Social Studies
Rittmueller Middle School - 6th Grade
Welcome to Social Studies (AKA History of the Western Hemisphere)
Over the course of this school year, we'll explore the Earth - past and present - as a means to better understand its people, cultures, and environment.
Come prepared the first day of school with a binder (1-1.5") and a pencil.
Mrs. Neirink
First Semester
- Geography of the Earth
- European geography and history
Second Semester
- Latin American geography and history
- North American geography and history
Christine Neirink
Email: cneirink@frankenmuth.k12.mi.us
Website: www.neirink.weebly.com
Location: 965 East Genesee Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734
Phone: 989.652.6119
Classroom Procedures
We will learn the following classroom procedures during the first week of school. After that, consequences for failing to follow them may include (but will not be limited to) the following: point reductions, grade reductions, principal and/or parental
- Safety: When you walk in the door of my classroom, you are entering a safe environment - not just physically safe but also emotionally: My classroom is a place where you can take academic risks, learn from your mistakes, and develop as a person. In order to maintain this safe environment, I have zero tolerance for improperly critical, humiliating, or mean-spirited behavior.
- 100%: Mine is a 100% classroom. This means I expect 100% of you to meet my expectations. I will accept nothing less.
- Book: Bring your SSR book to every class. In the event that you finish an assignment or activity early, I expect you to read silently from your book.
- Pencil: Bring a pencil to each class and use it (and not a pen or marker) for all written work.
- Start of Class: Line up along the wall outside of my classroom (Mrs. Brey section of the wall, NOT Mrs. Suhr section), and I will greet you at the door. Upon entering the classroom, begin working on the day’s Bellringer.
- Locker: Students enrolled in my first hour will maintain a "locker" - a section of subdivided cabinet - in my classroom. Because space is tight and shared with other students, keep your locker neat, organized, and clutter-free.
- Desk: I will assign you a desk on the first day. In this assigned desk, keep your Social Studies binder, and - if you are enrolled in my Language Arts class - your Language Arts binder and composition book, too. Store nothing else in your desk.
- Bellringer: With very few exceptions, class starts with a Bellringer projected on the whiteboard. This is a short, beginning-of-class activity for you to complete on your own and (usually) in your composition book.
- Composition Book and Binder: Your composition book remains in your binder, and your binder remains in your assigned desk. You will receive a binder grade and a composition book grade each marking period, so keep an organized and updated binder filled with neat and complete work.
- Table of Contents: You will maintain a table of contents page in your binder. On many days, I will hand you a document as a I greet you at the door. Immediately update your binder's table of contents with the document's title and number. When finished with a document for the day, put it in the appropriate spot in your binder.
- Singing Bowl: When you hear the bowl sing, it means that I need your immediate attention, and you give me this attention by doing the following five things: 1) Stopping whatever you are doing, 2) Sitting up in your seat, 3) Looking at me, 4) Listening to me, and 5) Being ready to ask and answer questions.
- Name: If a document asks for your name, write your first and last name and do so neatly.
- Off Limits: Unless given specific directions otherwise, my desk, bookshelves, and other belongings as well as classmates’ desk and locker belongings are off limits to you.
- Bathroom: I expect bathroom and other classroom leave requests to be minimal. If you do need to be excused, obtain my permission and then fill out the classroom sign-out sheet before leaving (If it’s an emergency, fill the sheet out upon your return). Those who come to class prepared by visiting the bathroom, library, office, etc … only one time (or less!) per marking period, will be rewarded with three extra credit points per marking period.
- Homework: I respect after school as a time for you to spend with family and friends, to read, and to just be kids. I expect you to respect class as a time to work diligently from bell to bell. With this mutual respect maintained, I plan to assign very little homework.
- End of Class: Mine is a “bell to bell” class. This means we will usually work from bell to bell. On those occasional days when we finish a few minutes early, remain seated until the final bell rings.
- Absence: If you are absent, it is your responsibility to retrieve missed work from the What Did I Miss? folder along the back wall of my classroom. It is, further, your responsibility to see me with questions about this missed work. You have the number of days of your absence to make up work (For example, if you were absent for five days, make up work is due on the fifth day after your return).
- Participation Points: You will begin each marking period with 30 participation points. You will maintain all thirty of these points by coming on time and prepared to class and – during class – working to the best of your ability and respecting your teacher and your classmates.
- Code of Conduct: In addition to these procedures, you also need to be familiar with and follow the EFR Code of Conduct while in my classroom.