This is the Power Point for a presentation I am doing at the Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth in April 2010. The presentation is titled, "Bilingual Storytime at Your Biblioteca: What, Why and How." This presentation is designed to provide library staff interested in developing a bilingual storytime program a framework for doing so. There is information for current bilingual storytime practitioners on how to enrich their programming using early literacy skill building techniques. Ideas on how non-bilingual library staff can make their programming more inclusive of the Latino community are also presented.
1. Bilingual Storytime at Your Biblioteca: What, Why and How Katie Cunningham, Children’s Librarian Lexington Public Library, Village Branch Lexington, KY kcunningham@lexpublib.org
2. Cuentosbilingües en la biblioteca de village Miss Katie reads Perdido y encontradoby Oliver Jeffers to local children enjoying a bilingual storytime about friendship at the Village Branch Library. February 10, 2010
3. Today we will cover… What is bilingual storytime, and who can do it? Why should my library/school offer bilingual programming? How do I plan and implement a bilingual storytime program? Resources and questions
6. Bilingual Storytime Is: A standing storytime program that uses various elements such as books, music, fingerplays, flannelboards and other storytelling techniques to equally promote and encourage the development of early literacy skills and inspire a love of reading in both English and Spanish From “Bilingual Storytime: What, Why and How” chapter by Katie Cunningham in Celebrating Cuentos: Promoting Latino Children’s Literature and Literacy in Classrooms & Libraries, edited by Dr. Jaime Naidoo. To be published Fall 2010.
7. What if I’m not Bilingual? Incorporate books by Latino authors/illustrators Incorporate books that positively feature Latino characters Choose books that have some Spanish words in the text Choose bilingual books and read the English, while pointing out that Spanish text is also included Use Spanish and/or bilingual movement songs, rhymes and fingerplays Tandem programming with community volunteers
8. Why Should I Offer Bilingual Storytime at my School/Library …and how do I convince my boss?
9. Benefits of Bilingual Storytime Casts a wider net than monolingual storytime; will appeal to those already speaking Spanish and those who want to expose their children to other languages Opportunity for social interaction among diverse groups of children Opportunity to visibly welcome your Spanish-speaking community, and to showcase Spanish materials, programs and services Model early literacy skill building techniques in two languages
10. Literacy Needs of Latino Children There is no one picture of the “Latino” child! Every Child Ready to Read / Cadaniñolistopara leer Reinforce to parents importance of speaking/reading with children in their native language Alternative early literacy skill building techniques for low-literacy parents
12. My Advice? Know Your Community! Know Your Administration! Be An Advocate! Don’t Reinvent the Wheel!
13. Thinking about your community Who are the Latinos in our community? Where are they coming from and why? How long have they been here? Where do they live? How do they exchange information? What organizations are helping the Latino community? Do the Latinos in our community use the library? If no, what barriers are preventing this?
14. Thinking about your administration What are the mission, vision, values and strategic goals of your organization? How does bilingual storytime align with each of these? What is the goal of bilingual storytime and how will you measure its success? Outreach? Kindergarten readiness? Inclusive programming? Who are your advocacy allies? Who are roadblocks? Know what motivates them! How can you maximize/minimize their impact?
15. Be an Advocate! Always remember, Advocacy Is Not Whining! Sell your story Invite others to observe or participate in your program Turn cultural celebrations into large scale events that the whole library/school can be part of Encourage holistic inclusivity of the Latino community in all things your organization does
16. Do Not Reinvent the Wheel! Collection – bilingual titles are more bang for your buck than translations What does your organization already have that you can modify? Flannels Drawing stories Storytime kits/plans What have other bilingual storytime practitioners already done that you can do too?
17. ¡EstoyLista! I’m Ready! So Now What Do I Do? Choosing books and planning bilingual storytimes
18. My Approach Family storytime format Early literacy development Math/science skill inclusion Books by Latino authors/illustrators Traditional folklore and nursery rhymes Repetitive and cumulative tales to reinforce specific Spanish vocabulary Simple movement songs with motions in the lyrics
19. Matemáticas in bilingual Storytime We graphed our amigos during our friendship storytime to explain math concepts such as counting and comparing in a visual way.
