Transforming Preschool Storytime: A Modern Vision and a Year of Programs

Betsy Diamant-Cohen and Melanie A. Hetrick

ISBN-13: 9781555708054

336 pages • 8.5" x 11"
Year Published: 2013

Here is a new approach to storytime that incorporates more recent theories on developmental learning and research on how children's brains work. According to this research, the best way to make new connections in the brain is by building on something already known. A child who loves a book will listen to it repeatedly, maintaining interest. Using a selected book in a number of consecutive preschool storytimes, but presenting it differently each time can help children learn new skill sets. Employing repetition with variety expands the story experience, helping children to connect and engage with the story on a higher level through activities specifically designed to address multiple intelligences. The experience a child has with that book then becomes much richer.