AVID

(Advancement Via Individual Determination)

Course Syllabus

General Description:

Welcome back to AVID, an elective program that helps students(you!) to achieve the necessary requirements and skills to meet the stringent requirements and learn the necessary skills for university acceptance. As explained last year, the program has two major components: tutorials and AVID curriculum. Tutorials will occur twice a week. Tutorials will continue to be comprised of small study groups,facilitated by college students and/or AVID students, which occur twice per week and are intended to solidify and build upon content knowledge gained in core classes. The skills and processes used in Tutorials will be essential components used in college study groups. Each AVID student is expected to come prepared for the Tutorial with questions from their core or college-prep classes.

Since the goal of AVID is to build skills and habit that prepare students to be successful in college, the curriculum component of AVID covers a very broad range of skills. These will include

  • Organization and Planning
  • Test preparation and test taking
  • Ownership of learning
  • Self-Advocacy
  • Building ON individual strengths & UP individual areas of need
  • Career Exploration
  • College Research

AVID students are expected to be motivated and determined to achieve university acceptance at the end of their high school career. It will be necessary for AVID students to manage their time so that school and studies become a top priority. This means that they will need to be responsible for making wise and sometimes difficult choices. Remember these are choices that are going to help students make it to college.

If you have arrived in my classroom as an AVID student, then I assume you BELIEVE you have the capability to attend college. I ask that you TRUST me (your teacher), the AVID team, and our school to guide you on this exciting and challenging journey you are on. I BELIEVE you all have the potential to make it to college! Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance will make this plan a reality.

Required Materials: (Please have all supplies from the 1st column purchased and in class by Monday, 9/11)

The following materials are required in class every day. A lack of materials wastes valuable class time and interferes with success.

These supplies need to be purchased:These supplies will be provided for you

* 2+ blue or black ink pens* Yoursophomore planner

* 1 different color of pen (red or green)* Zipper Pouch to store supplies

* 2 #2 pencils (or mechanical)* 2” Binder

* 2 different colored highlighters* Dividers for the Binder

* 1 calculator (type is based on Math class needs)* C-Note paper

* 1 pack of College-Ruled notebook paper

Expectations:

●Be to class on time and begin working on the DO NOWwhen the bell rings.

●Be respectful and courteous to all

●Use class time productively

●Silence and put away (OUT OF SIGHT)ALL electronic devices (phones, ipods, etc.)

●Take responsibility for your actions and your learning

Attendance & Late work

Seat time in a classroom is one of the biggest factors in student success in school. Absence and Tardy policies are defined in the THS Student Handbook. You can be tardy three times in a quarter with no repercussions. The fourth tardy, and any that follow, will result in consequences. If you have to be gone from school for any of your classes, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. Each teacher will have different processes for this, and it is important to learn these different expectations. In my class, please fill out an Absent Work Request form (found up front), then turn it in to the appropriate basket by my windows. This process also applies to school-sponsored activities.

Important Dates:

  • Open HouseALL families should try to attendWed, 9/276:30 p.m.
  • Mother Son Night of FunAVID students will be asked to volunteerSat., 10/14TBA (evening)
  • 1stQtr Volunteer Hours Due** 4 hours of volunteer work in communityMon., 10/30
  • College VisitPLU, UW Tacoma, PierceFri., 11/03all day

Evaluation: Final grades will be based on the following categories:
Binder Check
❖Binders will be checked and graded in the AVID class weekly. Binders will be graded for organization, Cornell notes, materials & supplies, and a completed daily planner. If you are absent for Binder Check, due to illness, you may request a Binder Check on the day you return. Additional binder checks may randomly occur throughout the year, so binders must be organized at all times.
❖Specific requirements for assignments, Cornell Notes, etc. will be set in class, as applicable.
Classwork , Homework, & Projects
❖Class work and homework assignments are designed to help students to develop personally and academically and to ultimately prepare them for college and a career.
❖There will be numerous individual and group projects each semester.
Tutorial
❖Students will be graded on each tutorial session. Students earn points for their questions, participation, and reflection during the tutorial process. Since tutorials are a collaborative effort, students must be present and participate to receive credit. Students who are absent due to illness may make up points by arranging an independent 30 minute study session with me.
❖TRFs must be completed BEFORE students arrive in the classroom. Quality and depth of the TRF will impact a student’s score in this area.
❖Tutors will assist students on their path towards arriving at answers, but they will not provide the answers for students.
Portfolio (10%)
❖Students will collect specified documents to be placed in a portfolio. Portfolios will be assessed at least once per semester.

Please Sign, cut, and return to Mrs. Tate by Friday, 9/8

I have read and understand the requirements for the 10th Grade AVID elective.

Student Name ______Period ______

Parent/Guardian Signature ______Date ___/___/___

Phone Number (____)______-______Parent’s Email Address ______