Full Description
How AVID levels the playing field, helping underserved students come out ahead In Question Everything, award-winning education writer Jay Mathews presents the stories and winning strategies behind the Advancement Via Individual Determination program (AVID). With the goal of preparing students for the future - whether that future includes college or not - AVID teaches students the personal management skills that will help them survive and thrive. Focused on time management, presentation, and cooperation, the AVID program leads not only to impressive educational outcomes, but also to young adults prepared for life after school. This book tells the stories of AVID educators, students, and families to illustrate how and why the program works, and demonstrates how teachers can employ AVID's strategies with their own students.
Over the past thirty years, AVID has grown from a single teacher's practice to an organization serving 400,000 middle- and high-school students in 47 states and 16 countries. Question Everything describes the ideas and strategies behind the upward trajectory of both the program and the students who take part.
Learn which foundational skills are emphasized for future success
Discover how AVID teaches personal management skills in the academic context
Contrast AVID student outcomes with national averages
Consider implementing AVID concepts and techniques into current curricula
As college readiness becomes a top priority for the Federal Government, the Gates Foundation, and other influential organizations, AVID's track record stands out as one of success. By leveling the playing field and introducing "real-world" realities early on, the program teaches students skills that help them in the workplace and beyond.
Contents
Introduction 1
Taking AVID Home 7
Tortuous Journey of a Teacher's Idea 15
Boise Schools Changed by Love 29
"Prove to Me You Got an A in Everything" 35
Showing America How to Take Notes 43
Teachers Afraid of Tough Courses 47
Asking Rather Than Answering Questions 59
Bringing the Power of Tutoring to El Cajon High 71
Santa Barbara Rejects AVID 79
"Our Teacher Said We Couldn't Take the Test" 87
AVID on 60 Minutes II 91
Changing the Mess at Bell Gardens High 99
Three Days at the Summer Institute: A Crash Course in AVID 105
"I Don't Care If I Have to Haul You Down There Myself" 117
Losing It in Atlanta 125
Inside Tutoring 129
"Don't Give Me That, Akila" 135
Looking for More Mr. Searcys 141
Struggles of an Average AVID Program 147
A Friend, a Teacher, a Mentor 161
Checklist for AVID Greatness 167
All Students Need More of a Challenge 173
Taking AVID to the Other Side of the World 181
New York Site Team's Philadelphia Adventure 189
"Precious Is Making a Big Mistake" 195
Escaping Death, Making AVID Cost-Effective 201
Research Results: Slow Groups Make You Dumb 205
Surprise Leader Creates Giant AVID District 211
Up and Down in Chicago 215
From 7-Eleven to AVID 223
Spreading AVID to Elementary School and College 231
A Veteran Superintendent Becomes AVID Leader 239
McKay Wins One in Madison, Indiana 245
Conclusion 251
About the Author 255
Acknowledgments 257
Index 259
