7th Grade AVID Syllabus
Brian Ruth
7th Grade AVID
[email protected]
541-830-6041
Room 101
Course of Study:
Overview
AVID's mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. The AVID elective is key in accomplishing this mission. The AVID program is a college preparatory program that prepares students to attend a four-year college upon high school graduation. This will be done by teaching organizational skills, proper study habits, and developing the learning process with critical thinking skills.
Description
AVID is an acronym that stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. Essentially, the AVID class is one that prepares students for rigorous classes in middle school and high school. Students will participate in activities that incorporate strategies focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading to support their academic growth. Its ultimate goal, however, is to prepare students for college.
In middle school, some of the skills that students will learn are as follows:
●How to keep a neat and organized binder for all classes.
● How to effectively use a planner for all class assignments.
● How to take notes that can be used as study guides for tests.
● How to develop problem-solving skills.
● How to be responsible for their own learning!
Student Goals
1. Academic success in college preparatory courses
2. Successful completion of college eligibility requirements
3. Enrollment in college prep-courses throughout high school to ensure enrollment in a four-year college or university after high school
Learning Objectives
Students will refine short- and long-term goals, and as a result, begin to understand the value in taking charge of their actions. Students will start working on interpersonal skills, as well as formal and informal speech. Students will complete self-evaluations and peer evaluations, related to reading, writing, organization, and speaking. In broadening their writing practice, students will begin considering audience, purpose and form in their writing. Students will take an active role in their learning, understanding the roles of all members in assignments and collaborative lessons. They will expand their knowledge bases of note-taking, in relation to studying and test preparation. Students will be exposed to different field trips, guest speakers and research, to increase their knowledge of college and career options.
AVID's mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. The AVID elective is key in accomplishing this mission. The AVID program is a college preparatory program that prepares students to attend a four-year college upon high school graduation. This will be done by teaching organizational skills, proper study habits, and developing the learning process with critical thinking skills.
Description
AVID is an acronym that stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. Essentially, the AVID class is one that prepares students for rigorous classes in middle school and high school. Students will participate in activities that incorporate strategies focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading to support their academic growth. Its ultimate goal, however, is to prepare students for college.
In middle school, some of the skills that students will learn are as follows:
●How to keep a neat and organized binder for all classes.
● How to effectively use a planner for all class assignments.
● How to take notes that can be used as study guides for tests.
● How to develop problem-solving skills.
● How to be responsible for their own learning!
Student Goals
1. Academic success in college preparatory courses
2. Successful completion of college eligibility requirements
3. Enrollment in college prep-courses throughout high school to ensure enrollment in a four-year college or university after high school
Learning Objectives
Students will refine short- and long-term goals, and as a result, begin to understand the value in taking charge of their actions. Students will start working on interpersonal skills, as well as formal and informal speech. Students will complete self-evaluations and peer evaluations, related to reading, writing, organization, and speaking. In broadening their writing practice, students will begin considering audience, purpose and form in their writing. Students will take an active role in their learning, understanding the roles of all members in assignments and collaborative lessons. They will expand their knowledge bases of note-taking, in relation to studying and test preparation. Students will be exposed to different field trips, guest speakers and research, to increase their knowledge of college and career options.
Classroom Expectations:
Tolerance Expectations
Discrimination of any kind, whether it is related to ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, social class, or mental/physical disability, will not be permitted within my classroom under any circumstances. The consequence for behavior we consider discriminatory will be an immediate referral to the school’s administration.
Behavior Expectations
My classroom is also a respectful, positive, productive place where all students have the opportunity to be successful. To this end, nothing any of us do should interfere with the right of others to learn. In the classroom, we will establish procedures and develop routines to maintain student success. Furthermore, we will practice our established procedures so everyone has an opportunity to learn them.
Academic Expectations
You are expected to be actively involved in all of the following: vocabulary and grammar; bell- work/warm-ups; note taking; small and large group discussions; reading (class literature as well as independent reading); writing (short responses and summative assessments); listening to fellow students and myself; and all other activities. You are expected to complete all assignments, work samples, projects, and tests.
Preparedness
I expect you to bring all necessary materials to class every time we meet. You must have a binder for this class. You must bring your iPad, fully charged, to class every day. You must also bring a pen/pencil, highlighters, and an independent reading book every time we meet.
Presentation and Saving your Work
All assignments must be neatly written or typed. All work should be neat; crumpled or torn paper is not acceptable. In addition, please do not throw anything away.
