The AVID Way!
FMS is a National AVID Demonstration School!
What is AVID?
AVID is an amazing college prepatory class that I have been honored to teach since the 2004-2005 school year. In AVID, we strive to equip our students with study, organizational, and note taking skills that will help prepare them for entrance to and success in college. And, YES, this process does start in 6th grade. Through weekly tutorial sessions, with trained tutors, we also teach our students to ask higher level thinking questions that will help them get to the root of their confusion. We teach that it is easy to answer a question, but it is the process of getting to that answer, through deep questioning, that is the important factor in learning the material.
AVID is an acronym for Advancement Via Individual Determination. It is up to you to decide which word is the most important, but in this teacher's opinion, the most important word is INDIVIDUAL. A student has to come into AVID ready to learn and work hard. Along the way, we have a lot of fun in my AVID classroom, but a student still has to rely on himself/herself to do well in the class. See below for more information on what the AVID student is expected to do weekly in my AVID class.
For more information, visit AVID Online or Unit 4's AVID Site.
6th Grade AVID
In 6th grade, AVID focuses on collaboration. Students are coming to AVID from different schools, teachers, families, and experiences. The most vital thing to establish in 6th grade is working together inspite of all of these differences. Throughout the year, students will be encouraged (--ok, and sometimes forced ;) to work with others they do not know so well. I will even challenge students, if I find it necessary, to dialogue and work with students they may have specific troubles with. This all goes back to the importance of collaboration, and the fact that to be successful in middle school, high school, college, and life, you must be able to work with people from all walks of life.
Binder Checks
Binder Checks are the organizational cornerstone to every AVID classroom. These will take place once a week, usually on Fridays. I will also have a chance to see how students are coming along with C-Notes, Learning Logs, and check that students are talking with parents/guardians about their assignments. |
Tutorials
Tutorials take place twice a week. Trained tutors come into the classroom and help students with questions they have about any assignment. Tutorials are when we help students learn how to develop and answer higher level thinking questions. Just as Binder Checks are the organizational cornerstone of AVID, Tutorials are the inquiry cornerstone of AVID. |
Weekly Schedule
(subject to change)
AVID typically follows the same schedule every week, and the list below will give you a rough idea of what we're doing day to day. But, of course, there are variations. However, the tutorial days always stay the same.
MONDAY: Tutorial
TUESDAY: Current Event discussions/Project work
WEDNESDAY: Tutorial
THURSDAY: Project work/Binder Prep Day
FRIDAY: Binder Checks + Guest speakers/AVID Game Day/Field Trips
What is a Dice Binder Check?
We will have Dice Binder Checks once a month. I will grade the Binder Check based on what I roll. (See the list below for what may come up.) Here's the catch, though: You still have to prepare your Binder Check as if I'll grade everything, because you don't know what might come up! If I roll for C-Notes, but you've only done three of them, you'll only get three points for your Binder Check (an F!). Good luck getting ready! :)
1--Learning Logs
2--C-Notes
3--TEACHER'S CHOICE!!!
4--Organization of Binder and Pencil Pouch WITH Pencils
5--Assignment Sheet/Book (filled out)
6--Parent/Guardian Signature on Assignment Book/Sheet