What is AVID?

 

In middle school, our task is to prepare our students to succeed in middle school and college preparatory high school classes. In AVID, students are given the support and instruction they need to succeed. The AVID coordinator and elective teacher, along with college tutors and a school site team, provide the necessary support for students who might otherwise not aspire to go to college.

 

By being enrolled in rigorous classes with the tutorial support provided in the AVID elective, student grade point averages rise, increasing numbers of students enroll in honors classes and algebra in eighth grade, and these students who are typically not involved in the school community come to share a sense of school pride and become role models among their peers. 

 

The AVID elective is a class that meets five hours per week within the regular school day. The class is composed of several different elements, making students more successful in all their classes. The week is divided into curriculum days, tutorial days, and motivational activity days.

 

The two days devoted to curriculum focus on the WICOR methodologies of AVID: Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization and Reading. Aside from WICOR, the curricular days also develop students’ note-taking and study skills, while also teaching time management and goal setting. Mini lessons provide additional support for English, math, science, and social studies classes.

 

Students participate in twice weekly tutorials with college students wherein tutors provide content area support in math, English, social studies and science. Motivational activity days include college and career activities, guest speakers from area colleges and local professionals, and field trips to local colleges and universities.