We are excited to share news with our incoming 6th grade families about a learning system that will give ISD students an educational advantage. The ISD will be implementing AVID for 6th grade students beginning in the 2018-19 school year. AVID is a learning system that provides students with real-world strategies to accelerate their performance so they can succeed in college and life.

We have done considerable research and visited other school districts that have seen academic gains thanks to the AVID approach. The ISD is excited to offer this to all 6th grade students, with plans to expand the program in the years ahead to additional grade levels.

An AVID school means more conversation, structured movement and student-centered activity. Students learn how to ask questions that go beyond memorization and encourage higher-level thinking.

Students will utilize the Cornell note-taking process to create powerful study tools. They learn to recognize the most important parts of a lesson, create questions to guide their studying, and revisit and refine their notes to solidify learning. Students will also learn soft skills, including public speaking, self-advocacy, time management and organization.

When students head back to school in August, they will be assigned to a homeroom teacher who will assist each student at the beginning of each day to ensure they are organized and ready for learning. AVID strategies, such as note-taking and organizational skills, will be taught during this block of time. Students will be provided with a standardized 3-ring notebook, pencil pouch, notebook dividers, and other materials that are important for a student to have each day.

We are excited about the educational advantage we believe this program will provide for all students.