Mr. McCallum

2025 Grade 2 & Grade 3

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!

Posted: March 13, 2025

Thursday March 13, 2025

Daily Update:
It was a very cold start to the day today, so we started the day inside! Our spelling word of the day was “appreciation.” Today's "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “He looked like a hockey player.” We brainstormed ways to describe a hockey player’s appearance, movement, and gear without directly stating it. We completed our Heggerty listening games and worked through a reading maze, which hinted at an exciting change—Mrs. Hill joined us for math today! In UFLI, we continued studying vowel teams, focusing on the long *o* sound. Do you remember what a vowel team is? Our writing prompt was “The Time I Beat Up a Bad Guy.” This led to some very creative storytelling! After sharing some of our favorite ideas, we wrapped up with a short independent reading session before washing up, grabbing a snack, and heading outside for recess.

After Recess:
The Grade 1s and 2s had a special math lesson with Mrs. Hill today! They practiced measuring with non-standard units, played an addition game, and explored the rules of using a ruler with standard units. It turns out that many of the measurement rules are the same for both methods! Meanwhile, the Grade 3s reviewed their mental math strategies and worked on representing increasing patterns using concrete objects and pictures.

PE After Lunch:
We started PE with some basketball warm-up drills to get ready for upcoming games. Then, we moved on to one of the all-time favorite activities—parachute games! There’s nothing quite like the excitement of seeing the parachute billow up and coming down in waves.

JMH Students:
Our JMH reading tutors visited again today to lead literacy activities. They put in a lot of effort preparing books and interactive lessons for our K-3 students. Since they are also learning through this experience, I hope everyone is being kind, engaged, and putting in their best effort to make their hard work worthwhile!

End of Day Routine:
We introduced French vocabulary for numbers 1-20 and colors for the first time today. Afterward, we reflected in our Book of Gratitude with the prompt: “Someone who was nice to me today was…”. We also checked our morning writing and warm-up work. Everyone earned free choice time on the iPads, but we were a little slow putting them away! When we filled out the home to school books I also put a copy of the new hot lunch form inside. I attached the PDF copy to this note aswell. See you tomorrow!

Picture of the Day:
Getting ready to sing O’Canada and start the day on the right note.

Attachment	Size
april_2025_hot_lunch_napan.pdf	122.18 KB

Posted: March 13, 2025

Wednesday March 12, 2025

Daily Update:
Our spelling word for the day was “orientation.” For our "Show, Not Tell" exercise, we worked on describing "he was a bad listener." We had a lot of fun with our Heggarty Listening games and wrapped up with a reading maze about the kindergarten students coming for their first day, "on our way to K." In our UFLI lesson, we focused on vowel teams for the long "e" sound. Vowel teams are pairs or groups of letters that combine to make one vowel sound. For Work on Writing, our prompt was “How to spot a bad listener.” We shared our stories with the class and then enjoyed a quiet read-to-self time before washing up, grabbing a snack, and heading outside for recess.

After Recess:
The Grade 1s and 2s worked on measuring using non-standard units today. We reviewed the rules for measuring and practiced using base ten units to measure height. We also did a quick review of subtraction facts—subtraction can be tricky at times! The Grade 3s focused on identifying and describing increasing patterns, as well as spotting errors in both increasing and decreasing patterns. They also had a brief session on counting money.

PE After Lunch:
We had the “On Your Way to K” program today, welcoming next year’s kindergarten students and their parents to the gym. To make room for this event, we took our PE games outdoors, using hula-hoops in fun activities. I hope everyone managed to avoid the puddles!

JMH Students:
We were lucky to have our friends from JMH come in to help with our literacy activities. They worked hard to choose books and create engaging activities for our K-3 students. They’re learning right alongside us, so let’s continue to be gracious hosts and give our best effort in completing the activities they’ve prepared!

