Ok, I'm stuck.

Everytime I have to take storytime the children keep talking.
How do you keep 15 3-4yr olds quite while reading a story?

With some stories they are quiet, if is it one which you can be all out 'ott', but some stories do not allow for that as much, so they talk. Actually, some of them constantly talk regardless. The EAL children ALWAYS 'mess around'.

Any help would be appreciated.

I'm thinking stickers or a hand stamp, but some children already have them [from 'tidy-up time'] and the EAL children don't understand what they have to do to get one!

HELP!


Rose x

some of the things they used to do at the playgroup where i volunteered were:
when the children started talking, don't say anything, but just close the book and place it on your lap and look towards the children who are disturbing you and wait for a while, if still ignoring you tell them that we are waiting for you to be quiet so i can continue.
for the really bad ones we used to give them their own carpet tile and they had to sit on that, that way you could place them near a coleague or away from the others they talk to.
I can't think of any more at the min, but hope these are of some use.

I know you say you've tried stickers etc but it can be just as effective to use praise if its used well.
if someone was talking I would stop the story and in a really OTT voice say 'Oh wow everyone look at X and see how well she's sitting, and she's so quiet. Thankyou x'
the children will all want you to notice them and all sit bolt up right probably with fingers on their lips.
If you can try and pick a child to praise who is sitting in close proximity to the child/ren who are talking

Thanks for the help!

The difficult thing about the floor tiles is that the children are always on a different carpet. Would be great though.

Summer, I have not yet gave stickers at story time, but I will def. try your idea about praising the child next to them.

Also, waiting does not work, the world revolves around these children and we can all just wait for them.

why not use the foam number/alphabet tiles that nurseries sometime have, then they can have a different number/letter(initial of name) and are portable

they probably are a little young to pick up on the subtle social cues given out when you stop and wait.

if you need to sit a child alone to stop them from being distracted or distracting others you could try sitting them on a cusion. sometimes this in itself can be a distraction to them but sometimes it works well. you could also let two or three of the sit on chairs as a reward and try and catch the chatty child being good in order to reward him as one of the lucky few.

Thanks. Abbey - we don't have those tiles.

I spoke to the teacher today about it and I suggested using a soft toy and she agreed.
The plan is that 'Spyro' is now my friend, and he is looking to see who is sitting nicely at story time. He will tell me who is talking. He also has 5 stickers to give out.

Will try that next week [spyro needs to be sewn up!]

Ive had success by using a visual aid to grab theier attention at the begining of storytime. Could be a soft toy or something that goes along with the story. Start off with short stories and build them up as the children get used to sitting for longer - good luck

Thanks Sally.

My storytime is much better and the teacher is always commenting on how well I am doing with that.

Well done Rose, it's one of those things that gets easier over time

Was told by a storyteller 'If you get their hands, you've got their ears.' She was an advocate for actions in stories and telling stories to younger children rather than reading to them. Or reading the story one day and retelling it another - getting the children to tell what happens next. One of the kids favourite stories of her's that I use involves taking a sheet of newspaper, turning it into a hat, a fireman's helmet, a boat and a lifejacket as you move through the story.

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