Mr. McCallum

2025 Grade 2 & Grade 3

Posted: April 2, 2025

Tuesday April 1, 2025

Daily Update:
It was a bit rainy today, but we were all well rested having yesterday off due to the freezing rain. We started off our day inside and got down to business. Our spelling words focused on the “oo / u” vowel sounds: bloom, proof, bathroom, and raccoon. Our "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “It was spring.” Instead of our usual Heggerty listening games, we practiced real-life listening skills through class activities. We followed that with a reading maze about today’s special visit from JMH and their camera crew, and then reviewed our vowel sound focus. For writing, students chose between “How to Pull a Prank” or “My Weekend”—some even wrote both! We squeezed in a quick book exchange before settling into Read to Self, then grabbed our snacks and prepared for indoor recess since the playground was still too wet.

Math:
The Grade 1s and 2s continued reviewing their basic facts and practiced column addition with proper alignment. The Grade 3s worked on number words, mental math, expression representation, and had some time on DreamBox for extra practice.

Guidance:
You’re never too young to dream big! Mrs. Robichaud read *What Shoes Will You Wear?*, a story that explores career options through the shoes people wear in different jobs. From firefighters to dancers, we talked about the variety of exciting paths out there—and how it's okay not to know just yet. I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up either!

After Lunch – PE:
Mr. Ross introduced us to a brand-new game today—kind of like musical chairs, but with plungers instead of chairs! It was fun, fast, and much safer than the traditional version. Leave it to Mr. Ross to keep things creative and safe!

JMH:
Our JMH literacy mentors joined us today—and brought along a camera crew! Each group got a turn to work on reading activities while being filmed. One student even asked, “Wasn’t there a camera crew coming?”—proving how focused and respectful everyone was. Great job giving your full attention to your mentors!

End of Day Routine:
To wrap up the day, we reviewed some French vocabulary for numbers and colors. In our Book of Gratitude, we reflected on the prompt: “A moment today I felt thankful was…”. After filling out our Home to School books, we enjoyed some well-earned free choice time!

Picture of the Day:
Working on a fun literacy activity with our mentors from JMH!

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2025 Napan 2-3 April

Posted: April 1, 2025

Posted: March 28, 2025

Friday March 28, 2025

Daily Update:
It was another beautiful start to our day! We began with our spelling words focusing on the “oo” and “u” sounds: brook, push, firewood, and wooden. Our "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “The horse was big.” We came up with creative ways to describe its size using vivid language instead of just saying “big.” We completed a few Heggerty listening games, followed by a reading maze reflecting on our sleigh ride yesterday—and a dramatic farewell to one of our snowmen. We also reviewed our vowel sound focus before jumping into Free Choice Friday writing. Students chose their own topics and formats, and after a short independent reading session and sharing time, we headed outside for recess.

Math:
The Grade 1s and 2s reviewed their addition and subtraction facts, then practiced using the steps for column addition. The Grade 3s focused on decreasing patterns and tackled some related word problems. Everyone worked hard to finish strong before the weekend.

After Lunch – LEGO Club:
I visited the library during LEGO Club and found everyone deep in focused building. I let students know that our friends from JMH wouldn’t be coming today, but they’ll return Monday—with a camera crew for some filming! I also gave our class a few bonus minutes with the LEGO sets while the 4-5s attended SNAP. Cleanup took a little longer than expected, but we left the space tidy and organized. I was proud of how patient the class was while we wrapped up!

PE:
We had a guest teacher for gym today. We started with basketball warm-ups and played a hula hoop Rock-Paper-Scissors game. I asked one student how it went and he said, “I was the OP.” I’m still not entirely sure what that means—but he definitely had fun!

End of Day Routine:
We reviewed some French vocabulary and tried counting to ten in Ukrainian. Let’s just say… French is going much better! In our Book of Gratitude, we reflected on the prompt: “Today I enjoyed playing with…”. Then we filled out our Home to School books and enjoyed some well-earned free choice time to wrap up the week.

Picture of the Day:
Every single student in 2/3 who was here today joined LEGO Club at lunch—what a team!

