Monthly Archives: August 2013

Seeing Red – book review

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Joanne Toft

Erskine starts out Seeing Red with a punch – “when your daddy dies, everything changes” and indeed it does. We are taken on a summer journey into the life of a twelve year old whose world is changing faster that he can … Continue reading →

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It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Joanne Toft

This week my reading slowed way down and I have no idea why.  I did finish Matisse on the Loose and you can read a review here. I spent some lovely time reading and looking at Emily. A short picture … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Finding stories – Matisse on the Loose

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Joanne Toft

Matisse on the loose by Georgia Bragg I am doing a bit of research on Matisse for a book I started years ago.  I like the idea but the story I am writing now is just missing something.  A feeling … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Living with Jackie Chan

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Joanne Toft

YA Book:  Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles I jumped into Jo Knowles soon to be released (Sept. 10) book Living with Jackie Chan.  It was getting a lot of attention on Twitter so I decided to make the leap … Continue reading →

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Ideas and Story Development – Giving writers time!

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Joanne Toft

Where do ideas come from?  This morning I was skimming blog posts and ran across a comment from Sharon Creech.  Years ago she had woken up with the thought – the boy on the porch. It was a thought that … Continue reading →

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It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Joanne Toft

Completed: Listening to Lucca by Suzanne La Fleur ( released August 6th) Andi Unexpected by Amanda Flower (will be released September 24th) In Progress: The Nature Principal: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Word by Richard Louv Matisse on the … Continue reading →

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Writing Genres??? Writing in the Content Areas

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Joanne Toft

Today was the third day in a back to school PD on writing in the science classroom. It has been wonderful and we are using a great set of materials. We are working with books developed by Besty Rupp Fulwiler. … Continue reading →

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It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Joanne Toft

Last week I was approved for a few pre published books from Netgalley so I side tracked my reading of The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp. ( Sorry Kathi A. – I do love what I am reading … Continue reading →

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Letting Go and Holding On—Making It a Great Year

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Joanne Toft

Find ways to hold on to what you learned and what you care about. It is what makes teaching important and it is how we learn. It is August. And as teachers we are beginning the steps back into the … Continue reading →

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Joanne Toft

I am just joining the Monday Fun!  I keep reading what everyone else is reading and then don’t post. So today is the day – My goal to to let you know what I am reading!  I have been on … Continue reading →

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