Sierra Vista K-8

AVID SCHOOL-WIDE PROGRAM

We are very excited to announce the implementation of the AVID program at Sierra Vista K-8. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. AVID Center's mission is to prepare all students for college readiness with a lifelong learning mindset. Regardless of their life circumstances, AVID students overcome obstacles and achieve success. They graduate and attend college at higher rates, but more importantly, they can think critically, collaborate, and set high expectations to confidently conquer the challenges that await them. AVID has a proven track record in bringing out the best in students.

AVID Elementary classroom encourage:

• Organizational tool accountability and responsibility
• Use of agenda planner to foster a "plan-ahead" mentality
• SMART goal-setting skills
• Time management skills
• Note-taking strategies (STAR)
• Inquiry method
• Collaborative learning
• Effective reading strategies for comprehension
• Building community with open communication

AVID is a program designed to prepare K-12th Grade student for four year college eligibility. Below are a couple of links to videos on the AVID program

www.avid.org/what-is-avid-elementary.ashx

bcove.me/rgsgfuqw

WHAT MAKES AN AVID CLASSROOM UNIQUE?

PEER TUTORING - Students work together to master new content through inquiry-based tutoring. Students learn how to ask questions that go beyond memorization and encourage higher-level thinking. Peers ask each other questions that prompt deeper learning, and students know how to articulate their points of confusion.

FOCUSED NOTE-TAKING - Students utilize the Cornell note-taking process to create powerful study tools. They are not just copying down words. Students learn to recognize the most important parts of a lesson, create questions to guide their studying, and revisit and refine their notes to solidify learning.

COLLABORATION - Students demonstrate a strong sense of mutual respect and support, engaging in rigorous discourse and building on each other's thoughts. Collaborative activities are structured and graded to promote participation from each student.

EMBEDDED SOFT SKILLS - Students learn soft skills like public speaking, self-advocacy, time management, organization, and more. Here, a student is showing her presentation skills by confidently communicating with her group. There are a variety of AVID activities that allow students to hone their soft skills in an authentic way.

CLASSROOM SET-UP

Desks and chairs are arranged to best suit the learning activity and to encourage students to talk and to work more effectively together.

TEACHER FACILITATES LEARNING

AVID teachers design classroom activities that allow students to take ownership of the content. The teacher creates opportunities for students to investigate, talk, explore, and come to their own understanding.

COLLEGE-READINESS ENVIRONMENT

College banners, posters, and pennants reinforce a college-going culture on campus. There's an atmosphere of high expectations.

INQUIRY-BASED ACTIVITIES

Students learn to ask critical questions to clarify their own thinking and the thinking of others.

HIGHER-LEVEL THINKING

During activities like Socratic Seminar, students focus on content, build on each other's thoughts, and challenge one another to think deeply. Students and teachers ask questions that don't necessarily have a correct answer.

READING AND WRITING TO LEARN

Students read a variety of texts utilizing AVID's critical reading strategies and engage in metacognitive discussions of the texts along with reflective writing activities.

Learn more about AVID