Author: Kelsey Sorum

Kindergarten Forest School: Integrating Writing with Nature and Play
early childhood · inquiry · kindergarten

Kindergarten Forest School: Integrating Writing with Nature and Play

Kelsey Sorum9 Comments

Whether you're looking to begin a Forest School routine, connect children to nature, or integrate writing with play, this post outlines ways to begin.

One Little Word Roundup, 2020
olw · One Little Word (OLW)

One Little Word Roundup, 2020

Kelsey Sorum23 Comments

We're pleased to share our OLW choices for 2020 and invite you to do the same!

Why We Should Help Children Lean On Writing in Hard Times
purpose · shared writing

Why We Should Help Children Lean On Writing in Hard Times

Kelsey Sorum3 Comments

Seven reasons why we should help children lean on writing in hard times (with examples from a first grade classroom).

Everyone Gets What They Need: Reaching Your Writers
differentiation · early childhood · Reaching Your Writers Blog Series · social justice

Everyone Gets What They Need: Reaching Your Writers

Kelsey Sorum12 Comments

How a story about babies and bandages helped kids and families differentiate between equity and equality....and what it looks like for everyone go get what they need during writing workshop.

The Snap Word Train
high frequency words · word study

The Snap Word Train

Kelsey Sorum6 Comments

Over the years, kindergarteners have shown me that the kinds of environmental tools that they will actually use are: ones which are at their level, ones which they have meaningful memories (or ownership) creating, ones which they can see themselves in (via photographs or interests), and ones which they can touch and interact with. Such… Continue reading The Snap Word Train

From Skin Study to Writing Workshop
early childhood · kindergarten · social justice

From Skin Study to Writing Workshop

Kelsey Sorum8 Comments

After finishing each swirl of her curly hair, Camila circled her paintbrush around and around, forming eyes. For many children, the self-portrait stops here, at the outline.  I kneeled next to the young artist, holding a mirror in my hand, and said, “Camila, look at how the colors you are choosing match your hair, your… Continue reading From Skin Study to Writing Workshop

A Parade of Writers
celebration · early childhood · kindergarten

A Parade of Writers

Kelsey Sorum3 Comments

It's time to celebrate the progress writers have made!

The Scribble: Worth a Closer Look
early childhood · emergent writers · kindergarten

The Scribble: Worth a Closer Look

Kelsey Sorum4 Comments

It's the beginning of kindergarten, and that means there are lots of scribbles in books. An inquiry mindset can help us decide how to best support writers.

On Becoming an Anti-Racist Teacher of Young Writers
social justice

On Becoming an Anti-Racist Teacher of Young Writers

Kelsey Sorum9 Comments

A move to a school in my Brooklyn neighborhood has me questioning my role as a white teacher of young, Black writers -- and what my former role was as a white teacher of white students.

When Writers Choose the Genre: Nurturing Independence from the Start
independent writing projects · Nurturing Independence From the Start Blog Series

When Writers Choose the Genre: Nurturing Independence from the Start

Kelsey Sorum9 Comments

We don’t just want writers to be independent writers in our classrooms, we want them to be independent writers in the world! To do that, we need to offer frequent opportunities for them to begin with ideas, then choose genre — instead of the other way around.