Hello EIS 6th Graders!
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!
My name is Mrs. Carter and I am thrilled to be your Language Arts and Social Studies teacher this year. I'm looking forward to a year of fun, exciting, and new learning adventures.
Contact Information:
Email: megan_carter@etiwanda.org
Phone: 909-899-1701
This is my twenty-first year teaching in the Etiwanda School District. I am thrilled to be teaching sixth grade and I am looking forward to a great year.
A little information about myself...I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Child Development from Chico State University. I earned my Preliminary Teaching Credential at California State University, San Bernardino. I received my Masters of Arts degree in Education in June 2006.
I have a 13-year-old son (Drew), an 11-year-old daughter (Reese), and a 9-year-old daughter (Layne). My husband and I are kept very busy running our children around to all of their extracurricular activities!
Some activities I like to do in my spare time include playing, watching, and coaching sports...especially soccer. I enjoy reading, going to the beach, camping as much as possible, skiing, and any other outdoor activities. My favorite restaurant is In-N-Out, you can usually find me at Target, and I love the Cleveland Browns (I really do believe they will win the Super Bowl...one day).
My goal is to prepare each student to be successful in middle school. I feel as their teacher, I am responsible for educating the "whole" child. I expect them to be responsible, appropriate, and respectful of others. I want my students to become lifelong learners and always strive to do their best.
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in ANY direction you choose."
-Dr. Seuss
This is a suggested supply list and purchase of these items is voluntary. Organization is key in 6th grade. Our students are provided with the materials they need for instruction, but many parents and students find it helpful to purchase folders and binders to organize those materials for class. It is not necessary to purchase the additional items, but in the past, the following items have been helpful for students in 6th grade.
☐ Organization system (choose from one below):
1” 3-Ring Binder w/ 4 dividers
Accordion Folder-as least 4 pockets
4 folders (one per subject)
☐ Earbuds or headphones (no wireless, please)
☐ Multiple pencils
☐ Glue sticks
☐ Chunky eraser
☐ Colored pencils
☐ White board eraser
☐ Dry erase markers
☐ Ruler
☐ Pair of scissors
☐ Ultra-fine tip Sharpie pens
☐ Different colored highlighters
☐ Pencil sharpener with cover
☐ Portable mouse
Study Sync is our district-adopted Language Arts program for middle school. Students will receive a workbook for each unit which includes excerpts accompanied by Think and Focus Questions. In addition to the workbook, students will have online access to Study Sync through their Clever accounts.
What is Accelerated Reader?
Accelerated Reader (AR) is a reading computer program that helps parents and teachers track a child's independent reading. Quizzes are taken on the AR program AFTER a child finishes reading a book.
How does my child select a book?
Books should be chosen based on reading level using your child's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and interest. Use www.arbookfinder.com to check a book's reading level and point value.
Your child may check out an e-book from our school library HERE.
How does my child take an AR quiz?
Your child will be able to take AR quizzes at home as well as in class by logging into Renaissance Place.
What are the AR incentives?
Please find the 2023-2024 AR Incentives HERE.
Class Code: tzr8463
Epic is the leading digital reading platform—built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world’s best publishers—that safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids.
During school hours, 7 am to 3 pm M-F, students can use Epic School from anywhere by logging in with their class code.
Click on the epic! icon and enter our class code to begin reading!
Click the button below for instructions on how to access middle school online resources from home.
This is a 6-week elective course that will include teamwork, self-evaluation, sportsmanship, creative and logical thinking, and of course...FUN!
Please see below for a breakdown of each week and the class grading policy.
This week will include an introduction to the class. Our main focus in week 1 is to discuss and practice how to be a good sport (both when winning and losing). After completing some brainstorming with the students, they will learn that gracious winners and losers look very similar in their behavior. We will then play some quick, fun games (where there will be lots of losers) so that students can practice their sportsmanship.
During weeks 2 and 3, students will be introduced to different types of logic games..some require groups, some require partners, and some are played independently. Most of the games introduced in this class are played with a deck of cards or a simple set of dice. Occasionally, students might play some logic games on their Chromebooks. Every Friday, we have "Free Play Friday," where the students are able to choose the game they would like to play from the ones that have been introduced.
The focus during weeks 4 and 5 shifts a bit to creative thinking and teamwork. Students will design their own board game from scratch (usually in groups). They will create the board, directions, game pieces, and any other items necessary for their game. All art supplies and necessary game items will be provided for the students. Occasionally, students like to bring in their own items to make their game unique (stickers, puffy paint, prizes, etc), but this is not required and does not affect a student's grade if they do not bring additional items from home.
Our final week! During week 6, students will play all of the games that have been created by their classmates. It is usually a fun-filled (and loud) week as students play the new and unique games that have been created.
In this class, 3 types of grades will be entered in the grade book:
Weekly Self-Evaluation Grades (students grade themselves)
Game Board Project Grade (teacher assigns the grade based on a rubric-grade is given to all students in the group)
Participation in Game Board Project Creation (classmates evaluate the members in their group)
Every Friday, students will reflect on their behavior in class and give themselves a score between 1-10 (1 being the lowest-10 being the highest). They evaluate themselves on three topics that we discuss and review clearly in class:
Sportsmanship (What kind of winner/loser were you this week?)
Participation (Yes, although this class is an elective class, you still have to participate in the activities.)
Overall classroom behavior (Are you on time? Following the classroom rules? Listening to directions? etc.)
This grade is worth 10 points and will be entered in weeks 1-4.
This grade is given by the teacher (me). At the completion of the board game assignment, students will be graded on a rubric. This rubric is shared with the students prior to and during the project completion.
This project grade is worth 18 points.
This is a one-time grade based on a student's participation in completing the board game project. The teacher is ultimately in charge of the grade that goes in the grade book, but group members will have an opportunity to evaluate their peers (and themself) based on their contribution to completing the group project.
This participation grade is worth 10 points.
