of the letter. Other clues include it's color, shape, size, how you use it, etc. After a child guesses Henrietta takes it of her basket to show the children then Henrietta gets in her treehouse to watch storytime.
Flannel Board 
Next I do a flannel board, often counting up or counting down rhymes, but also colors and animals and so forth. One book that I've found that has many counting rhymes is ABC Read to Me:Teaching Letter of the Week in the Library and Classroom by Toni Buzzeo. I usually just print out pictures of the object from Word, cut it out and use tape on the flannel board since I don't have the time or the patience to make real flannel board pieces.
First Book
The first book is usually a longer, more complex story
Stand-up Song
Sometimes this song goes with the letter of the day, sometimes it's just a fun song like Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.
Rhyme Time Chant
I do this chant right after the song before the children sit down (adapted from a chant in Totline)
I'm so happy that you've come to storytime
Now listen very carefully to my rhyme
Stand up straight and stomp your feet
Clap twice and take your seat
We'll begin when I ring the rhyme chime.
Nursery Rhyme
I then bring out the bell, ring it, then begin to recite a Nursery Rhyme or short poem. I repeat it again, explaining words if needed, then have the children say it with me and I let the children fill in the words they know or the last word of the line.
Second Book
This book is usually a shorter, rhyming book.
Good-byes
See ya later, Alligator
Blow a kiss, Goldfish
Be sweet, Parakeet
Take care, Polar Bear
Give a hug, Ladybug
Tootaloo, Kangaroo
See you soon, Raccoon
Bye-bye, Butterfly
Out the door, Dinosaur!
Enrichment
I try to have 3 or 4 different activities the children can do. They may choose to do any or all of them. There is one activity that is physical (like throwing beanbags or playing musical instruments), a coloring or craft activity, and a connect the dot page or practice writing letter page. More on this aspect later.
Next I do a flannel board, often counting up or counting down rhymes, but also colors and animals and so forth. One book that I've found that has many counting rhymes is ABC Read to Me:Teaching Letter of the Week in the Library and Classroom by Toni Buzzeo. I usually just print out pictures of the object from Word, cut it out and use tape on the flannel board since I don't have the time or the patience to make real flannel board pieces.
First Book
The first book is usually a longer, more complex story
Stand-up Song
Sometimes this song goes with the letter of the day, sometimes it's just a fun song like Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.
Rhyme Time Chant
I do this chant right after the song before the children sit down (adapted from a chant in Totline)
I'm so happy that you've come to storytime
Now listen very carefully to my rhyme
Stand up straight and stomp your feet
Clap twice and take your seat
We'll begin when I ring the rhyme chime.
Nursery Rhyme
I then bring out the bell, ring it, then begin to recite a Nursery Rhyme or short poem. I repeat it again, explaining words if needed, then have the children say it with me and I let the children fill in the words they know or the last word of the line.
Second Book
This book is usually a shorter, rhyming book.
Good-byes
See ya later, Alligator
Blow a kiss, Goldfish
Be sweet, Parakeet
Take care, Polar Bear
Give a hug, Ladybug
Tootaloo, Kangaroo
See you soon, Raccoon
Bye-bye, Butterfly
Out the door, Dinosaur!
Enrichment
I try to have 3 or 4 different activities the children can do. They may choose to do any or all of them. There is one activity that is physical (like throwing beanbags or playing musical instruments), a coloring or craft activity, and a connect the dot page or practice writing letter page. More on this aspect later.
