Even as the school year winds up, for those AVID students going on to preAP English at either Mesquite High or West Mesquite school the work is not entirely complete. Summer reading assignments have been passed out and all students enrolled in preAP ELA are expected to complete their required books. MHS Summer Reading includes The Odyssey while WMHS students are assigned Cold Mountain. If you are one of these students MAKE SURE you complete the assignment before the first day of 9th grade. Both groups are asked to create a dialectical journal while reading which should include quotes from the book and a personal response.
Since the majority of AVID students are going to West Mesquite, I have decided to read Cold Mountain and post of thoughts/comments throughout the summer to help keep everyone on track. Check back occasionally and please throw out your comments so everyone can benefit.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
RECOGNIZED!
The official word came down yesterday from the officials downtown that our school will be a Texas Recognized school for this year! Our students and teachers have worked incredibly hard the last nine months and those efforts have certainly paid off.
I have all been so impressed with the AVID students this year in particular. In every category on every state assessment our AVID kids have surpassed the school, district and state averages for passing and commended. The biggest news came in Reading when 72% of our 8th graders were COMMENDED! MISD Superintendent, Dr. Linda Henry visited our room just a few days after the results were in and I got to share them with her personally: she was very impressed!
Monday, May 24, 2010
AVID now on the World WIDER Web
The 8th grade AVID classes have made the switch to the wider world of the internet so hopefully more people out there looking for AVID stuff can find us. It will look like a lot went on in May, but in reality I just copied the posts from this last year over here.
MISD College Week
College Week!
All the hard work of planning for MISD College Week finally paid off the week before Spring Break. With the help of the students and faculty the AVID class was able to raise over $1000 for our scholarship fund. This money will be used to help send a senior from West Mesquite HS to college next year. Over 100 students submitted essays for the College Week Essay contest and 8th grader Rory Duran won a UT football jersey for submitting the most outstanding entry.
Some of the 2nd period AVID students show off their college shirts on Friday.
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AVID and ICT students created banners and posters to decorate the hallways. Each teacher's college(s) were displayed outside the cafeteria.
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College Week is coming
College Week is Coming!
March 8th-12th marks MISD College Week throughout the district. Since the main focus of AVID is getting traditionally under-represented student groups better prepared for college admission, College Week is a big one in AVID. For CW this year, the 8th grade AVID classes will be sponsoring three activities...Teacher Spirit Day:
The first idea was targeted at teachers. On Wednesday, all faculty and staff are encouraged to either dress as a college mascot or wear their cap and gown throughout the school day.
Essay Contest:
Students are encouraged to submit an essay expressing "What is the Value of College To Me?". Essays should be 200 words or less and are due by Wednesday, March 10th. The winning essay will receive a replica University of Texas #12 football jersey.
AVID Scholarship Fundraiser:
Finally, any student who donates at least $1 to the AVID Scholarship Fund will receive a "jeans pass" to be used on Friday, March 12th. The AVID Scholarship will be presented to a senior from West Mesquite High School who is also a former AC New student. Last year, after reviewing several applications sent from WMHS, the AVID classes chose Jose Perez to be awarded $600 to help cover some of the cost of his freshmen year at Eastfield College.
A Snowy Day
A Snowy Day
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This morning everyone in our part of the metroplex woke up to a few inches of atypical snow. Then the news that MISD would be "open and on time" brought everyone crashing back to reality. While it was somewhat more difficult than normal to focus during class, the AVID students still held their regular tutorial sessions during class.
But, not before a few pictures could be taken including our very own AVID mini-snowman: looks like he's headed to college just like the rest of the AVID kids!
A few of the brave 1st period students pose for a quick photo-op
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Our little AVID portable is pictured below
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There is no way this guy is getting lost in the snow drift
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College Students visit AVID
College Students visit AVID
Recently two former A.C. New and West Mesquite students visited the 8th grade AVID classes to talk about the transitions from middle school to high school to college. Since the majority of AVID students are the first in their families to attend college, many do not have a clear picture of the academic expectations of not only college but also advanced high school courses. Maggie Paige and Alyssa Jones could speak from direct experience because they had already traveled the paths that the current AVID students will be heading down soon. Maggie is in her first year at The University of North Texas while Alyssa is a freshman at Texas Women's University (which confused some that it's NOT an all-girls school).
Some of the things that the pair highlighted as differences between middle school and high school were:
- higher expectations from teachers including fewer requests for late assignments
- a greater emphasis on self-determination
- classes with older and more mature students
- a faster pace in a bigger place which can lead to a feeling of being "lost" or "just trying to stay afloat"
A few comments about the differences between high school and college were:
- success is completely reliant upon individual determination
- professors expect you to have/do work without reminding you
- so much more freedom it can be tough to adjust
- living on your own can be so fun but takes a lot of responsibility
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