Music:
Mr. Whalen visited us today, and it had been a few weeks since we last picked up our instruments. We were a little slow on transitions and picking up our song, but that’s okay! It’s clear we need to practice a bit more before his return next week. Let’s show him how much effort we’ve been putting in—he’ll be proud of our progress!

Picture of the Day:
Here we are, working together as a group to switch chords on the ukulele—welcome to “Ukulele Hero!”

Posted: March 11, 2025

Tuesday March 11, 2025

Daily Update:
It was as chilly start to our day, but we stayed outside, so make sure you are coming everyday dressed for winter weather! Our spelling word of the day was “consequence.” Today's "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “He was a good listener.” We explored ways to describe attentive listening through actions rather than words. We completed our Heggerty listening games and worked through a reading maze centered on the theme of being a good listener. In UFLI, we focused on vowel teams that produce the long *e* sound, reinforcing the idea that two or more letters can work together to create a single vowel sound. Our writing prompt for today was “How to Be a Good Listener,” which led to some thoughtful responses. We wrapped up our literacy block with a quick independent reading session.

After Recess:
Math was shortened today as we had a guidance session halfway through our double period. The Grade 1s and 2s continued working with non-standard units of measurement—today’s challenge was measuring everyone’s height using Napan floor tiles! We also squeezed in a quick subtraction quiz. Meanwhile, the Grade 3s worked on mental math strategies and had some DreamBox time for extra practice.

Guidance:
Mrs. Robichaud led a discussion on mindfulness, emphasizing its benefits such as improved self-awareness, deep relaxation, and increased focus. One thing we realized we need to work on? Perseverance—especially when rolling up the yoga mats and putting them away properly!

PE After Lunch:
Excitement was high at lunch as the Napan Floor Hockey Series is now tied at one game apiece! For PE, we played a game where two teams defended a line of pins, trying to knock over their opponents’ pins using soft Gator balls. It was fast-paced and intense—we definitely worked up a sweat!

Roots of Empathy:
Our favorite little teacher, Baby Kade, visited today! He’s getting stronger—standing with a little help from Mom—and he even tried to grab some glasses and faces! We had to be mindful of how suddenly we moved and how loudly we spoke so we didn’t startle him. He’s growing so fast and, as always, was absolutely adorable!

End of Day Routine:
We practiced some new French vocabulary before writing in our Book of Gratitude. Today’s prompt was: “I felt proud of myself when…”.

Picture of the Day:
Reflecting on some mindfulness skills on our yoga mats.

Posted: March 10, 2025

Monday March 10, 2025

Daily Update:
Welcome back! I hope everyone had a fun and restful March Break. We jumped straight into our work this morning, but not before taking a few minutes to share stories about our week off. It was great hearing about all the exciting things everyone did! Our spelling word of the day was “operation.” Today's "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “She was tired.” We explored creative ways to describe exhaustion through actions and expressions. We completed our Heggerty listening games and did a shortened reading maze before diving into our UFLI lesson on vowel teams. We learned that vowel teams are two or more letters that work together to create a single vowel sound. Our writing prompt today was “My March Break,” followed by a quick share session. To wrap up, we had some independent or buddy reading before grabbing a snack and heading outside.

After Recess:
In math, the Grade 1s and 2s began with a short March Break story share, then completed a subtraction quiz. We also had our first introduction to standard and non-standard units of measurement, discussing key measurement rules. Meanwhile, the Grade 3s practiced mental math strategies and worked on solving word problems involving sums and differences.

After Lunch:
We had a discussion on what it means to be a good listener and an engaged learner. Then, we read *Dragons Love Tacos*, which was a big hit! After our story, it was time for PE.

PE:
We started with a basketball warm-up before moving on to an exciting game of indoor soccer.

End of Day Routine:
To finish the day, we worked on French vocabulary related to school supplies and household rooms. Then, we reflected in our Book of Gratitude, responding to the prompt: “The best part of my day was when…”.

