English Language Arts 6

Ms. Niethammer
2020-2021 Course Syllabus

Contact
Ms. Greta Niethammer
niethammerg@aaps.k12.mi.us
Email is the best way to
reach me!
Description
In 6th grade we will build on
the strategies, skills, and positive
habits formed in earlier years. My
job is to prepare each student for
success by providing a challenging
and inspiring curriculum in a
supportive setting.
We will focus on the
development and improvement of
writing skills and on the reading,

Supplies
The following supplies are
recommended to help keep
students organized.
It is, of course, not required for you
to buy these supplies. If you are
unable to provide these supplies,
please let me know.
 
✔ 1 notebook
✔ Pencils or pens
✔ An outside reading book of your
choice
analyzing, and appreciation of
literature as it relates to our own
lives.
By the end of 6th grade, it is
my hope that all students will love
to read and write and will feel
confident and enthusiastic about
their ability to do it!
Units of Study
✔ Unit 1: Launch Unit
✔ Unit 2: Reading and Writing

Tech Issues?
Workshop

✔ Unit 3: Reading Literature

● Always let Ms. Niethammer
know if you are having tech ✔ Unit 4: Research/Persuasive
problems. Writing

✔ Unit 5: Reading Nonfiction

● AAPS Tech Help
#734-997-1222 ✔ Unit 6: Speaking and Listening
○ Ayuda en Español:
✔ Unit 7: Creative Writing
734-997-1246
 Late Work
Missing or late assignments are accepted
for full credit until the end of a quarter
unless otherwise specified. Late work will be
recorded as a zero in PowerSchool until a
student turns it in. Late work is marked with
a red triangle in PowerSchool.
Absent Policy
In middle school, it is the student’s
responsibility to check in with teachers
after absences to get any work that they
missed. Missing or late assignments due to
absences will be marked as a zero in
PowerSchool until they are turned in.
Students should check in with me in
person or via email about what they’ve
missed. Students can also ask a friend
about missed assignments.
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Grade Breakdo
Grading
Grades for ELA will be in
Powerschool. I will leave comments
and feedback in Schoology.
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT:
These are assessments that
measure a student’s learning at the
end of a certain time period such as
the end of a unit. They can be in the
form of a test, quiz, project, essay,
etc. These appear in PowerSchool
and count towards the student’s
final grade in the class.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT:
Some assignments and class work
that will be entered into
PowerSchool are practice
assignments for students to
complete as they learn. These help
show what the student knows and
what the student still needs to learn,
but they will not typically count
towards the students’ final grade.
Sometimes, these grades count
temporarily until a summative
assessment is given.

and Scale
Level of Mastery # Score Letter
Grade
Retake/Redo Policy
“Got it!” 4 A+ Students can make arrangements with
me to retake/redo almost any
“Almost there” 3 B assessment or assignment.

“Moving in the 2 C EXCEPTION: speaking and listening

right direction” grades.
● If a student is unprepared to
“Just getting 1 D participate in a discussion such as
started” literature circles because they did
not complete their assignment, the
Missing work 0 E student may not earn back credit
because they will have missed their
More details about my grade scale are here. assigned discussion time.