Our daughter’s school is beginning a new program called AVID, which is supposed to be a new way of preparing students for success. It seems like a good program, it sets high expectations on both teachers, students and parents. The teachers seemed to really think this would be a good thing. They even said they were afraid it would be one of those programs that swore it would be a fix all, but once they looked into it it seemed like a great program.
So, do any of have any experience with this? I’ve looked at the website, but it only tells us what we saw in the presentation at the school, I’m looking for some real life stories.
We have AVID at my school: it can be wonderful or a complete waste of time, and which it is depends entirely on the teacher and the administration–if the teacher has been trained in the program and is enthusiastic and creative and the administration backs them up and there is funding for the fieldtrips and the guest speakers, it can be a very positive experience. If, on the other hand, they just dumped a teacher in there who doesn’t buy into the program or relate well to kids, then it’s a waste of time.
All things being equal, I’d try an AVID program, especially if your kid is “at risk” for any reason. However, that’s assuming she’s not giving up anything important–if going into AVID means giving up band or art or something that she really loves/is passionate about, I wouldn’t do it. But if it’s a question of AVID or some other elective that she is lukewarm on, I’d go for AVID. I would ask her every few days what they are doing in class to get a feel for the program and make sure it’s actually productive. If it’s a big waste of time you can pull her at semester.
I’ve been to the week long training seminar for AVID support faculty. I have to agree with Manda JO; it’s all about the administrative support. If it’s there, AVID is a fantastic program. Your daughter will work her butt off, and it will pay off. There is tutoring by college students, time management lessons, field trips to colleges, and much more that supports a student not only getting into college, but surviving and succeeding in it.
I would love to teach AVID, but only at a school that supported it.
Phouka, if you could evver be tempted to return to DISD, I am at one of the “good” schools, and we seem to turn over AVID teachers fairly regularly for reasons that have little to do with lack of administrative support. But I know you had a bad experience somewhere–PM me if you want to talk about it. Or just vent about the district. It has gotten much better since we gain Hinojosa.
Our school is hugely supportive of AXID. I deal with the AVID students in my classes every day, and have nothing but good things to say about the program.
Even though they wanted me dead this year for “stealing” a half-dozen or so AVID students into Speech & Debate.
It seems like the teachers are really excited about it, and it could be the first time I’ve seen the principal excited about work in 3 years. The school is already one of the better ones in the area, it’s a magnet school that actually has a waiting list for kids from the suburbs to bus into the city.
From what you all say, it seems like her school already has a lot of the pieces in place to make this work. Thanks again for the input.
