Monthly Archives: December 2015

Gathering thoughts

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Joanne Toft

  It is the last week of the year and I am reviewing my garden journal. This journal has the details of my garden life – seeds planted, dates, weather patterns, ideas for new garden beds, drawings so I know … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflection, writing | 2 Comments

It’s Monday! What are you reading? Beyond awards

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Joanne Toft

The Hired Girl by Laura Am Schlitz – this was my read the week before Christmas. I was hooked while reading it but keep wondering about what group of girls will read this book? I suppose it is the historical … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Awards follow up – the wonders of reading

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Joanne Toft

A few weeks ago I shared the books our Chapter and Verse book group were reading. We met last week and voted for books we liked or thought might be worthy of an award. You need to keep in mind … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, Reading, Reflection | Tagged | 5 Comments

It’s Monday! What are you reading? – Think of the Newbery

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Joanne Toft

It is December 21 the longest night of the year. Since I often “save” my reading till night I am more than happy to have a long winters night to get caught up on 2015 release books. There are so … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Working so hard

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Joanne Toft

We are three days away from our winter break and I am testing, testing and testing. Today it was two classes of third graders. A reading test. I know the teachers were hoping the test might give them data to … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflection, Teaching | Tagged | 2 Comments

To much to sort out –

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Joanne Toft

It is Tuesday and I want to write and post but my head is spinning. There are so many thoughts I can’t see clear to even write. As we near this holiday time the world both locally and beyond seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflection | 4 Comments

It’s Monday! What are you reading? Thinking awards

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Joanne Toft

I am part of the children’s book group that is called Chapter and Verse Book Club.  They have small groups around the United States who meet in libraries or book stores to discuss children’s books. This month we are discussing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Reading | Tagged | 4 Comments

Family Diversity

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Joanne Toft

We gathered this last week like so many families to share a meal and conversation. We gathered both my family of origin and my husbands family of origin – at least parts of each. We all look similar. A few … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflection | Tagged , | 7 Comments