Reading Complex Texts to Build Skills

By Gordon Mosher, Program Manager, AVID Western Division, AVID Center

Just as a bodybuilder only builds muscle when lifting weights, a reader only builds ability to understand complex texts when reading complex material.  One of our AVID Staff Developers from Australia, Dr. William DeJean, demonstrated this idea during a recent AVID training in San Diego for Summer Institute Staff Developers.  “Learning to read challenging text is similar to undergoing physical therapy.  Initially, such therapy is often painful and exhausting, and it’s tempting to cheat on the exercises a bit” (Shanahan, Fisher, & Frey, 2012, p. 62).  In order to increase our students’ abilities to comprehend college-level reading material, we must expose them to rigorous text early.  By doing so, we can develop a set of skills for students to apply whenever they are challenged by a text.

Click to read more ...

Pivotal Moments Open the Doors to Opportunity

An Interview with Dr. Roberta Espinoza

By Rob Gira, Executive Vice President, AVID Center

What does it take to create a path for all students to colleges and universities, especially low-income and minority students? While AVID acknowledges the importance of a student’s individual determination, Dr. Roberta Espinoza emphasizes the significance of mentoring, advocacy, and the timely intervention by key adults. In her new book, Pivotal Moments (Harvard Education Press), based on several years of research, Espinoza examines the importance of teachers, counselors, and administrators being “in the right place at the right time” to support students with advice and inspiration on their journeys into and through postsecondary education.

Click to read more ...

How Does AVID Rate? Exceptionally for All

By Barbara L. Chavira, AVID Teacher, Macy Intermediate

After returning home from a rather normal day, my son came up to me and said, “Mom, I went on RateMyTeachers.com. There were a few negative comments and a few positive ones about you. One comment in particular stood out to me. It stated, ‘Mrs. Chavira is evil and makes you work so hard, but I hate that I love her. I got into college thanks to her.’”

Immediately, I knew who wrote it – a former AVID student named Alex!

Click to read more ...

What Does All This Theory Look Like in the Classroom?

By Bill Madigan

Poor teachers say this: “Hey I’ve constructed this course and curriculum for you and I can’t wait to do it to you.” – Alphie Kohn

Let’s recap my last few blogs: Howard Gardner makes the case that the new 21^st century goal is teaching students to not only be great academics but also respectful and ethical minds. Hallowell illustrated the importance of making connections with and between students and teachers. Alphie Kohn, the well known “constructivist” researcher and speaker, mirrors many of Gardner’s and Hallowell’s ideas. In Kohn’s article “Progressive Education: Why It’s Hard to Beat, But Also Hard to Find,” he shares eight key elements of “Progressive Education” (What Sir Ken Robinson calls the “agricultural model”). For the purposes of this short blog, we will focus on just five of these elements:

Click to read more ...

Continue to Invest in AVID? It’s a No-Brainer

By Jim Nelson, Executive Director, AVID Center

Governor Jerry Brown and those who have proposed that AVID be cut from the state’s budget should reconsider.

Why?

The most recent example comes with the announcement from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. Last week, the MSD Foundation announced their selection of 300 students from applicants nationwide who will become Dell Scholars, giving each student $20,000 for their college or university tuition, room and board.*

Click to read more ...