'Early Literacy in Action: Narrative Skills' A Workshop presented by the Children's Department of the Abilene Public Library in Abilene, Texas on February 12, 2015. This presentation details the early literacy Narrative skills and how to incorporate them into library programs.

1. Early Literacy in Action:
Narrative Skills
Presenter: Alyssa Crow, Children’s Librarian
South Branch Library
A Workshop Presented By
The Children’s Department
Of The Abilene Public Library
February 12, 2015
Abilene, Texas

2. What Is It?
• Expressive language, including being able to
describe things, to tell events in order, and to
retell stories.

3. Babies…
• Name things.
• Use books with real
objects and pictures.
• Point to things as you
say them.
• Sign language

4. Toddlers…
• Narrate what’s
happening
• Stress beginning,
middle, and end
• Action rhymes

5. Preschoolers…
• Re-telling a story
• Detailed descriptions
• Comprehension

6. School-Age…
• Talking about a story
• Re-telling story
• Tell own story

7. Storytime Elements
• Ask children leading
questions.
• Use fewer books and
extend them.
• May need to read a
story twice.

8. Storytime Elements
• Encourage
participation.
• Let children finish
repetitive books.
• Retell a book with props
or other aids.
• Display and encourage
books for checkout.

9. Possible Storytime Extensions
• Act out stories
• Make puppets and props
• Make ‘plot points’ cards
or feltboard to retell the
story
• Tell own stories
• Lots more ideas at
www.abilenetx.com/apl/k
ids_crafts.html.

10. Useful Types Of Books
• Repetitive phrase
• Definite beginning,
middle, and end
• Cumulative or
sequential storyline
• Repetition in the plot
• Wordless picture books

11. Awesome Books
• Stop That Pickle! by Peter
Armour
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears
by Emma Clark
• The Three Billy Goats Gruff by
Paul Galdone
• The Three Little Pigs by Paul
Galdone
• Shh! We Have A Plan! by Chris
Haughton
• You Read To Me, I’ll Read To You
by Mary Ann Hoberman
• The Doghouse by Jan Thomas

12. Craft: The Three Little Pigs Table-Top Props
Materials:
• Patterns
• Markers or Crayons
• Scissors
• Glue
• Toilet rolls
Directions:
• Color and cut out
patterns.
• Glue to toilet rolls.

13. Craft: 3 Billy Goats Gruff Storytelling
Masks
Materials:
• Patterns
• Markers
• Craft sticks
• Tape or glue
• Scissors
Directions:
• Color and cut out
patterns.
• Tape craft stick to back.

14. Questions?

15. Bibliography
Books
– Ghoting, Saroj Jadkarni and Pamela Martin-Diaz. Storytime for
Everyone! Chicago: American Library Association Editions, 2013.
– Hastings, Kay, Cathy Clemons, and April Montgomery. Daily
Preschool Experiences. Marylnad: Gryphon House, 2008.
– Herr, Judy and Yvonne Libby Larson. Creative Resources for the
Early Childhood Classroom. 5th ed. New York: Thompson Delmar
Learning, 2009.
– Mayesky, Mary. Creative Activities for Young Children. 8th ed.
New York: Thompson Delmar Learning, 2006.
– Schiller, Pam. Bountiful Earth. Maryland: Gryphon House, 2006.
– Stoltz, Dorothy, Elaine Czarnecki, and Connie Wilson. Every Child
Ready For School. Chicago: American Library Association
Editions, 2013.

16. Bibliography
Websites
– Early Literacy. Zero To Three, 2003.
www.zerotothree.org/BrainWonders
– Early Literacy And You: An Overview of Early Literacy.
Library of Virginia. www.earlylit.net
– Early Literacy Storytimes. Fairfax County Public Library.
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library
– Every Child Ready To Read.
www.everychildreadytoread.org
– Roskos, Kathleen, James Christie, and Donald Richgels. The
Essentials of Early Literacy Instruction. National
Association for the Education of Young Children.
www.naeyc.org/resources/journal