AVID

Advancement Via Individual Determination

a college readiness program designed to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in college

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MISSION STATEMENT 

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

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WICOR STRATEGIES SCHOOLWIDE

W = Writing - 

1. Writing serves as a key tool for learning, communication, and critical thinking. Activities in this domain include crafting CER paragraphs and essays, conducting peer edits, and utilizing the PaperTutor program. 
2. Additionally, the Focused Note-Taking (FNT) process and tutorials enhance writing skills, supporting clear thinking and understanding.

I = Inquiry –

1. Inquiry is about exploring understanding, formulating critical questions, and engaging in thoughtful learning and discussion.
2. Here, students delve into International Baccalaureate (IB) units, employ Costa's questioning techniques, participate in project-based learning, and engage in discussions such as Socratic Seminars and Philosophical Chairs debates.

C = Collaboration –

1. Collaboration fosters a sense of shared responsibility, and encourages the exchange of ideas, opinions, and information.
2. Collaborative activities include tutorials, group projects, peer editing, and innovative methods like Jigsaws, World Cafe, and Reciprocal Teaching. Engaging discussions and debates, as well as Collaborative Study Groups (CSGs), further enhance the spirit of teamwork.

O = Organization –

1. Organizational skills encompass managing materials, setting goals, and planning strategically to control learning.
2. Students use AVID Binders, student handbooks, and agendas to manage their work. They learn time management and goal setting, and use the FNT process, Interactive Notebooks (INBs), CSGs, and tutorials to stay organized.

R = Reading –

1. Reading is about comprehending and interpreting text and other media interactively. Students practice close reading and summaries, engage in FNT and annotations, and participate in discussions, debates, tutorials, and CSGs.
2. Techniques like SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review) and KWLAs (What I Know, What I Want to Know, What I Learned, Action) further improve reading skills.

By honing these skills through the WICOR approach, students develop the necessary tools to succeed academically and personally, embodying the AVID mission of college readiness and success in a global society.