VandenBerge Middle School

What is AVID?

AVID is a program dedicated to helping students achieve their goal of going to college. Know that students considered for AVID are bright students who might be under-achieving, underserved in the college system, or first-generation college students. The AVID class, held within the regular school day, provides support, academic monitoring, and tutoring. The writing process, Socratic questioning, collaborative learning, and reading are the core strategies of the program.

What is Required of an AVID Student?

Each AVID student carries a binder in which he or she is required to keep materials from all academic classes. Students keep track of assignments on assignment sheets and are required to take DAILY notes in all academic classes. The notebooks are graded weekly for content and organization by college tutors. Led by tutors, students participate in tutorial groups in the AVID classroom. In addition, students are taught study skills, test preparation, time management, and the writing process. Teachers fill out periodic progress reports, in addition to routine school ones, for monitoring by the AVID teacher.

What is an AVID Teacher, and What Do They Do?

The AVID teacher is crucial to the process. The AVID class is where students learn organization, study skills, test preparation, time management, the writing process, take college field trips, explore careers, look at post secondary education choices, etc. Communication with the AVID teacher and parents is essential. The AVID teacher will contact you to share your student’s progress and to check in about any of your concerns. Throughout the year, the AVID teacher will house several Family Workshops to address topics of concern relating to student success in middle school and preparation for high school and college.

Who are AVID Tutors, and What Do They Do?

AVID tutors are college students who receive training in methodologies used in AVID: writing process, Socratic questioning, collaborative learning, and reading. They are in the classroom weekly to serve as models and to help students achieve success in rigorous classes. They are trained not to give students answers but rather to guide them toward answers. They may even ask permission to “shadow” students in their classes to help them learn how to take notes more effectively.