“AVERAGE” BECOMES “AWESOME”
By Mrs. Jennifer Russell, Teacher and Scarlet Riviere, 10th Grade AVID Student
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a new academy in its second year at Miami Beach Senior High. The purpose of the academy is to target middle-achieving students who, while possessing high test scores, may struggle with upper-level college-preparatory coursework without the appropriate support.
The AVID program seeks to establish this support as students begin their high school experience, first by providing rigorous curriculum and teachers and tutors, who inspire students to reach for the top. Everyone works together to build each student’s individual foundation for success at Beach High and later in college. AVID teaches students the tools needed to be successful, such as organization, how to conduct student-led Socratic seminars, how to manage study groups, and how to achieve open discussion with teachers regarding learning techniques.
“When the school year started I was very worried about the lack of study skills and lack of follow-through when it came to completing assignments,” said teacher Jennifer Russell. “These kids have completely turned around in their time management, note-taking, and study skills.”
Ideally, by the time students reach 11th grade, they have been trained and prepared so that they may successfully participate in a wide variety of courses including Advanced Placement, and the soon-to-be-implemented International Baccalaureate. In fact, AVID which is an internationally recognized program with schools across the United States, boasts a college acceptance rate of 90% among all students affiliated with the program.
In addition to improving student academic success, AVID encourages students to become better citizens through a variety of extracurricular opportunities. This year alone, students have organized teams and participated in events including the national ECOMB Beach Cleanup, Suicide Awareness, and Breast Cancer and AIDS Walks. In December, AVID students organized a visit to Jackson Memorial Hospital where they sang songs, read books and distributed donated gifts to the children in the cardiovascular ward. The group also recruited students from other AVID programs throughout Broward and Dade to participate.
AVID teachers arrange for fieldtrips for the entire academy, both academically enriching as well as college and career-oriented experiences. Recently, 90 students visited Shark Valley in the Everglades and 30 top students met researchers studying stem cells in seven different labs at the VA Hospital.
AVID has hosted four evening parent meetings to help parents learn how to support their children in encouraging their success.
“I have experienced the same phenomena with my AVID World History Class. It really helped when all of the troublemakers were removed from our class,” said Jonathan Nelson. “The kids responded magnificently. My most dreaded class has now become my favorite; they said it is now their favorite, too. I even asked to teach an AVID class next year.”
AVID’s success has already shown through higher honor roll numbers, higher GPA’s, higher levels of student stability, higher attendance rates, and higher numbers of student participation in activities both in and out of school. For example, every student in the AVID program scored 3.5 or higher on the FCAT Writing exam this year, with one 6.0.
“They are now poised for success,” said Russell. “I am tremendously proud of them.”
The AVID family is having a potluck picnic on May 31 to celebrate the accomplished year.
WHO’S THE DIRECTOR? REGUIERA? QUOTE HER!
