AVID Program Advancement Via Individual Determination [L. avidus]: eager for knowledge

“We help our students find their voices by believing in them, helping them become academically competent, by encouraging them, and by treating them not as members of a group, but as individuals with unique skills, talents, and passions. Once our students find their voices, there’s nothing they can’t achieve.” Mary Catherine Swanson

AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by The Mission of AVID AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.

AVID Closes the Achievement Gap for ALL students

AVID Program Essentials 1. AVID offered in 6th grade 2. Rigorous course and study 3. Writing and Reading Curriculum 4. Inquiry to promote critical reading 5. Collaboration 6. Data Collection and Analysis 7. District and School Commitment 8. Active and Interdisciplinary Site Team

Why should they start thinking about college NOW? It’s only 6th-grade! Students will learn good habits: how to study, how to read well, how to write clearly, and how to problem solve with others These skills will help students become independent learners in high school and beyond.

What does AVID look like at LPA? Students will maintain organization with the use of a binder and student planner. Students will use the STAR note-taking strategy. Students will develop executive functioning skills. Students will be exposed to to a variety of college/career opportunities.

What strategies will my child use in AVID?

O Note Taking System The STAR System Set up your paper Take the notes Apply your thinking to the notes Reflect and Revise your notes

O An example of how notes are set up… Topic Heading Questions Class Notes Subtitles • Use Bullets Headings Use Abbreviations (w/ @ etc.)

O Collaboration Students ask, explore and answer questions Students are listeners, thinkers, speakers, and writers Students discover ideas and remember because they are actively involved Teacher becomes a coach, guiding students in their learning

What is academic rigor? Rigor is the goal of helping students develop the capacity to understand content that is complex, ambiguous, provocative, and personally or emotionally challenging. Taking rigorous courses opens doors ! Source: Teaching What Matters Most; Standards and Strategies for Raising Student Achievement by Strong, Silver and Perini, ASCD, 2001.

Meeting the Challenge To help all students do rigorous work and meet or exceed high standards in each content area we must help students: Develop as readers and writers. Develop deep content knowledge. Know content specific strategies for reading, writing, thinking and talking. Develop habits, skills, and behaviors to use knowledge and skills.

What can parents do to help their child be successful at LPA? Make sure your child comes to school on the first day with all school supplies on the 6th grade school supply list. We will be organizing their materials in homeroom and during class. Parents should check child’s planner and Edmodo daily to keep up to date with assignments, upcoming tests, etc. Sign in to Home Access (HAC) and monitor your child’s academic performance in class *Teachers will monitor binders and facilitate binder clean-out

Meeting the Challenge (Continued)