1. Student Selection
    Focus on students “in the middle” with academic potential
    Typically underachievers
    Suffer obstacles to achievement
    Enroll the number of students comparable to the average class size
2. Voluntary Participation
    Of staff, students, and parents
    High correlation between success and those who voluntary commit

3. AVID Elective
    Full year elective course
    Philosophical and financial support is necessary for success
    School must be committed to full implementation of the program
    Viewed and promoted as centerpiece for college preparation
4. Enrollment in Rigorous Curriculum
    Goal is 4 year college
    Prepare a long-term educational plan
    Work with counselors
    Students are exposed to college and career expectations
    Practice in test-taking (PSAT, SAT, ACT)
    Direct instruction in practice with study skills including time management, assignment and grade recording, tutorial logs,   and binder organization.
    AVID Libraries provide a curriculum that features preparation in writing, academic reading, and math.

5. Writing Curriculum
    Receive instruction in writing-to-learn strategies, writing process, timed writing
    Include Cornell note taking, learning logs, letter writing, and essays
    Available for review, study, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation
    Scaffolding reading instruction helps develop comprehension skills
    Provides connection to prior knowledge, understanding text structure, and using text-processing strategies

6. Inquiry Emphasis
    Develop and practice critical thinking skills
    Learn how to develop questions for their Cornell note and tutorial groups
    Questioning at a higher level
    Costa’s levels of questioning
    Socratic dialogue
    Inquiry is a tool for learning

7. Collaboration
    Students work collaboratively
    Receive training in group etiquette, development of group process ground rules, purposes for working together
    Learn to quickly and efficiently organize themselves into working and/or tutorial groups, to interact effectively and respectfully, and to take responsibility for their own and for one another’s success in learning
    Utilize questions from their notes to focus discussion
    Illustrates the power of synergy

8. Trained Tutors
    Tutors facilitate student access to rigorous curriculum
    Tutors use writing, inquiry, and collaboration to facilitate student growth as independent learners
    Provide an important bridge between the experience of the students and the expectations of the coordinator
    College students or upper classman are powerful role models who promote the development of an academic identity
    Effective tutor:student ratio is 1:7

9. Data Collection and Analysis
    Program implementation and student progress is monitored through AVID data systems
    Evidence of success and data provide the mechanisms for continued improvement
    Basis for action planning

10. School or District Resources Committed
    Attend Summer Institute
    Continued staff development

11. Active Interdisciplinary Site Team
    Strong and effective AVID team is a leadership group that fosters the development of a schoolwide learning community
    Collaboration is key to achieving the AVID mission
    AVID team focuses on achievement of all students
    Site team should include the AVID coordinator/teacher (s) , academic subject area lead teachers, an academic counselor, a site administrator, and a representative AVID student
    Develops and implements a site plan
    Documents evidence to illustrate support for students success
    Meets regularly to assess AVID students’ needs, to assist the coordinator, and plan for collaborative work with school professionals
Routinely set site goals and to create a school culture which nurtures and supports the AVID mission

Cornell Notes Template

Learning Log Variations

Binder Information