Posted: March 27, 2025

Thursday March 27, 2025

Daily Update:
We kicked off the day with another beautiful morning. Our spelling words focused on vowel teams again: today, between, might, and show. Today's "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “She likes being in the woods.” We discussed how to express that love through detailed actions and settings rather than just stating it. We completed our Heggerty listening games, followed by a reading maze themed around our exciting sleigh ride field trip into the woods. We also reviewed vowel teams and tackled our writing prompt: “How to Survive in the Woods.” After a short read-to-self session, we stayed inside for recess to avoid getting soaked before heading out.

Math:
While we waited for Mr. Ross to finish a virtual meeting, Grades 1, 2, and 3 had a combined math session where we reviewed place value charts and the steps for adding multi-digit numbers. The Grade 1s and 2s completed a 50-question quiz on basic facts, while the Grade 3s jumped into DreamBox across the hall. We wrapped up math a little early to give ourselves time for lunch before heading out on our adventure.

After Lunch – PE (Field Trip):
This afternoon we headed out on our sleigh ride field trip—and it was unforgettable! Thanks to R&R and the Law family for a great afternoon! We not only enjoyed a ride through the woods with some massive but gentle horses, but we also had a fire, roasted marshmallows, drank hot chocolate, munched on chips, and enjoyed homemade chocolate chip cookies. Students climbed trees, built snowmen, explored the woods, and even swung on a tree swing. A huge thank you to all the adults who came along to help make the experience so special. It was an incredible day full of laughter, connection, and memories.

Picture of the Day:
Mr. Ross made a couple of new friends on the field trip today. According to him, he’s “the one with the sunglasses,” in case you couldn’t tell!

Posted: March 26, 2025

Wednesday March 26, 2025

Daily Update:
We were greeted with a beautiful morning today, and we made the most of it! Our spelling words focused on vowel teams again: away, clean, high, and follow. Our "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “He was a good musician.” We explored ways to describe someone’s musical talent through their actions and sounds rather than simply stating it. We followed that up with a few Heggerty listening games, a reading maze reminding us to stay dry and avoid puddles, and a vowel team review to reinforce today’s spelling focus. Our writing task was “How to Relax Like a King or Queen.” The results were funny and imaginative—turns out some students think teachers and parents are basically royal assistants! I'm sure thats only in their writing though! After washing up and grabbing a snack, we headed out to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.

Math:
The Grade 1s and 2s started with a fun coloring activity before working through addition and subtraction facts from 0–9. These facts are essential as we continue practicing column addition and subtraction. The Grade 3s explored decreasing patterns—representing them using concrete materials, drawings, and numbers, and then solving a word problem based on their pattern.

After Lunch – PE:
Today we had a combined gym class with the K-1s. After a few basketball warm-ups, we moved into some hula hoop games. It got a little loud, but based on the laughter, it was definitely a hit!

JMH Students:
Our JMH literacy mentors joined us again this afternoon for some fun reading games. While it’s great to be excited coming out of PE, we need to remember to channel that energy respectfully. These high school students work hard to prepare activities, and we show appreciation by staying focused and putting in effort—even when it’s challenging.

End of Day Routine:
With Mr. Whalen away today, we skipped our usual ukulele session. Instead, we took time to share our writing from the morning. Unfortunately, our energy got the better of us, and many of us had difficulty listening and following directions, which meant we lost our iPad time at the end of the day. We reflected in our Book of Gratitude with the prompt: “Someone who said something nice to me today was…”. Then we signed our Home to School books, packed up, and got ready for dismissal.

Don’t forget—tomorrow is our sleigh ride, so please dress warmly!

Picture of the Day:
A cozy peek through the window at the Napan Breakfast Program!

Posted: March 25, 2025

Tuesday March 25, 2025

Daily Update:
We woke up to a blanket of fresh snow and a 2-hour delay for all schools in ASD-N. The day began on the playground under a clear sky—it truly felt like the calm after the storm. With Mrs. Brown away today, I stepped into the office, and we had the pleasure of welcoming Mrs. Blakely as our guest teacher. Our spelling focus continued with vowel teams. Today’s words were: pie, bright, delight, and tonight. Our "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “She was a good listener.” We discussed how someone’s body language and behavior can show they're paying attention. We completed a reading maze about how to treat a guest in the classroom, followed by a quick vowel team review before heading downstairs for guidance with Mrs. Robichaud.

