Mariner AVID Students Partner with Milton Elementary Kindergarteners for Zoology Presentations

Milton Elementary School recently welcomed students from the Mariner Middle School AVID program for a collaborative learning experience that supported kindergarten students as they prepared for their Zoology poster presentations.

AVID students visited kindergarteners in Mrs. Stephanie Lewis and Dr. Patton’s class, as well as Ms. Gwen Conaway’s class, to help them practice presenting their research ahead of a family presentation event held the following day. The visit provided kindergarteners with an authentic audience and the opportunity to build confidence while sharing their knowledge.

During the visit, Mariner AVID students worked one-on-one and in small groups with multiple kindergarteners, engaging them in thoughtful questioning and discussion. They offered explicit, detailed feedback to help students refine their presentations and strengthen their explanations. After each presentation, the AVID students completed compliment cards for the kindergarteners, highlighting strengths and encouraging their efforts.

“Watching our kindergarten students share their Zoology learning with the Mariner AVID students was incredibly special,” said Stephanie Lewis, kindergarten teacher at Milton Elementary. “The middle school students asked thoughtful questions, offered encouragement, and helped our students feel proud and confident in their work. This experience truly brought learning to life and showed our students that their ideas and voices matter.”

The partnership created a meaningful cross-grade connection, allowing younger students to feel supported and celebrated while giving middle school students the opportunity to grow as leaders and mentors. “This partnership was a wonderful opportunity for our AVID students to practice leadership, communication, and mentorship in a real-world setting,” said Heather Kindl, AVID teacher at Mariner Middle School. “They took their role seriously, providing meaningful feedback and positive reinforcement, and it was inspiring to see the connections formed as they supported the kindergarteners in preparing for their presentations.”

This collaboration builds on strong connections the students established in the fall when they partnered together for a kindergarten/AVID Monster project, and highlights the importance of maintaining those connections between schools and grade levels all while reinforcing academic skills, confidence and a shared love of learning.