Picture of the Day:
Everyone completed their morning work and earned free choice time on the iPads—having a shorter reading maze definitely helped!

2025 Napan 2-3 March

Posted: March 10, 2025

Posted: February 28, 2025

Friday February 28, 2025

Daily Update:
Today was Pajama Day at Napan Elementary! Students arrived in their coziest PJs, ready for a fun and relaxed day. Our spelling word of the day was “Championship,” in anticipation of the Napan Floor Hockey Championships starting after March Break. Today's "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “He was ready for bed.” We brainstormed different ways to describe being tired or winding down for the night. We completed our Heggerty listening games and worked through a reading maze featuring a “wow word” challenge. Our writing prompt was “How to Show School Spirit,” which turned out to be a bit tricky for some. While students worked on their writing and Read to Self with Miss Brown, I stepped out briefly to put the finishing touches on our end-of-month video. After a quick snack, we took advantage of the beautiful weather and headed outside.

After Recess:
The entire school gathered in the gym for our end-of-month assembly. We watched our February recap video—it's amazing how much we accomplished in just a few weeks! Attendance awards and Cub of the Month certificates were handed out before we wrapped up with a school-wide game of ‘Hungry Hungry Hippos.’ I even gave it a try on a scooter—it was way harder than it looked! Back in the classroom, we squeezed in a quick math vocabulary quiz, enjoyed some free choice time, and then washed up for lunch.

After Lunch:
Students who were already outside continued playing, while those in LEGO Club finished up and joined them for PE. With fresh snow and towering snowbanks, we grabbed the crazy carpets for one last sliding adventure before the break!

JMH Reading Tutors:
Our JMH reading tutors joined us again to lead activities with the K-3 students. They continue to put in so much effort, and I reminded everyone to be respectful, stay focused, and make them feel welcome. It's important to show appreciation for our guests!

Spirit Week Activity:
Miss Brown took charge of today’s final activity. Since some students might be spending extra screen time over the break, we made sure to soak up the fresh air with an outdoor session for the last 30 minutes of the day.

Picture of the Day:
Lego building requires serious focus!

Posted: February 27, 2025

Thursday February 27, 2025

Daily Update:
Today was Napan School Spirit Day! Students showed off their Cubs pride by wearing blue and white. Tomorrow is always a favorite—PJ Day! Get ready for a cozy, comfy day of learning. Our spelling word of the day was “announcements.” Today's "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “She had school spirit.” We discussed different ways to express enthusiasm and pride without saying it outright. We completed our Heggerty listening games and began our reading maze with a "wow word" challenge, but had to pause early to get ready for our skating trip to the LBA. A huge thank you to all the adults who helped tie skates—this activity wouldn’t be possible without you!

After Recess:
With skating taking up much of the morning, we squeezed in a short math session. After a quick snack, the Grade 1s and 2s completed an online vocabulary, addition, and subtraction quiz. The Grade 3s focused on solving word problems involving sums and differences, then got some bonus time on DreamBox.

After Lunch:
Miss Brown and Mr. Ross took the K-3 students over to the giant snow hill again! With crazy carpets in hand, they zoomed down the hill, taking full advantage of the snow before it disappears.

JMH Reading Tutors:
Our JMH reading tutors joined us again today, working on activities with the K-3 students. They continue to put in so much effort, and I reminded everyone to show respect and focus when they are leading. By the way, do you remember your reading tutors name?

Spirit Week Activity:
Mrs. Craig led us in a team vs. team challenge! One team had to earn points by running laps around their teammates, while the other team worked to stop them by passing the ball between players. It was an exciting, fast-paced game! Before heading home, we gathered for a school photo in our blue shirts to show off our Napan pride.

Picture of the Day:
Two of my favorite former students with two of my favorite new students—working hard together!

