Bowles' AVID Adventure

Students should have their tutorial forms ready at the beginning of class tomorrow.  Remember to put a level two question on a topic from your academic classes.  Today students went to the media center to work on our college research project.   STUDENTS SHOULD BE WRITING EVERY ASSIGNMENT DUE IN THEIR AGENDA.  We also discussed the SAT today in class.  Students are looking at colleges to determine their average SAT acceptance scores.  It is never too soon to start thinking about dreams and goals for your future education!

Don’t forget to bring your green tutorial forms tomorrow.  Have one or two questions ready for Ms. Schafer!  Friday we will continue with our AVID kodak project and have a philosophical chairs discussion.  Don’t forget binder checks are Friday.  You need a learning log, parent signature on agenda, four Cornell notes and a stellar organized binder.

Today in AVID we calculated our G.P.A. for the 1st 9 week period.  We discussed ten vocabulary words related to college preparation and then determined our class rankings.  Congratulations to our AVID classroom valedictorians:  7th grade E.F. and 8th grade T.A.  Way to go!!!!  Remember to set academic goals for this 9 week period.  I want every student improving their grades by December.

Today in class we had our Friday Binder Checks.  Only five students out of the three AVID classes had perfect binders!  Mrs. Bowles was very distraught.  EVERY FRIDAY IS BINDER CHECK.  Your binder should have your agenda with a parent signature and assignments written in it throughout the week.  You need one learning log (pink) for the week.  You should have at least three sentences for each class on your learning log.  Each student should have at least four cornell notes for the week (yellow forms) or use your own paper.  NO PAPERS SHOULD BE FALLING OUT OF YOUR BINDERS.

For Monday:  Bring your report card to class.  We will be having a grade celebration and going on a “locker clean out field trip”.  Tuesday you should have your tutorial request form with two questions (green).  Remember that this is 40% of your grade.  Wednesday we will be working on our College Research Project sheets.  Thursday is tutorial day again and Friday we will be working on our AVID kodak picture project. 

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REMEMBER TO DO ALL OF YOUR HOMEWORK NIGHTLY!!!  Remember our discussion on Excuses!  Take responsibility and use time management.  YOU CAN DO IT.  ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

STUDENTS IN 7-2 AND 8-1 BRING HEADPHONES (EARBUDS)  WITH YOU TOMORROW TO SCHOOL IF YOU HAVE THEM. 

Today in AVID students participated in their first tutorial for the 2nd 9 week period.  Tutorials occur every Tuesday and Thursday.  Students are REQUIRED to come to class with questions from their academic subject areas.  Unless you have a 100 average in every class, you should have tutorial questions!!!  Remember that tutorials and binder maintenance totals 40% of your AVID grade.

Last week I taught the students how to calculate their G.P.A.  I printed each student’s transcript and they calculated their G.P.A. for McClure.  I discussed how  important it is for students to understand their class rank, G.P.A. calculations in high school for the Hope Scholarship and the importance of the S.A.T. in admissions to college.

Remember that you should be spending at least 30 minutes each night studying, completing one page of Cornell notes for each academic subject, completing your learning log, checking blogs, and writing everything in your agenda (don’t forget parent signature on one day).

See you tomorrow!  Great job on tutorials today 8th graders!!!

Today we had our AVID tutorial with Ms. Schafer.  Remember that tomorrow you have a BINDER CHECK.  Parents should sign your agenda at least one time during the week.  Students should have cornell notes from academic classes.  Assignment Logs should be filled out for each subject. 

TOMORROW IS FUN FRIDAY.  We will be doing team building/collaboration.

AVID students took a quiz today over ten successful study habits that we discussed in class on Monday.  Students also worked on their AVID college person project as well as writing thank you notes to a teacher that had spoken to our class.

REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR BINDER AND LIFE ORGANIZED. 

PARENTS:  Do you want to help your student be successful?  Click on the following link:

Help Your Student Be Successful

Today in AVID our tutor/facilitator introduced herself to the students.  Ms. Schafer is a graduate of Purdue University with two degrees in Biology/Genetics.  She will be a valuable resource to the AVID students during tutorials.  Ms. Schafer will be in the AVID class on Tuesdays and Thursdays conducting student led tutorials over topics/questions submitted by each AVID student.

It is very important that students come to the tutorials on Tuesday and Thursday PREPARED WITH A QUESTION!  Through the tutorial process, students will be able to clarify topics in their academic classes that may be unclear and need further explanation.  We welcome Ms. Schafer to our AVID classes.

Today in class we talked about the ten study habits of successful students.  We will have a quiz over these habits on Wednesday of this week.  Students should be prepared to write out the ten strategies. 

Students were given Pinnacle passwords today in homeroom.  Each student should be able to check their grades.  I encourage each student to check their grades/assignments at least twice a week.

Today in class we had a guest speaker, the fabulous Mr. G, to talk about our AVID moment of the week production.    We also talked about how attitude plays a vital role in school success.  Remember to avoid procrastination when it comes to studying for tests, completing homework and asking for help.

HOMEWORK:  Organize your binder, check your teacher blogs and complete your first tutorial question.