Meet the Teacher
Gretchen McFarland
Hello, My name is Gretchen McFarland and I am excited to be your child's sixth grade ELA and Social Studies teacher. This is my fifteenth year of teaching and my sixth year at Western Harnett Middle School.
Teaching has been a challenging but very rewarding profession. My goal every day is to help children acquire and develop the knowledge and skills they will need in later life to be successful adults. I believe in teaching the WHOLE child. I incorporate life skills throughout my lessons that require students to grow not only academically but socially and emotionally.
Your child's education and emotional well-being will always be the number one priority in my class. I can promise you, that your students will be safe, cared for, and held to their highest expectations to ensure they are successful in working to their fullest potential. I look forward to a wonderful adventure this year.
"The good is the enemy of the best"
`Voltaire
Phone: 919 499 4497
Email: gwashington@harnett.k12.nc.us
Degrees & Certifications:
Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering
Bachelors in Elementary Education
St. Andrews Presbyterian College
Daily Schedule
Homeroom 7:20 - 7:30
Air Time 7:30 - 8:10
Elective 1 8:10 - 8:55
Elective 2 8:55 - 9:40
Core I 9:40 - 10:35
Core II 10:35 - 11:30
Cardinal Core/
Lunch 11:30 - 12:15
Core III 12:15 - 1:10
Core IV 1:10 - 2:05
Intervention 2:05 - 2:45 (this is a time to meet students individual needs)
Dismissal 2:45
Google Classroom
Google Classroom is utilized for classroom instruction, communication, and collaboration. Students use their Harnettstudents.org Google accounts to have access to assignments, resources, and content. Using the Internet, students have access anytime and anywhere to posted assignments, due dates, as well as supporting curriculum resources.
Here is a video for parents to watch to help them navigate their child's google classroom
Please take time to view:)
NC Curriculum Standards
Link to NCDPI Curriculum Standards
Link to 6th ELA Standard Course of Study
Link to 6th Grade Social Studies Standard Course of Study
COURSE OVERVIEW
1st Nine Weeks
Focus for the quarter:
*Citing evidence from the text
*Determining word meaning using context clues
*Identification and utilization of figurative language
*Analyzing word choice and how it affects the tone
2nd Nine Weeks
Focus for the quarter:
*Analyzing story elements
*Summarizing texts by evaluating key details
*Compare and contrast text across the same genre
*View and analyze relevant film clips across themes and genres.
3rd Nine Weeks
Focus for the quarter:
*Determine theme and central idea of a text
*Analyzing point of view
*Construct writing using the writing process
*Collaborate and communicate effectively in a group
4th Nine Weeks
Focus for the quarter:
*Utilize technology to publish research-based writing.
End of Grade testing review of all state-mandated standards