AVID Tutorials

The goal of AVID tutorials is to teach students how to learn through the inquiry process. Students also learn how to function in collaborative study groups and take their learning to a higher level. Tutorials are conducted every Tuesday and Thursday during the AVID class. Students are required to come to tutorials prepared. Trained college students facilitate the tutorial process. In the event that a grade falls below 75 in any class, AVID students are required to attend teacher tutorials, during those teachers tutorial times.

Focused Notes – is a system for taking notes that move students beyond content and into good, effective study habits. Focused Notes must be taken in ALL academic classes when there is a note-taking opportunity. Questions and summaries are to be completed at home for homework and used as a resource and as a means (along with classwork) to identify where there is a point (or points) of confusion.

Tutorial Request Form (TRF) - Students will prepare for tutorials at home, no later than Monday and Wednesday evenings. The process outlined in the TRF requires students to work through what they understand and identify their point of confusion. This is not possible if students are not developing good Cornell Notes with a summary and Higher level questions.

What is an AVID tutorial?

AVID tutorials are small group tutorial sessions held twice weekly on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, during the AVID elective class. In tutorials, the AVID elective class is divided into several tutorial groups. Under the direction and supervision of the AVID elective teacher. An AVID-trained tutor facilitates the discussion and work at each group.

What is the purpose of tutorials?

To create a deeper understanding of the concepts covered in core content classes.
To develop necessary skills to become self-directed, life-long learners.
It’s NOT exclusively homework help.

What are the goals of the tutorial process?

To use the Socratic Method.
To use an inquiry process to push each other’s thinking.
To facilitate the learning process by not giving the answers, but by finding “the way” to the answer.
To ask more questions and to learn the processes of the answer.

How are AVID tutorials different from ”tutoring?”

All students must arrive at the tutorials prepared with pre-work completed and specific questions written in a Tutorial Request Form (TRF). If they believe they have no questions regarding any homework, school work, quiz or test in any of their classes, they must still attend the tutorial with a completed TRF in which they ask a question that further explores the material they are studying in any of their classes.

Student questions should be higher level thinking questions.
Students are expected to work and discuss in collaborative group.
Students must reflect on their own participation in the groups and on how the group worked together.