Major Concepts/Content: Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is an elective course that prepares students for college readiness and success, and it is scheduled during the regular school day as a year-long course. Each week, students receive instruction utilizing a rigorous college preparatory curriculum provided by AVID Center, tutor-facilitated study groups, motivational activities, and academic survival skills. The course emphasizes rhetorical reading, analytical writing, collaborative discussion strategies, tutorial inquiry study groups, preparation for college entrance and placement exams, college study skills and test-taking strategies, note-taking, and research.

The 11th grade AVID Elective course is the first part in a junior/senior seminar course that focuses on writing and critical thinking expected of first- and second-year college students. This course is organized around the theme of “Leadership as a Catalyst for Change in Society.” Students study, in depth, exceptional leaders in contemporary society and examine the effect that these individuals have had on culture, politics, education, history, science, and the arts. The course requires that students read essays, speeches, articles, and letters by these leaders, as well as at least one full-length work by the leader or about the leader. Also, each student is required to conduct a research project that is presented in the senior year. In addition to the academic focus of the AVID seminar, there are college-bound activities, methodologies, and tasks that should be undertaken during the junior year to support students as they apply to four-year universities and confirm their postsecondary plans.

• Use a designated study space when possible (quiet, clean).

• Minimize distractions (turn off the TV, keep your phone away, etc.).

• Check your email more than once a day.

• Communicate with your teachers often.

• Attend office hours.

• Take notes even if the teacher doesn’t require it.

• Be on time for your classes.

• Actively participate in class (turn your camera on, respond in the chat, ask and answer questions).

• Use a planner to keep track of assignments and due dates.

• Come prepared and on-time for class.

• Be actively engaged during class.

• Participate in tutorials.

• Share your screen when necessary.

• Keep your microphone on mute unless speaking.

• Listen as if you’re wrong, speak as if you’re right.

• Value and appreciate differences.

• Attend to personal needs quickly and without disrupting class.

• Be kind and positive.

Grade Categories 

30% - Tutorials - 2 per week, in breakout rooms with a tutor, active participation is key!

30% - eBinders - Due every Friday, 3-5 pages of notes, on-time 

30% - Classwork/Homework - As assigned, most submitted via Google Classroom.

10% - Attendance/Participation - This will include activities such as our Question of the Day.

Late work policies for attendance/participation and classwork/homework assignments can be found on my class syllabus. 

Tutorials and eBinders will not be accepted late...

• The good news is that there will always be another one right around the corner. 
  Just be sure to do the next one and you’ll be fine. 

• If you are absent from class on up to three of our tutorial days, you may only be excused from the tutorial grade for that day if you have a valid, excused absence with the RVS attendance office.

• If you are absent from more than three tutorials, even if they are excused with RVS attendance, you will not be excused from the tutorials nor will you receive credit for the tutorial.
  Given that tutorials are such a large part of the AVID course, students must make a regular habit of attending. 

It is the expectation that all AVID students actively participate in class, including completing tutorials and eBinders. 

These tasks are a huge part of the AVID platform for student success. 

Repeated failure to participate in tutorials or to submit completed eBinders will result in the following actions:

1. One-on-one meeting with Ms. Chaoui to discuss strategies for success AND/OR academic contract.

2. Meeting with Ms. Chaoui and parent/guardian to discuss strategies for success.

3. Meeting with Ms. Chaoui and parent/guardian and counselor to discuss potential removal from the program.