What is AVID?
Posted on September 28, 2014 by Ching under Life.
I had the opportunity to learn about AVID at Adams Elementary this past Thursday. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. It’s actually a really cool program. Their mission is close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other postsecondary opportunities. The idea is to prepare all students for college and not just some students.
AVID trains teachers to use proven practices in order to prepare students for success in high school, college, and a career, especially students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. It was really cool learning about the students’ planners, three-ring binder notebooks, dividers, pencil pouch. There’s a reason why the school requires all of these things.
The pencil pouch is important because it keeps all of your pencils, pens, erasers, and sticky notes all in one place and always with your notebook. I asked Kira why she didn’t have a pencil pouch in her notebook and she told me the zipper of her pencil pouch broke. We stopped by Walmart on the way home so she could get another one.
I think it’s really cool how they’re teaching students to be organized by using subject dividers, two and three column note taking techniques, and other things. I looked back at my own upbringing and marveled at how I managed when no one taught me these things. I guess I just picked up good habits from other people. When I saw classmates doing something that seemed to work, I would adopt those methods.
Some students may not have the initiative or interest to learn these techniques on their own. Specially if they have challenges at home. They may not have the time or energy to think about these things so it makes sense to teach them best practices. I think it’s great that the schools are taking an active part at teaching students good study habits at a young age so they can be successful in high school, college, and later in life.
I’m glad that my little sister’s school is part of the AVID program. I wish every school would be part of AVID. Click here to learn more or watch this video (or do both).
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