AVID Course Syllabus- 9^th Grade

Advancement Via Individual Determination

General Description:

General Description:

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a required elective program that helps students to achieve the necessary requirements and skills to be eligible for university acceptance. The program has two major components: tutorials and AVID curriculum. Tutorials are small study groups that are facilitated by Marine Creek upperclassmen and college students who will assist students with their studies. Each AVID student is to come prepared for the tutorial with questions from their core or college classes. Field trips may be scheduled to visit colleges and universities, providing students with the opportunity to visit the institutions firsthand.

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 and remain a top priority. This means that they will need to be responsible for making wise and sometimes difficult choices.

Required Materials:

The following materials are required for class.

One – 3-inch 3 ring binder Pencils – at least two at all times.

Pens – Dark Blue or Black 2 Highlighters in different colors

1 Pen for grading – red or green or purple or other fun color 1 set of 4 dry erase markers

Notebook paper – wide rule 1 set of tabs – 8 heavy duty Tabs with pockets

An additional set of 4 tabs for World Geography An additional set of 5 tabs for AVID

1 pouch for holding pens/pencils 1 eraser

1 USB flash drive (this should be usable all through high school)

Books (may obtain from Half Price Books! If desired)

1. Optional as I will have a class set, but if they would like their own copy– 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, by Sean Covey – (not the workbook) and

2. The Family Lawyer by James Patterson – again, I will have a class set, but if they would like their own copy.

Last name:

A – M – bring one box of Kleenex N – P – bring Clorox wipes

Q – Z – hand sanitizer Planners will be provided by MCCHS

Expectations:

• This is an Early College High School. Students are expected to demonstrate maturity, responsibility, and respect for others.

• The work submitted by each student must be his/her own; there are punishments for plagiarism.

• Eating and drinking, personal grooming, inappropriate language, and wearing head coverings of any kind in class are not allowed.

Cell Phones, Computers, and Electronic Devices:

• Students should not have devices, including earbuds and headphones, out unless specifically instructed to by the teacher.

• Devices out without permission will result in confiscation and a $15 retrieval fee.

Attendance and Late work

• You are responsible for all material presented in class. Even if you have a college class, you are still responsible for completing and turning in assignments when they are due.

• If you are absent, you must contact all teachers and let them know so you can receive your assignments. Do not wait for your teachers to contact you.

• You will be given 1 day for each excused day absent to submit missed assignments. It is your responsibility to ask for missing assignments. There is a penalty of 10 points per day up to 5 calendar days late. Work will not be accepted after 5 calendar days.

• All assignments are due at the beginning of the class period when you walk in the room.

• It is your responsibility to print essays or have assignments ready before the class period begins. Students will not be released to print work for class.

• If you have a serious extenuating circumstance, speak with your teacher as soon as possible. Waiting until the class period when something is due is not acceptable.

Evaluation*: Final and 6 weeks grades: Because AVID is based on the principles of WICOR (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading), these activities are equally weighted and account for 90% of the students’ grade.

WICOR – 100%

Binder Check

· Binders will be checked and graded in the AVID class on a regular basis. Binders will be graded for organization, Focused notes, materials and supplies, and/or 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.

Classwork

• Classwork assignments are designed to help students to develop personally, academically, and ultimately to prepare them for college and a career.

• Essays will be written in MLA format.

Projects

• There will be numerous individual and group projects each semester.

• Students are expected to be active participants in all group activities; students not taking an active role in a group project risk their grade differing from others in the group.

Tutorials

• 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 have tutorial ready before class begins, be present, and participate to receive credit.

• Late TRFs will not be accepted. Students who are absent may make up their points by completing a one-page writing assignment about the current content in one of their classes.

• Tutors will assist students on their path towards arriving at answers, but they will not provide the answers for students.

Portfolio

• Students will collect specified documents to be placed in a portfolio. Portfolios will be assessed at least once per semester.

*Students receiving a grade of 69 or lower will have 5 days to make up the grade. Students will not be able to earn higher than a 70 on these make-ups. Make up assignments may not be the exact same assignment but will target the same knowledge and skills.

Advocate:

It is your responsibility to advocate for yourself. If you have a problem or do not understand, ask for help from any MCCHS or TCC staff member, a tutor, or a fellow student. Do not get behind in class because you were afraid to ask for help. We are here to help you.

I am one person trying to keep up with 400+ students. I will not always remember your individual circumstance or a conversation we had in the hallway. Please send me a follow-up e-mail or write a note.

Students are expected to write in PEN and have their supplies, planners, and binders with them EVERY day.

I have read and understand the requirements for the 9^th Grade AVID elective.

Student Name _______________________________________________________ Period ________

Student Signature ___________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature ___________________________________________ Date ___/___/___

Phone Number (____)______-_______ Parent’s Email Address _____________________________