Posted: February 26, 2025

Wednesday February 26, 2025

Daily Update:
Today was Pink Shirt Day, a reminder to stand up against bullying and spread kindness. Tomorrow, we continue Spirit Week with Napan School Spirit Day—don’t forget to wear your Cubs gear or blue and white! Our spelling word of the day was “Maniacs.”Today's "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “He was a bully.” We brainstormed ways to make that sentence more descriptive and powerful. We had a slight change in routine today and accidentally skipped our Heggerty listening games—much to the students’ disappointment! But they handled it well and pushed forward with our reading maze, which included a “wow word” challenge. In UFLI, we worked through our lesson before moving on to today’s writing prompt: "How to Be a Friend." After writing, we shared our ideas with the class and wrapped up with some quiet reading time before cleaning up for snack.

After Indoor Recess:
The Grade 1s and 2s practiced subtraction with Mrs. Hill, while the Grade 3s focused on determining the difference between two numbers using their own strategies. They also played an addition game to reinforce their skills.

After Lunch:
Mrs. Hill and Mr. Ross took the K-3 students over to the giant snow hill for another fun sliding session on the crazy carpets. It’s always a highlight of the day!

JMH Reading Tutors:
Our JMH reading tutors visited today to lead activities with the K-3 students. They are putting in a lot of effort to prepare engaging lessons and really want to do a great job! I reminded everyone to treat our guests with kindness and respect—sometimes joking around at the wrong time can come off as rude, and we always want to make sure they feel welcome.

Spirit Week Activity:
Mr. McCallum led a round of Minute to Win It challenges! We played Drop Zone with marshmallows, Stack Attack with cups, Roll With It using oranges, and Suck It Up for the dancers. Before heading home, we gathered for a school photo in our pink shirts to capture the spirit of the day.

Picture of the Day:
Pink Shirt Day was a huge success at Napan Elementary—everyone looked great in their pink and showed their support!

Posted: February 25, 2025

Tuesday February 25, 2025

Daily Update:
The wind was strong this morning, but with temperatures at 3°C, we were finally able to start our day outside! It felt great to get some fresh air before heading inside to begin our learning. This week is School Spirit Week at Napan, and today was Crazy Hat/Hair Day. Tomorrow, we’ll wear pink shirts to support anti-bullying. Our spelling word of the day was “Activities.” Today's "Show, Not Tell" sentence was: “She had crazy hair.” Mr. Ross might have had the wildest hairdo of all! We completed our Heggerty listening games and tackled a reading maze with a fun "wow word" inserted for extra challenge. In UFLI, we worked through our lesson before diving into today's writing prompt: "March Break." After writing, we took turns sharing our ideas, followed by some quiet read-to-self time before cleaning up for snack.

After Indoor Recess:
The Grade 1s and 2s practiced subtraction today. A few of us need to be extra careful with our signs—some students were accidentally adding instead of subtracting! The Grade 3s continued working on subtraction by creating their own word problems to match a given solution. After math, we headed downstairs to the library with Mrs. Robichaud for a discussion about Pink Shirt Day and its importance.

After Lunch:
Mrs. Brown and Mr. Ross took the K-3 students across the road to the giant snow hill! With crazy carpets in hand, everyone had a blast sliding down. We need to make the most of the hill before the warm weather melts it away—it’s amazing how quickly the seasons change.

Roots of Empathy:
At the end of the day, Allison visited for our Roots of Empathy session. We explored different emotions that baby Kade might experience, studying photos of babies and identifying their feelings based on their facial expressions. We also read a book about a girl who was teased for her clothing—it reminded us a lot of the message behind Pink Shirt Day.

Spirit Week Activity:
Mrs. Potts led us in two fantastic games! First, we tackled the human knot, testing our teamwork and problem-solving skills. Then, we played a scooter-and-skipping-rope version of Hungry Hungry Hippos, which had everyone laughing and moving. Such a fun way to end the day!

Picture of the Day:
Writing about a time we helped a friend—or when someone helped us.