Critical Reading
At AVID Center, we realize that proficiency in reading goes beyond simply reading "more," but stems from an ability to establish the purpose of reading and equip the learner with the strategies necessary to access rigorous text. Our focused work around reading began in 2009 with the release of our "Critical Reading: Deep Reading Strategies for Expository Texts" book, and AVID Weekly website. Our Critical Reading Strategies focus on promoting college readiness with targeted practice in order to access rigorous texts.
The Critical Reading and Essential Skills for College Readiness is a two-part phase to teach students the literacy skills to perform complex writing and thinking tasks. This work focuses on bridging the gap between what students are doing in high school and what they are expected to do at the college level. While teaching from a text, teachers should make transparent what good readers do while reading.
Work Underway
- Competition of the "Critical Reading: Deep Reading Strategies for Expository Texts" in June 2009, and ongoing professional learning workshops available in Summer Institutes and through Write Path trainings.
- AVID Weekly uses a variety of news sources, such as the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post, for utilization in conjunction with the Critical Reading Strategies. Every month AVID Weekly creates 15 articles, covering a variety of subjects, as well as three detailed lesson plans.
- Development of Essential Skills for College Readiness as a bridge to connect reading for purpose with College level writing prompts.
Want to learn more?
Critical Reading curriculum sample
AVID's Access issue on rigor
AVID's Critical Reading Research Base
AVID Weekly