Guidance:
Today’s topic was diversity! Mrs. Robichaud shared that she used to be a hairdresser, and we even did an activity where we styled hair on different characters. Each design was unique, just like people are. We reflected on how these differences connect to the idea of diversity and inclusion.

After Lunch – PE:
We warmed up with basketball shooting drills and then transitioned into a fun game of indoor soccer. Lots of energy and teamwork all around!

Roots of Empathy:
Allison joined us again today to help prepare for next week’s visit from Baby Kade. We talked about the importance of sleep for babies and discussed transitional objects like blankets, bears, and soothers. We also read a sweet little book called *Hush*. What do you think—why is sleep so important for growing babies?

End of Day Routine:
To wrap up the day, we practiced some French vocabulary and played a fast-paced logo recognition game. Before we knew it, the day was over! We put up our chairs and packed up—but I forgot to send home the Home to School books today. Oops! Everyone was fantastic for Mrs. Blakely, and she shared that she’d love to return. That’s a win in my book!

Picture of the Day:
So peaceful after the snowfall—even calm enough to look through some cards on the picnic table before school began.

Posted: March 24, 2025

Monday March 24, 2025

Daily Update:
After a refreshing long weekend, we returned to a light dusting of snow—but also a beautiful sunrise to start our day. With Term 3 officially underway, we made a few changes to our routines. For example, our spelling “word” is now spelling “words.” Today’s four were: boast, grown, toe, and yellow. Today's "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “It was fun.” We explored ways to describe enjoyable moments without using the word “fun.” Instead of our usual Heggerty listening games, we had a discussion focused on demonstrating strong listening habits. We also completed a reading maze that talked about how our work will become more challenging in Term 3. In UFLI, we continued working on vowel teams for the long i sound. Our writing prompt was “My Weekend,” followed by a short read-to-self session before heading outside to enjoy the sunshine.

After Recess:
The Grade 1s and 2s practiced simple addition and subtraction, and reviewed counting by tens starting from any number. The Grade 2s also worked on adding two-digit numbers in columns, with a focus on aligning digits by place value and showing regrouping. The Grade 3s focused on mental math strategies and explored increasing and decreasing patterns—identifying, describing, and comparing them.

Social Studies:
We read *Listen, Buddy* by Helen Lester and discussed the importance of listening before a problem becomes serious. After the story, we introduced our new share format for both writing and reading. Then, it was off to PE!

PE:
We warmed up with basketball shooting practice, then moved into soccer baseball. This class puts 110% into everything—even turning relaxing games into high-energy competitions!

End of Day Routine:
In French, we began learning vocabulary for food and fruits you might find in a supermarket. Our Book of Gratitude prompt was: “My favorite memory from today…”. We also checked our morning work and, for those who stayed focused, enjoyed a little free choice time.

Picture of the Day:
Working through column addition step-by-step on the board until it sticks in our memory!

Posted: March 18, 2025

Tuesday March 18, 2025

Daily Update:
Our spelling word today was “interruption.” Today's "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “It was a spring day.” We described the sights, sounds, and smells that signal the change of seasons. We completed our Heggerty listening games and worked through a reading maze about the arrival of spring and the melting snow. In UFLI, we continued practicing vowel teams for the long *i* sound. Our writing prompt was “How to Get a Good Report Card,” as there is no school on Friday while teachers work on report cards. After a short independent reading session, we got ready to enjoy the outdoors now that the rain and snow had finally stopped.

After Recess:
The Grade 1s and 2s focused on adding a one-digit and two-digit number in columns, emphasizing the importance of lining up numbers correctly by place value. The Grade 3s worked on end-of-term assessments and spent some time on DreamBox. After math, we headed to the library for a session with Mrs. Robichaud.

Guidance:
With Mrs. Robichaud, we explored brain power! We learned about three key parts of the brain—the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala—and discussed how understanding them can help us in everyday life. Do you remember what each of these parts controls?

PE After Lunch:
We started with 10 minutes of basketball drills before splitting into two teams for an exciting game. Each team’s goal was to knock over the other team’s pins using Gator balls. I’m not sure of the official name of the game, but one thing is for sure—it keeps everyone on their toes!

