Ms. K.

Mitchell
University High School
AVID Elective, Grade 12 Syllabus
Instructor: Ms. K. Mitchell

Email: kdm4952@lausd.net

Website: http://msmitchellsclasses.weebly.com

Course Description:

AVID 12 is an academically challenging course designed to aid students in the college application process while
continuing the development of college level skills. Rooted in the WICOR concepts (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration,
Organization and Reading), students will compose critical SAT essays, think deeply about relevant issues, work
collaboratively to solve problems, and perform college level research while preparing various multi-media presentations.
Students in AVID 12 have chosen to follow the AVID model including the use of focused notes, participating in tutorials,
and modeling AVID strategies in all of their classes.

AVID Mission-
“AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global
society.” To help you reach this goal, we will focus on five things:

1. Tutorials to help you master content in your core classes

2. Study and organizational habits to help you manage your success in high school and college (e.g. agendas,
goal-setting, etc)
3. Academic skill-building (reading, writing, inquiry, collaboration)
4. Differentiated SAT prep and writing practice to get you ready for the big test
5. College research to help you discover and select potential universities

Key Topics:
 Review of AVID basics—e-binder (Schoology Portfolio), tutorials, focused notes, learning logs, goal setting,
WICOR, etc.
 Review of SAT/ACT expectations, including SAT essay
 College application process—résumés, applications, letters of recommendation, and all parts of the process
 Financial aid and scholarships
 Research project with multi-media presentation
 Transitioning to college—roommates, personality, budgeting, etc.
 Portfolio—continued AVID portfolio development

Materials:
 AVID binder: students are required to maintain a Digital E-Binder (Schoology Portfolio) for their core classes,
including languages and AVID, that is organized according to the AVID model.
 Agenda: students must use either their own personal agenda, or a suitable electronic organizer (calendar), to
keep track of all class assignments and due dates for every class - also to be included in the e-binder.
 Additional needs may be discussed
Ms. K. Mitchell
 Ms. K. Mitchell
Grading
Focused Note-Taking- 20% Taking and making Focused Notes is about the process- how you interact with your notes is
the process by which you retain the information you wrote in them. Make sure you are using the strategies to interact
with your notes in order to retain the information you’re reviewing.

Organization- 20% You will be provided with direct instruction on organizational strategies and will be assessed on how
regularly you use these strategies and how effectively. Organizing your work helps you organize your thoughts, your
progress, and it can also help lower academic stress.

Tutorials- 25% Tutorials are a major component of AVID and include all the skills that make up the foundation of the
AVID program- writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading. We will be running tutorials virtually. Not only
do they help you master your content in core classes, they get you ready to establish and run study groups in college and
teach you how to bring a question to a professor during office hours.

WICOR- 35% WICOR strategies will be used to support learning and metacognition. These assignments include reading
assignments, writing assignments, class discussions, projects, and more.

Grading Scale

Numerical Average Letter Grade

90-100 A

80-89 B

70-79 C

60-69% D

59 and below F

Late Work: I do not take late work, as learning the time management and organizational skills to manage deadlines is
crucial to success in college. Because these are unprecedented times, however, please reach out to me via email if there
are extenuating circumstances. The sooner you can communicate with me about the issue, the better. If a student is
absent, it is his or her responsibility to ask another student for missed assignments or work that needs to be completed
and submitted upon return.

Schoology: I input grades regularly and will be posting resources, directions, texts, etc, and assignments for you through
Schoology. It is imperative to your success that you check in frequently to monitor your assignments and academic
progress and use this tool, along with your agenda to help you plan and track your own success. You should also be
checking graded work for comments and feedback.
 Ms. K. Mitchell

General Information:

 Daily, on time attendance is required. Students should only be absent or tardy from class for
legitimate reasons. Tardiness is not acceptable in the workplace nor is it acceptable in the
classroom. Absence is not an excuse for ignorance. Students who miss class are responsible for
obtaining missed assignments and activities in a timely manner (the first class period he/she
returns to class) and missed work must be completed by the deadline established by the teacher
and student.
 Students should remain alert and actively engaged with classroom activities.
 Extra help is available during office hours (to be announced).
 During class, students should be focused on our class activities; please do not work on other materials.
 Cell phones should not be used during class unless instructed to do so.
 Students are required to adhere to the academic integrity policy established by University High School. Please
refer to your agenda or student handbook for more information. Students who do not meet this expectation on
any assignment will receive a zero on all parts of the assignment, parents will be notified, and school
administration, including AVID Administrator, will be notified.
 Most importantly, education is the foundation of your future; please take your education seriously, put aside
minor distractions, and bring a positive attitude to class every day.

After you have read and discussed this with your parent(s)/guardians(s), please click on the following link to a Google
Form to submit confirmation and communications regarding the syllabus: Syllabus Signature