AVID December 2017
Post date: Dec 12, 2017 7:23:43 PM
In this month’s AVID Newsletter you'll find information on a recent grant award, tutorials at Kennedy High and Valley View Middle Schools, an AVID Showcase attended by a team from Valley View and Oak Grove Elementary Schools, WICOR at Indian Mounds Elementary School, VVE’s Initial Self Study data collection, VVE 5th grade Socratic Seminar preparation, the Pairs Check Discussion WICOR strategy, AVID Weekly article information, and AVID professional development opportunities.
Spotlight on Bloomington AVID
AVID Earns a Grant!
Tutorials at KHS and VVMS
CONGRATULATIONS! Bloomington’s AVID program is the recipient of a Walmart Community Grant of $1,000. This money will be used to fund AVID needs across the district, including materials and supplies to support the college-going environment, celebrations, community-building t-shirts, college and career field trips, busing, and more!
VVE & OGE Attend AVID Showcase
A team of teachers and administrators from Valley View and Oak Grove attended an AVID Elementary Showcase together at Pullman Elementary School in Cottage Grove recently. The group heard from a panel of AVID teachers, explored classrooms implementing AVID strategies, learned about the school’s and district’s history with AVID implementation, and examined 1-to-1-related resources and apps for supporting students’ learning through AVID.
One important component of the AVID elective is weekly tutorials. Students participate in inquiry-based, small-group opportunities to guide one another toward understanding a point of confusion that arises from class or homework. The role of the AVID tutor is to facilitate the conversation that takes place among the AVID students.
WICOR at IM
VVE AVID Evidence Collection
The 4th grade team at Valley View Elementary took time to collaborate on gathering evidence and documentation to support the school’s Initial Self Study (ISS), the goal-setting and certification instrument AVID uses to ensure schools are implementing practices in the areas of instruction, leadership, culture, and systems.
Indian Mounds 5th Graders use the WICOR strategy of creating a graphic organizer to learn about the descriptive text structure. Students were eager to share their experiences with the five senses at Valley Fair!
Socratic Seminar Preparation
Valley View Elementary 5th graders recently spent time preparing for a Socratic Seminar in social studies on taxation. To be ready for the collaborative discussion, students read an article, identified key vocabulary terms, developed questions, and determined important information.
AVID Resources
WICOR Strategy of the Month
Students use the Pairs Check Discussion Strategy to solve problems through inquiry and coaching. This strategy allows students to practice solving any type of problem and provides them the opportunity to get immediate feedback.
AVID Weekly Article of the Month
Elementary: In the article New Research Shows Kids’ Screen Time Shifting Dramatically Toward Phones and Tablets, the author analyzes the use of mobile devices with children under 8 years old.
Secondary: In the article Scientists Spent a Month Terrifying Guppies to Prove that Fish have Personalities, the author claims that each guppy has its own individual character traits.
All AVID Weekly articles, lesson plans and activities are archived monthly and are available in the following Google Folders for anyone to access and use:
AVID Support and Events
AVID Path Trainings through Equity Alliance
LOCATION: 6063 Hudson Rd, Woodbury, MN
COST: $325/person
STRANDS:
- Academic Language and Literacy (Feb 2-3, 2018)
- Critical Reading 2 (Feb. 5-6. 2018)
- AVID Elementary Foundations (Feb. 7-8, 2018)
- Math 1 (Feb. 12-13, 2018)
- Science 1 (Feb 12-13, 2018)
- Culturally Relevant Teaching (Feb. 21-22, 2018)
- Advancing the AVID Elective (Feb. 27-28, 2018)
FREE AVID Showcases (9:00 - 1:30)
See AVID implementation, share best practices, and learn more about AVID hands-on. The showcase experience includes AVID Elective/Elementary and content class observations and a chance to speak with experienced AVID site team members and students.
- February 6: John Glenn Middle School, St Paul
FREE AVID Site Team Workshop
Modules include using the “why” to inspire achievement, using data to tell your AVID story, and Socratic methodologies. To register go to my.avid.org.
- February 21: Eagan
FREE AVID Elective Teacher Workshop
Modules include navigating change through the use of data and leveraging AVID to advance campus/district initiatives.
- February 15: Stillwater
- February 27: Eden Prairie
- March 9: Apple Valley
- April 18: Robbinsdale
Online AVID Support
Daily/weekly elective class lesson plans
Informational/instructional videos, handouts and downloads covering many AVID Essentials, including Writing, Inquiry, Tutorials, Data and Site Teams.
AVID Professional Learning Modules*
AVID Professional Learning Modules are 90-minute sessions which focus on one aspect of AVID K–12 implementation. They can each be used on their own for a short professional learning opportunity, or they can be assembled together to create a full day or multi-day professional learning event. The goal of these modules is to support AVID program staff and District Directors in implementing the AVID College Readiness System with fidelity and depth.
*If you would like access to any of these resources and do not currently have an account on my.avid.org, contact Kelly Killorn-Moravec