Occean-Callum Corner: Welcome to ELA7 for the 2022-23 School Year!

September 7, 2022

Dear families,

Welcome to English Language Arts on the Terra Cluster! My name is Mrs. Callum, and I am excited to be your teacher. I hope you and your family had a restful and restorative summer break. September always means school and the anticipation of new faces, experiences, and possibilities. I am looking forward to getting to know each of you. back to school

A bit about my background:

Let me share a few things about myself that will help you to get to know me better. I have been teaching seventh grade English at Boston Latin School for fifteen years. In years past I have helped with Public Declamation and the BLS track and field programs. I live in Milton, MA with my husband and two daughters. I grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, and then attended Boston University as a scholarship student-athlete in cross-country and track and field. I loved the experience B.U. provided and it holds a special place in my heart. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Communications, I went on to earn my Master of Arts in Teaching at Simmons University.

How to prepare for the year:

Bring to my classroom an open mind ready for learning. I will be reading various texts with you and helping with your writing and oral-speaking skills.

To that end, here you can find the supply list to best support your work in my class:

BPS Chromebook
marble composition notebook
Pack of white-lined filler paper
½ or 1-inch binder
Two tab dividers
pencils/blue and black ink pens/highlighters
Hoopla account (See class site or BLS library page for video tutorial)
Dictionary ( an app on a Smart device is acceptable)
Summer reading requirement: Flying Lessons & Other Stories edited by Ellen Ho (See BLS library page for details)
optional: print copies of the texts.

We have a Google Classroom, class blog, and a Bitmoji classroom! The Google Classroom is a portal where students and families can find daily assignments, digital handouts, student work, grades, and resources. I also supplement with my blog. This autumn I will try to launch a Bitmoji classroom. I will gradually introduce the students to these materials and help teach them how to navigate them.

I can’t wait to start the year, and look forward to building a solid partnership with you. Thank you for embarking on this journey with me. Please do not hesitate to to contact me with any questions or concerns.