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Syllabus for Student Advisory
Montbello High School
6th Period with Mr. Oelrichs and Ms. Reinert
2009-2010
Welcome to the new class known as student advisory! This document aims to help you understand what this course is about and how to be successful in it. Be sure to read it carefully and ask any questions you might have if you need clarification. We can all be successful if we start out on the same page.
Course Description: This course is considerably different from student mentoring courses of the past three years, so DON’T EVEN THINK OF THEM AS THE SAME! The three main parts of this course include 1) Sustained Silent Reading or SSR 2) Advisory Curriculum or AC and 3) the Student Success Workshop or SSW. During the SSR, everyone gets to read whatever they’re interested in reading. During the AC we will discuss and explore themes such as risk taking, problem solving, coping with mistakes, team collaboration and media literacy using the new book Critical and Creative Thinking for Teenagers by Carol Carter. Finally, the SSW allows time for us teachers to spend time talking individually with each student in our class, while also giving those students that aren’t conferencing time for homework, AC activity extensions, or more SSR.
Schedule: This class meets on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday during 6th period. If in Group A students will meet at 12:12 after lunch, or if in Group B students will meet at 11:31 before lunch. Time inside the class will be used approximately as shown below:
Tues. & Thur.
25 min SSR
35 min AC
40 min SSW
Friday
25 min SSR
25 min SSW
Rationale: Great critical thinkers always ask themselves that powerful three letter question--Why? Why, you might ask, are we so excited about teaching this course? Because now we get time to work individually with students on a 1-1 basis. Our mission, the same as the school’s, is to educate and empower all students to become productive world citizens. Because every student will have different needs as he/she faces different obstacles, we as teachers need to have the opportunity to sit down and address the different problems and challenges of each of our students. This class offers each student continuing support and every possible chance to successfully reach his/her full potential. Besides the ongoing advisory, we all get to practice and enjoy leisure reading, and students also have time for completing assignments. What an awesome class!
Course Goals: This course aims to empower all students with the ability to solve their problems in a professional manner, take healthy risks, collaborate effectively, set achievable goals, and cope with mistakes. This course also aims to cultivate and foster the reading habits necessary for success in any chosen career path. We want to help you pass all of your classes while building a foundation of knowledge that will serve you for the rest of your life.
Ways to meet course goals: Since a grade will be entered for every class meeting, the first thing you will want to do is attend every class. While showing up is an excellent start and will get you some points, you also need to come to class prepared. In this class, that means bringing your reading material and any other assignments that are due. Finally, you must also actively participate in the class activities in an appropriate manner. For SSR, that means reading your book (not talking, daydreaming, sleeping, doodling, etc.) For AC, that means respectfully participating in discussions by listening first and waiting for an appropriate time to add your input, and also working collaboratively on the “Putting Your Heads Together” activities. During SSW, that means being honest and sincere during student –teacher conferences and staying on task (homework, AC extensions, or extra SSR) and not being disruptive.
Grading: For each class meeting a score will be assigned out of 5 points. Attendance automatically earns a student 2 points. Appropriate behavior during each of the three sections: SSR, AC and SSW can earn the student 3 additional points (one for each section) for a total of 5. Appropriate behavior may include completing a written assignment during the AC section. On Fridays when there is not an AC section, the corresponding point will be awarded for the completion of that week’s reading log. In conjunction with the Advisory Block Rubric, the average point scores will be used to determine each student’s final grade.
Motivational Messages: This class is important! It is imperative that you try your best, so you can feel your best about where you are and where you are going! Also, this class is now a regular class which means it counts toward eligibility for sports and other extracurricular activities. When you try your best, you can expect us to do our best to help you achieve your goals and to help you turn your hopes and dreams into reality.
Support Services: We encourage you to come to us with any problems you might be facing. However, if you believe you might feel more comfortable talking to someone else, we whole heartedly encourage you to do so. Other people you might consider confiding in: teachers, coaches, principals, counselors, social workers, police officers or any other Montbello staff members.
Contact Information: We are available to students after school for drop by visits Monday through Thursday in Room 143 from 3:45 to 4:15 p.m. You may also schedule times before school or at lunch by appointment. The phone number in the classroom 143 is 720-423-5903, however messages are better left at gregory_oelrichs@dpsk12.org.
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