This is just one bandwagon I couldn't resist jumping on. Seeing how different people approach the same task has been so interesting to read. Links to all the other good stuff: Anne's post, Lisa's post, Katie's post, Anna's post.

I started out my career working in a library that had a staff of 7. They had lots of storytimes each week, so one staff member would plan a storytime several presenters would use.  Often a plan would have 6-8 books, 4-5 songs, and several extension ideas, and a craft (not always done at every storytime). Clearly way too much to do in one 30 minute storytime! The idea was that to allow each presenter flexibility to do things in her own way, one person would assemble a variety of good quality items and each presenter would choose what she wanted to fill the 30 minutes.

Even though I don't share storytime plans with anyone in my current position, I still use the same style to plan. I don't plan a specific order (Book, Flannel, Song, Rhyme, Book, etc) but leave it open to suit the energy, age, and attention of the kids who are in front of me on a given day. I usually pick between 3-5 books, at least one of which is more of a "toddler" book. I try to incorporate nonfiction whenever appropriate.

In terms of where I source my plans, it's a combination of things I have done in the past, what I know is in my flannelboard stash (I have a Google drive spreadsheet with all that info), what I find in the blogosphere (see my storytime blog roll for places I frequently check), and books I find in our catalog.

I typically get books for 3-4 weeks of storytime at once, since I may have to request them from other libraries in our system, and fill in the details 1 week before.

I tried to be more intentional with incorporating specific activities to address ECRR2 this past year, so I added a section for those activities with the practice in parentheses.

Extensions are where I put rhymes, flannelboards, etc. I have started hyperlinking things in my plans since I started blogging so that I can give due credit without having to rack my brain for the source. If I know the rhyme or script is included with the flannel board pieces, I don't bother putting the words on the plan. Same for familiar things like Scat the Cat that I just freestyle.

I have an opening and closing song that I use for an entire year (Sept-May), and then choose one or two additional songs. Sometimes they fit the theme, sometimes they don't. I include descriptions of the actions to remind myself of how the song goes, or instructions about the props I want to use. I was able to put iTunes on my work computer, and use playlists on my iPad. Before that, I used to make playlists for ~3-4 months and burn a cd to use, so I would just have to bounce tracks, not exchange discs.

If I'm doing a craft after storytime, I include a picture of the finished project, a list of the materials I'll need-- including everyday things like glue and scissors, and brief instructions on how to make the project.

So a finished plan looks something like this: