Mount Dora Middle
Mount Dora, Florida
AVID Syllabus
Teacher: Ms. J. Schofield
Grades: 6,7 & 8
Email:
AVID Elective
Major Concepts/Content: Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is an academic 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 success skills. In AVID, students participate in activities that incorporate strategies focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading to support their academic growth.
The AVID Elective course is the year of preparation for high school. The students will regularly exhibit and utilize the skills and strategies learned in the sixth and seventh grade AVID courses. Students will refine previous goals, focusing on their transition to high school as part of a college preparatory path. Their writing will focus on completing all steps of the writing process and varying style, word choice, vocabulary, structure and voice. Major writing assignments include persuasive, expository, descriptive and timed writing. Students will transition from active learners to leaders. Other areas of focus include increasing the use of technology and building upon their test preparation and test-taking knowledge. They will broaden their experiences with analyzing text and utilizing appropriate reading strategies in various settings. Students will become more involved in the presentations of guest speakers and field trips, particularly as they relate to preparation and prior knowledge. Students will also participate in college preparatory testing and build connections with the high school they will attend.
AVID Curriculum Books Used:
AVID College and Careers
Implementing and Managing the AVID Program for Middle Level
Middle Level Writing with Integrated Reading and Oral Language
Organizing the AVID Student Binder
Strategies for Success
AVID Tutorial Guide
Supplemental Materials could include the following:
AVID Weekly, Supporting Math in the AVID Elective, Write Path content books, AVID Test Prep, Roadtrip Nation Weekly, Focused Note-Taking
Grading Scale:
A 100-90B 89-80C 79-70D 69-60
Domains:
- Character Development CD
- Communication COMM
- Writing WRI
- Inquiry INQ
- Collaboration COLL
- Organization ORG
- Reading REA
- College Preparedness CP
Character Awareness:
- Self-Awareness
- Goals
- Community and School Involvement
- Ownership of Learning
Communication
- Speaking
- Listening
Writing
- The Writing Process
- Writing Skill
- Writing Applications
- Writing to Learn
Inquiry
Costa's Levels of Thinking
- Tutorials
- Socratic Seminar and Philosophical Chairs
Collaboration
- Community Builders
- Develop Leadership Skills
Organization
- Organization and Time Management
- Note-Taking
- Research and Technology
- Test Prep/Test-Taking
Reading
- Vocabulary
- B. Textual Analysis
Supply List
A Binder
Binders must be good quality 3-inch, three-ring binder with pocket inserts.
Needed binder contents
* Five to six colored tab subject dividers to separate each academic class, including AVID
* Zipper pouch to store supplies (three-hole punched heavy duty)
Two or more pens
Two or more pencils
Pencil sharpener
Colored pencils
Erasers
One or more colored highlighter pens
Notebook dictionary and/or thesaurus
Calculator
Six-inch ruler
* Filler paper
* Assignment calendar for each academic class/or school agenda book)
Grading Policy: Assignments will be given a point value based on the following scale:
· Daily Grades (Binders, Essays, Speeches, etc) 40%
· Tutorials60%
Tutorials: Twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday) students will be expected to bring specific questions from their core classes and work together in groups to solve them. Ideally there will be tutors in addition to the instructor to direct them through the tutorial process. Tutors will note provide answers, but help the students find the answers themselves.
Organization skills: Students will be expected to keep a 3” three ring binder with all the notes and materials need in their classes. They are required to organize their binder according to AVID’s best practices. The binder should have notes from every class in chronological order.
Learning Logs: Learning logs provide a formative assessment of student learning. Learning logs should be completed every day. It is important for students to use complete sentences and higher level thinking.
Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in activities intended to increase the learning process. These activities include writing assignments, Socratic Seminars, group problem solving, class projects, and goal setting.
Citizenship: School is a place to learn. In order for learning to take place, responsible behavior is necessary. Any behavior that prevents or disrupts learning from occurring cannot and will not be tolerated. Each student is encouraged to learn to respect the rights of others. Students are expected to comply with all school rules.
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BEST WISHES FOR A GREAT YEAR!!!!!
I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE CLASS SYALLABUS AND BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS.
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