20. Common Outline Typically a 30 minute program Welcome – take time to explain rules and to point out early literacy skills Opening Song First Book Storytelling: Flannelboard, Drawing Story, Creative Dramatic or other technique Second Book Movement Song Third Book Closing Song
21. Sample: Snow/Nieve Welcome Opening Song: “Hola amigo” Fingerplay: Five Little Snowman / Habíancincomuñecos de nieve Froggy se visteby Jonathan London Retell using flannelboard to reinforce clothing vocabulary Movement song: “Los niñoscuandobailan” Phonological awareness and vocabulary El día de nieveby Ezra Jack Keats Reinforces narrative skills “Disappearing Snowman” cut-and-tell Closing Song: “Adiós amigos”
22. What to avoid Overly wordy bilingual books Books that reinforce stereotypes Translated books with awkward word flow Books you don’t like
23. Flannelboards Folktales and cumulative stories The Bossy Gallito La Hormiguita Stories that reinforce vocabulary Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Picky Paul Eight Animals Dog’s Colorful Day
25. Final Thoughts Available resource lists Establishing a Collection to Support Bilingual Storytime: Recommended Books and Music Recommended Online and Print Resources Taking Storytime Home / Cuentos en casa Bilingual Family Storytime Sample Plans: Birds / Pájaros Friendship / La amistad Questions? kcunningham@lexpublib.org www.bilingualchildrensprogramming.blogspot.com
Notes de l'éditeur
Introduce myself and Village
Be friendly and welcoming (reference WJ survey), promote services and programs offsite where they areShow example of stereotypes in books; Elya and Paul examples of text with Spanish words – Dear Primo tooReference Kenton County librarians
Point A: statistics, though it will take time to develop an audience so know whether or not this will work for your communityPoint B: Does your organization have a diversity initiative? Get this added to the diversity planPoint C: Are you trying to reach out to Spanish-speakersPoint D: Is early-literacy a priority for your organization?
Remind group not to fall into sterotypes; then share details specifically about the community Village serves6 early literacy skills – vocabulary, letter knowledge, print awareness, phonological awareness, narrative skills, and print motivationImmigrant families care about their children’s education and want them to learn English and to fit in; they are afraid to interact with their child “too much” in SpanishSongs, talking, practicing shapes, making up silly rhymes, etc. Be sure to explain what you are doing and why throughout the program for parents in both languages, as well as having a handout.
You need your front lines staff to help promote your program – CML example and how VB staff help tooStaff who do not speak Spanish may look at Latinos as “your customers” and not offer the same level of service; may also be intimidated to work with non-English speakers or fear this program is going to require them to learn new skillsGive them a reason to care and they will be your best support!
These four things will help you attain success and overcome barriers and challenges.
Where can you go for this information? Local leaders, such as Hispanic/Latino organizations, local papers, local radio, churches, ESL teachers. You may have to be prepared to seek these people out. How much groundwork you need to lay depends largely on where your organization is currently in terms of providing service to the Latino community.
Point A: Cannot establish a successful program without administrative support. This can be the biggest challenge you may face.Point B: Don’t fear data! Look to community demographics for support. Hook into bigger projects both at the level of your organization and at the community level.Point C: Is serving the Latino community important to your Director? Anyone on your board? Be sure they know who you are and what you are doing.
Point A: Need to be able to articulate your points in terms of organizational values and vision, community data, anecdotal success. Know who responds to numbers, stories, etc.Point B: Involvemedia. Celebrate successes, even small ones. Point C: Be sure people know what you are doing and why it matters within the appropriate institutional framework. Reward others for helping.Point D: Dia de los ninos, Dia de los muertos, Hispanic Heritage monthPoint E: Is your website in Spanish? Do you have materials from Latin America? Do you have bilingual staff, particularly from the Latino community?Some of what you can/cannot change depends on where you are in the organization. This is why it is essential to gain administrative support and work with allies for your cause.
Establishing a new program is expensive and everyone is fighting for resources – be thrifty from the beginning, look for outside funding (and be prepared to spend it if you get it), and build on what you already have.
Controversial disclaimer.Point A: Target preschool age, with materials for babies and toddlers too. Explain that it is a family program at the outset.Blend lots of techniques into each program, so there are books and music in addition to flannels, puppets, drawing stories, creative dramatics and games.Keep program interactive so that it works for all ages. Continually tell families why we are doing what we are doing and how it reinforces specific skill development.
If serving a new immigrant community, cannot take it for granted they know the expectations of storytime. Also, your expectations may be different from expectations at other libraries, schools, etc. Show sample handouts
Demonstratefingerplay
Point A: Piñata publishers example. Point B: Example of poor girl that has to cut off braids. Point C: Isabel Schon center for evaluating books and translations. Point out that this happens a lot with rhyming books
Online patterns and recommended websites – how to find