Roots of Empathy:
Alyson visited today to help us develop our emotional awareness. We examined pictures of children displaying different body language and facial expressions, then guessed what they might be feeling and why. When was a time you felt embarrassed, angry, sad, surprised, or fearful?

End of Day Routine:
We continued practicing French vocabulary for months and numbers 11-20. In our Book of Gratitude, today’s prompt was: “Today I am grateful for….” After checking our morning work, some students earned free choice time.

Picture of the Day:
Basketball warmups are always fun—until I steal your ball because I’m too quick!

Posted: March 18, 2025

Monday March 17, 2025

Daily Update:
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Our spelling word of the day was “Leprechaun.” Today's "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “She was ready for St. Patrick’s Day.” We talked about different ways to describe excitement for the holiday without saying it outright. We completed our Heggerty listening games and worked through a reading maze about St. Patrick’s Day and staying dry on the playground—an important skill given today's wet weather! In UFLI, we focused on vowel teams for the long *i* sound. Our writing prompt was “How to Catch a Leprechaun,” and students got creative with their traps and tricks! After a short independent reading session, we enjoyed a little St. Patrick’s Day treat before heading into an indoor recess.

After Recess:
The Grade 1s and 2s tackled a big math quiz, testing their skills with both addition and subtraction questions. Once they were done, they got a bit of free choice time on the tablets while I worked on wrapping up end-of-term assessments. For the Grade 3s, Mr. Ross was away, and we had a guest teacher for the day—can you remember his name?

Social Studies:
Today was Saint Patricks day, so we looked at the history and facts about St Paddy's day. Did you know the biggest parade in the world for St. Patricks day is held in New York City? We even watched some of it on the live stream on YouTube.

PE:
We started with some basketball warm-up drills before jumping into a high-energy game! By the end, everyone came out red-faced and dripping with sweat—always a sign of a great gym class.

End of Day Routine:
We worked on French vocabulary related to months and reviewed numbers 11-20. In our Book of Gratitude, today’s prompt was: “I felt lucky today when…”. Before heading home, we wrapped up the day with some lucky cupcakes, and Miss Brown kindly dismissed the class while I stepped out for a quick meeting.

Picture of the Day:
Lego Club got even better today with some new pieces added to the collection!

Posted: March 14, 2025

Friday March 14, 2025

Daily Update:
Our spelling word of the day was “annoying”—perfectly fitting, considering the one-hour video of "the world's most annoying sounds" that some students started yesterday at lunch. They managed to watch 20 minutes of it, but I made sure not to join them for today’s session! Today's "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “She wanted the cookie.” We brainstormed creative ways to express desire without saying it outright. We completed our Heggerty listening games and worked through a reading maze that tied into today’s act of kindness—handing out popcorn to the school. In UFLI, we focused on vowel teams for the long *o* sound. For writing, it was Free Choice Friday! Students could write about anything in any format they liked. After a quick independent reading session, we headed to the kitchen to pop popcorn and spread some kindness. I underestimated the amount we needed, so I quickly baked some cookies over recess to make up for it!

After Recess:
The weather was beautiful today, and everyone came inside refreshed from recess. We started math by sharing some of our morning writing while enjoying our freshly baked cookies. The Grade 1s and 2s practiced measuring various objects using a ruler before wrapping up with a quick addition quiz. Meanwhile, the Grade 3s worked on identifying errors in increasing patterns.

PE After Lunch:
We kicked off PE with some basketball warm-up drills before switching things up with Irish dancing to get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit for Monday!

JMH Students:
Our JMH literacy tutors joined us again today, bringing books and engaging activities for the K-3 students. They put a lot of effort into planning these lessons, and I hope everyone is showing them respect by participating and trying their best!

End of Day Routine:
We practiced French vocabulary related to greetings, places, and numbers 11-20. Then, we reflected in our Book of Gratitude with the prompt: “A fun moment I had today was…”. We checked over our morning writing and warm-up work before free choice time. At first, students were disappointed that iPads were off-limits, but after proving they could put them away properly, they earned four extra minutes of iPad time. I appreciate when both sides stick to their agreements!

Picture of the Day:
A sunny, warm lunch hour—perfect for playing outside!