Mrs. Diamond
AVID Elective Course
      2011 Syllabus and Procedures
Be prepared to work hard and see your life change!

The mission of the Inter-Lakes School District is to foster quality teaching and learning, promote social responsibility and encourage personal growth. Our Vision:  Every person at Inter-Lakes High School will affect positive change in self, school and society. Our School-Wide Learning Goals:

• We are a community of Critical Thinkers.
• We are a community of Effective Communicators.
• We are a community of Responsible and Respectful Individuals.

AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a program designed to help students who want to go to college learn the skills and behaviors necessary to succeed in the academic world and in life.  In addition to enrolling in courses that meet the requirements for four year colleges, AVID students will also take an elective course.  This course teaches skills in writing, inquiry, collaboration, and reading.  Tutorials with college students will help you better understand your core subjects, while modeling how to study and learn.  The AVID Elective Course is a semester course provided only to AVID students.  The AVID Elective Course:  

• will teach you organization and writing skills.
• will provide you with a teacher who will check the notes you take in all classes.
• will provide you with a teacher who will check your planners to make sure you are on top of due dates and important events in ALL of your classes (yes, I’ll be checking in with your other teachers!)  .
• will allow you to experience motivational guest speakers and field trips.
• will provide college tutors who will assist you in the PROCESS of solving problems or answering questions, as long as you have prepared for their help by:  reviewing your material ahead of time, taking notes in your classes, and composing specific questions you need help addressing during tutorials; they are not there to do your homework for you.
• is not a studyhall!  It is another course which helps you with writing, PSAT and SAT preparation, college preparation, scholarship information, internships, college and career research, and more!!!!

AVID does not get you into college; you get yourself into college.  We will help teach you the skills necessary to succeed in high school and beyond.  The AVID teacher will remind you of deadlines for the SAT and college applications and financial aid, but you must take the initiative to study and make the deadlines.  I am here to help you, but remember that AVID stands for Advancement Via INDIVIDUAL Determination.  We’ve assembled a “dream team” of a site team to help you, but YOU have to want to do the work.  AVID is like a second family.  This team helps one another succeed.  Expectations
1.  You will arrive promptly to class.
2.  You will come to class prepared to work and cooperate.
3.  You will contribute positively in class and help create an environment free from      distraction.
4.  You will take responsibility and ownership for your actions and words.
5.  You will be productive and take pride in your work! Required Materials
You must arrive promptly to class with the following materials every day:
Your organized AVID binder, complete with the following:

• Writing utensils and assignment book
• Dividers for each of your subjects, with subsections within each subject  
• Cornell Notes
• Learning Logs

Grading Policy
Your AVID Binder(including Cornell notes, tutorials, learning logs, etc.)-- 25 %
Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, and Reading:  25 %
Homework/ Preparedness - 25 %
Class Participation (respectfully contributing in class), Attendance, Attitude - 25 % Weekly Schedule
Each week, the course will run as follows:

• Mondays:  AVID Curriculum
• Tuesdays:  Tutorials
• Wednesdays:  AVID Curriculum
• Thursdays:  Tutorials
• Fridays:  Motivational Speakers and Activities; Field Trips

I’m so excited to be involved in this program and in your lives.  While you should expect this course and the program to be rigorous, you should also expect help every step of the way.  You wouldn’t be here if people didn’t believe in you and your potential.  Please don’t hesitate to ask for help!  Feel free to call or e-mail me with questions or concerns.
Mrs. Diamond
 mdiamond@interlakes.org
 279-6162 ILHS Members of the AVID Site Team:  Ms. Kennelly, Ms. Gribben, Mrs. Reid, Mrs. Stetson, Mr. Parsons, and Mrs. Diamond ~ We are all here to help!