Absences
Daily attendance is incredibly important; the learning experiences you miss in the classroom are often impossible to make up. Please note that you will not be able to make up in-class participation points you miss when you are absent. If you are absent, I expect you to make up all assignments. It is imperative that, when you return after an absence, you discuss what you missed with me, a fellow classmate, Google Classroom, and/or log in to StudentVue for access to all assignments.
Tardiness
Class will begin when the bell rings; please be in your seat at that time. Please check the agenda on the board for the schedule and/or special instructions each day. Tardies are recorded and the school-wide tardy policy will be followed.
Food
Eating snacks are acceptable in class as long as it does not create distractions or messes. This is a privelege that can be taken away at my discretion.
StudentVue
I will update StudentVue, the student login portion of my Synergy grade book, at least once per week. I encourage my students and their parents/guardians to access StudentVue/ParentVue regularly. Please remember that, as a result of the Credit by Proficiency assessment and grading policies, individual standards will always reflect your ability to demonstrate your understanding of the material.
Cheating and Plagiarism
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated within my classroom. Just don’t do it. If you have any questions about what behavior constitutes cheating and/or plagiarism please see me immediately. If you cheat or plagiarize, you will be referred to the administration.
Grading and Assessment Policies
Discrimination of any kind, whether it is related to ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, social class, or mental/physical disability, will not be permitted within my classroom under any circumstances. The consequence for behavior we consider discriminatory will be an immediate referral to the school’s administration.
Behavior Expectations
My classroom is also a respectful, positive, productive place where all students have the opportunity to be successful. To this end, nothing any of us do should interfere with the right of others to learn. In the classroom, we will establish procedures and develop routines to maintain student success. Furthermore, we will practice our established procedures so everyone has an opportunity to learn them.
Academic Expectations
You are expected to be actively involved in all of the following: vocabulary and grammar; bell- work/warm-ups; note taking; small and large group discussions; reading (class literature as well as independent reading); writing (short responses and summative assessments); listening to fellow students and myself; and all other activities. You are expected to complete all assignments, work samples, projects, and tests.
Preparedness
I expect you to bring all necessary materials to class every time we meet. You must have a binder for this class. You must bring your iPad, fully charged, to class every day. You must also bring a pen/pencil, highlighters, and an independent reading book every time we meet.
Presentation and Saving your Work
All assignments must be neatly written or typed. All work should be neat; crumpled or torn paper is not acceptable. In addition, please do not throw anything away.
Absences
Daily attendance is incredibly important; the learning experiences you miss in the classroom are often impossible to make up. Please note that you will not be able to make up in-class participation points you miss when you are absent. If you are absent, I expect you to make up all assignments. It is imperative that, when you return after an absence, you discuss what you missed with me, a fellow classmate, Google Classroom, and/or log in to StudentVue for access to all assignments.
Tardiness
Class will begin when the bell rings; please be in your seat at that time. Please check the agenda on the board for the schedule and/or special instructions each day. Tardies are recorded and the school-wide tardy policy will be followed.
Food
Eating snacks are acceptable in class as long as it does not create distractions or messes. This is a privelege that can be taken away at my discretion.
StudentVue
I will update StudentVue, the student login portion of my Synergy grade book, at least once per week. I encourage my students and their parents/guardians to access StudentVue/ParentVue regularly. Please remember that, as a result of the Credit by Proficiency assessment and grading policies, individual standards will always reflect your ability to demonstrate your understanding of the material.
Cheating and Plagiarism
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated within my classroom. Just don’t do it. If you have any questions about what behavior constitutes cheating and/or plagiarism please see me immediately. If you cheat or plagiarize, you will be referred to the administration.
Grading and Assessment Policies
Make-up Work
As previously outlined under “absences,” you are responsible for finding out what you missed. If you were absent during a summative assessment, you will have to make up your summative assessment on one of the in-class designated make-up days. After that point, you will lose that opportunity. This does not mean you will automatically fail the class, but it will give you one less opportunity to show proficiency or higher on the assessed standards.
A Final Note to Parent(s)/guardian(s)
Please feel free to contact me about your child at the e-mail address listed at the top of this course syllabus. Additionally, the school district’s student information system, Synergy, is designed to help parents stay in better contact with the school regarding their child’s attendance and progress in class. I would strongly encourage you to utilize this system. Parents and students can also access documents, including notes and assignments on this site.