Monthly Archives: November 2013

Supporting Teachers and Students — A Compare and Contrast

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Joanne Toft

This fall has given me a wonderful opportunity to look at our educational system. I have had time to both reflect and experience the differences in our students across a large urban area. I have found it amazing, sometimes frustrating. … Continue reading →

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It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Joanne Toft

I was into fair tales this week and read A Grimm Legacy (Grimm Tales #1) by Janna Jennings. This book was released October 29 of this year. It is a great adventure into the world of Grimm’s fairy tales. Not … Continue reading →

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The Year of Billy MIller

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Joanne Toft

I am in a small group of teacher/librarians who are discussing books so this one fell into my reading pile. I am reading through book after book hoping to stay ahead of my ever growing list. The book awards are … Continue reading →

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Setting a Course for Writing – Making Time

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Joanne Toft

This morning I sat at a coffee shop and watched two tables of women in writing groups. I noticed lots of talking, little writing and no real talk about their own words. They shared books by writers (Bird by Bird, … Continue reading →

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It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Joanne Toft

This past week I stepped into historical fiction with Karen Cushman’s book Alchemy and Meggy Swann, which came out in 2010. I also picked up Will Sparrow’s Road while at the library. I enjoyed the step back into old England … Continue reading →

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Choosing books for a long trip

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Joanne Toft

Each day I have a question on the white board for my students to answer as they walk in the room. They are quick community building questions for my 3rd and 4th graders and often connected to something we are … Continue reading →

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It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Joanne Toft

This week I did not read as much as I thought I might. I did finish Turn Left at the Cow by Lisa Bullard. What a great read! She writes with a light voice and a great sense of humor … Continue reading →

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Writing a response to ??

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Joanne Toft

Today I worked with my 3rd and 4th graders on writing a response to literature. We are reading Allen Says books so we were responding to Grandfather’s Journey. I am teaching from a published teachers text about author study. It … Continue reading →

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It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Joanne Toft

What am I reading?  I have been pushing through new books and realized there are a ton of books hiding on my I pad that I need to get back to.  (We won’t even talk about my wish list at … Continue reading →

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