Local middle-schoolers explore collaborative learning in AVID class

MADISON – Madison middle-schoolers can identify with the Beatles’ oldie, “With a Little Help From my Friends,” as they teach each other to ‘learn how to learn.’

The Advancement Via Individual Determination or AVID class is an academic elective course. At Journey Middle School, Kaleb Hood teaches this class of sixth-graders. AVID students divide assignments and then teach each other about their findings.

AVID prepares students to succeed in college readiness with guidelines for study habits, taking notes, developing vocabulary, efficient listening, time management, writing skills and oral presentation. (Liberty Middle School, elective interest letter).

Students can take an AVID elective course throughout middle school and high school that provides them with the skills needed to succeed in advancing academically with the ultimate goal of attending college.

AVID recruits students who are highly motivat- ed to do well and who are serious about their academic future. Teachers select students with an application process that includes a WebEx interview and teacher recommendation. (Liberty elective letter) AVID students use the Jigsaw method to teach each other about material in collaborative tutorials. Students share the work by dividing the entire assignment. They can gain significant knowledge without taking time to read every section of text.

The AVID students regroup, and then they use Cornell Notes to track and reflect on their new learning. Cornell Notes are a method for taking notes that focuses on keywords, questions or main ideas. This process leads to better understanding of the source material and retaining concepts that the assignment introduced.

As a result, students are building real- world skills, such as communication, critical thinking and academic confidence — one strategy at a time. (madisoncity. k12.al.us) The AVID elective class supports students as they challenge themselves in more rigorous classes. The class also includes tutoring sessions that will help students to master the new curriculum that can be challenging academically.

AVID students must commit to one honors course during their first year of participation. Students currently enrolled in AVID who want to continue in the program must commit to two honors courses during additional years of participation.

In other pursuits, Hood’s STEM class has explored ‘digital Literacy’ that focuses on the ways that technology can impact people’s values. Students identified the core values that they valued most. This active-learning strategy helped students better understand the intersection of technology and personal values, along with encouraging critical thinking and teamwork in their decisions.