AVID

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is designed to help students prepare for and succeed in high school and college. Students in the program commit themselves to improvement and preparation for college. AVID offers a rigorous program of instruction in academic "survival skills" and college level entry skills. The AVID program teaches students how to study, read for content, take notes, organize and manage time. Students participate in collaborative study groups, or tutorials, led by tutors who use skillful questioning to bring students to a higher level of understanding. Upon acceptance into AVID, students must enroll in at least one rigorous course which will be determined by the student as well as the AVID elective teacher. AVID is an elective class which meets during the regular school day. 

What AVID is:

• AVID is an acronym that stands for Advancement VIa Individual Determination.
• AVID is an in-school academic support program that prepares students for college eligibility and success. 
• AVID places academically average students in advanced/rigorous classes. 
• AVID levels the playing field for minority, rural, low-income and other students without a college-going tradition in their families. 
• AVID is for ALL students, but targets those in the academic middle. 
• AVID is implemented school-wide and district-wide.

What AVID is Not:

• AVID is not a remedial program.
• AVID is not a free ride. 
• AVID is not a college outreach program.
• AVID is not a quick fix.
• AVID is not a school within a school. 

Organization is one of the keys of success. The AVID binder is an organizational tool to help students maintain notes and school work in one place. Students are expected to maintain a two inch binder (or larger) organized in "The AVID Way." At first, student binder evaluations will be for organization only (Does the student have all the required materials in his/her binder?).As the elements of the AVID program are implemented, students will be evaluated on organization AND whether they have all of their materials for every class in their binder. The binder will be evaluated weekly and taken as an assessment grade. Students should spend no more than 30 minutes each day organizing and completing their notes. It should be a red flag to if students spend two or more hours the night before a binder check trying to put it together.

Student Grades: 

AVID students are expected to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher in all of their classes, especially in their core classes. Students are required and expected to ask teachers for extra help if they need help understanding a concept. 

AVID Tutorials: 

AVID students are required to come to the AVID class on Tuesdays and Fridays prepared with their Tutorial Request Form (TRF) completed.

Pencil Pouch: 

Students must keep a pencil pouch with the following supplies - 2 black or blue ink pens, 1 or more red ink pens, 2 or more pencils, 1 eraser, 1 or more highlighters.

AVID Binder: 

Students are expected to carry a 2 inch (or larger) binder organized according to AVID guidelines. Students should carry the binder everyday and in every class. This is non-negotiable. *Heath provides students with a binder at the beginning of the year. Any replacement supplies are the students responsibility. 

Cornell Notes (CN):

Mainly used during a class lecture, a class power point, a guest speaker, or a movie containing information for which the student must be responsible. To receive full credit, students must have the notes completed in the correct format. 

Weekly Reflections: 

Students will complete a reflection of learning for each week.

Planner/Planner Sheets: 

Students must write any homework, tests, quizzes, projects (etc.) on planner sheets. The notes in the planner must be specific and detailed. If there is nothing for that class for that day,  draw an"X" (or something). Do not leave the square blank.

Homework: 

AVID students have homework every day. The homework consists of completing Cornell Notes daily in AVID and in their core classes. In addition, on Mondays and Thursdays, students must complete the tutorial form (TRF) showing their critical thinking.

Tutorials are a primary component contributing to the success of AVID students. Based on the Socratic method, tutorials are an exercise in higher level thinking and questioning. College students facilitate the tutorials so that they operate in much the same manner as cooperative college study groups. However, in order to benefit from tutorials, AVID students must come to class on Tuesdays and Fridays prepared with their Tutorial Form (TRF) completed. Students failing to comply will only receive points for notes and reflection. It is important to note that even if a student is earning a grade higher than a 75% in all his/her classes, he/she is still expected to participate in tutorials twice per week because tutorials are an exercise in higher level thinking and problem-solving.