(no subject)

[kcobweb]

Yesterday, I led my first toddler story hour. The librarian who usually does it is on vacation and the other children's librarian is too self-conscious about her singing voice to do the toddler group..... In the past, they've gotten outside substitutes, but none of them were very good. Last time K went away, she asked one of the moms to do it - we're there every week, so we know how things work and we know everybody, etc. That mom did a great job, but her 2-year-old did not like having Mommy up front, and made a fuss through most of it. So, this time K asked me, with the caveat of "do you think Elena will be okay with it?" I thought this would be a good opportunity for me (as librarian-in-training) to get my feet wet with a program in a low stress setting, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

I told Elena several times that we were going to be in charge of story hour this week. She agreed solemnly and then turned to me and said "What's 'in charged'?" So I said we'd be the *leaders*, which is definitely a term she knows.

We always start off singing the Hello Song, which involves singing hello to every kid there, by name. I have been going to this group for *2 years*, but there are regular kids (some of the younger ones) I still get mixed up, and this was my greatest fear. So I just said, Hey, I'm going to need help with names, because now that I'm up in front of the room, I'm going to forget them *ALL*. And everyone laughed and supplied their kids' names at the proper moment in the song, so it was perfect. We sang a couple of the standards, and then I read the books K picked for me - a monkey theme. Then I started taking song requests, and the kids would just call out what songs they want and we would do them. And that was it! (Yes, that's a half hour, right there.) So my working strategy - when in doubt, punt - totally saved the day.

And Elena was awesome: she gets shy when we first get there every week, but she sat with me up front through the first songs and the stories, and then moved out to the middle of the room with some of the other kids for the rest of the singing. It was perfect.

It felt pretty good - I did not feel entirely in command, but by giving all the power of choices to the kids, didn't have to worry about that too much. It wasn't a huge group, but a decent size - and toddlers don't listen well for very long, so there was some natural element of background chaos. If I did it regularly, I'd get to the point of having patter.... but I wasn't there yet. My voice was giving out a little by the end - but the other moms were singing enough (once I got them started) that I could take little breaks. And it's such a relaxed atmosphere - they all know me, *and* know that it's not my regular gig, so they were all helpful and easy-going. Yay. And K will be back next week. :)

Comments

[squirrelhaven.livejournal.com]

Neato! It sounds like you did fabulously, especially for your first time out. And kudos to Elena, for adjusting smoothly to the change. I love that she takes her responsibilities (such as they are) so seriously.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

This sounds so awesome! Go you.

[ltlbird.livejournal.com]

Good for you! I remember being SOOO self-conscious the first time I led circle time for playgroup, back when I was in college and doing a field placement with Early Intervention. Now I end up doing impromptu ones whenever I am in a situation where kids need to be corralled - like at my last job when some patients were supposed to go onstage for a big thing with the governor and were all lined up waiting to go and getting antsy. It didn't even occur to me to feel self-conscious, even though we were playing Simon Says and I was sticking out my tongue and such in front of the governor's staff. :)