Category Archives: listening

Day Six: Breathing and Balance

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Joanne Toft

Breathing in and breathing out – a balance of air to keep the lungs moving and the body balanced. We do it without thinking. Our brain and body work together to create a heathy environment. A balance that seems solid, … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior change, listening | 2 Comments

Day 23 – Slice of Life Challenge – Families, eating, chatting and books

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Joanne Toft

Families, eating, chatting and books – Long ago when we were a young family I thought about how I wanted my children to be readers, how I loved the idea of sitting and talking with my children about books, the … Continue reading →

Posted in listening, Reading, Reflection | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Rounding the corner to the end of the year – review in progress

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Joanne Toft

It is now December and winter is here in full force. The morning temperature on the way to school was – 3 in the heated car. The trees are coated in snow and sitting perfectly posed for a painting. We … Continue reading →

Posted in listening, Reflection | 3 Comments

SOL Challenge Day 5 – Learning about writing alone

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Joanne Toft

This is a quick note to self – maybe to you too! Are there things you know, things you say to your students, things that you have said over and over many times but all of a sudden you think … Continue reading →

Posted in listening, Reflection, writing | 8 Comments

#SOL2015 25/31 Finding Stories

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Joanne Toft

I was sitting the other night surfing the blogs that I enjoy and slipped on to Kate Messner’s blog. She had a wonderful poem called Found. She was seeking to clear her head and get back into writing so a … Continue reading →

Posted in gardens, listening, writing | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

One Little Word – Listen

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Joanne Toft

The last two years I have held onto the word balance to  use it to help me slow down, enjoy the world and refresh from 40 years of teaching. Now it is time to hold that word in the back of … Continue reading →

Posted in listening, Reflection | 10 Comments

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 →

Posted in Book Review, listening | 5 Comments

Small steps

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Joanne Toft

I was not going to post today because I seem to be saying the same thing each week but I decided to push myself and see what I might say today that would be different. My classrooms (5th in the … Continue reading →

Posted in listening | Tagged , | 4 Comments