Do or Die Time...

Tuesday was a big day. As soon as I arrived at Mooresville, I started getting all my supplies ready for my program. I was a bit all over the place - I kept forgetting things I needed and having to retrace my steps. Just a bit crazy. But I finally got it all together and headed over. I got set up and then it was go time.

My first solo Little Tykes program. I was really nervous but so crazy rushing around that I didn't really have time to think about. I started out with introductions again then we did "Open Shut Them," an old standard song for story times. Everyone sang along so I was really excited. Good start. We shared the bell (which the kids love doing), and then did a little chatting about the theme for the week (parties). Then I read my first book, I Am Invited to a Party! by Mo Willems. They seemed to enjoy this one and it was a very easy read. After the book, we sang "The More We Get Together," another classic story hour song. And this is the point at which I think I lost them. Very few of the kids tried to sing along and one of the counselors gave off a vibe that she didn't really have any interest in helping me out. Next I brought out the instruments and we played along with an upbeat song. I knew this was going to be a tricky portion because I had a bunch of different instruments. I wasn't really sure how to go about distributing them so I kind of let the kids choose what they wanted. Only a minor disaster. One girl didn't even want to play because she didn't get the instrument she wanted. So, if I do this again, I will have to try to come up with some solution. However, I was really happy when the kids started sharing instruments on their own during the song. I made sure to praise them for this. Then I read another book, which maybe three or four kids paid any attention to. I tried to sing another song and absolutely none of them showed any interest. Then we got to the craft portion. I had brought some pre-cut birthday crowns and crayons and asked them to decorate them. They love to color, so I wasn't too worried about this. However, I discover that I don't have enough for each child. Our first program with them was attended by nine kids, so I brought supplies for twelve (I planned on extras, including one for myself). Turns out that this week, there were thirteen kids. So two children had to share and I felt like a complete amateur. I ended up running over a few minutes (and I still had another book and a song). Overall, I don't feel really good about how it went. I don't know what it was, but the kids didn't seem to pay as much attention as they did the week before. One of the counselors did mention that they had just played a lot of running games, so they might have been a little wound up. I don't know. I just really wish it had gone better. I was definitely not pleased to have one child say they didn't have fun and didn't want me to come back next week (granted, it was the little girl who didn't get the instrument she wanted, so she may have been bitter, but still).

Back at the library, I put away all my supplies and then covered the reference desk while Jaymi was at lunch. In the afternoon, I worked on planning more Little Tykes and working the desk. I also helped with assorted tasks as Jaymi and Suzanne asked. I had a brief meeting with Suzanne and Diane, the library director, as she and I will be running a program on Friday. Another thing for me to be nervous about. Not only will I be alone in the department on Friday, I'll be running a program that I didn't plan and really don't know much about with THE DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY. Not a big deal or anything. I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed this week. Especially since Friday, I don't have the luxury of the half hour before patrons show up to get opening procedures done. I have to do them when I get there at nine and the program starts at ten, so I will have to try to squeeze the opening procedures and set up for the program in the first forty-five minutes of the day. I just don't have a real great feeling about it. I'm probably underestimating my abilities, but I'm a worrier. I guess that's all for today.