SantanJunior High

The AVID Elective at Santan Junior High

At Santan JHS, AVID students are enrolled in not just in rigorous honors courses, but also in the AVID elective. For one period every other day, students learn organizational and study skills, work on critical thinking and asking probing questions, get academic help from peers and college tutors, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities that make college seem attainable. They also do fun team-building activities, hear from motivating guest speakers, and take field trips to local universities!

What does a typical AVID elective class include?

AVID Curriculum

The AVID curriculum, based on rigorous standards, was developed by middle and senior high school teachers in collaboration with college professors. It is driven by WICOR, which stands for writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading. In the AVID elective, students will go through this curriculum and learn things like.

• time management
• organizational skills
• reading and writing techniques
• problem-solving, inquiry, and collaborative strategies

Tutorials

Once a week, students will practice their collaborative and inquiry skills by participating in the AVID Tutorial process. Students will bring any problems they are having in their core content classes, divide into small tutorial groups, and using specific inquiry-driven procedures, come to a deeper understanding of their core curriculum. AVID tutors will not "feed" students the answers to their problems, but instead will facilitate the tutorial group as they solve the problems together.

AVID "Extras"

Students in the AVID program also enjoy some fun activities, as well! Throughout the year, guest speakers will talk to AVID students about their careers and the importance of doing well in school to reach their goals. Since we are emphasizing the importance of college, we also take field trips to local universities and colleges. If our budget allows, we plan on taking students to four different colleges if they are in AVID for two years ... including the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University.

AVID Elective Teacher

The AVID elective teacher at Santan Junior High:

• Ms. Umbrianna (7th and 8th grade)