AVID ANECDOTALS

AVID tutorials are a structured routine that takes students through a variety of metacognitive tasks starting with identifying a specific point of confusion all the way through applying its resolution in an academic class.

Tutorials are a collaborative environment in which students use the inquiry process and Socratic dialogue to address Points of Confusion from their content classes in order to come to a more complete understanding of what they are learning.

Step 1: Students identify an initial question as they engage in rigorous coursework.

The beginning of the tutorial process is when students identify a question, concept, or problem in an academic class that is causing them confusion. This initial question can come from material presented in lectures, textbook readings, videos, handouts, tests, quizzes, projects, or other resources.

Step 2: Students complete the Tutorial Request Form (TRF) and identify their Point of Confusion (POC)

Once students have identified an initial question based on a concept or problem they do not understand, they complete the pre-work inquiry on the TRF (Tutorial Request Form). This pre-work includes the initial question, key vocabulary, prior knowledge, critical thinking about the initial question, and steps used to identify the Point of Confusion and the question they develop based on their Point of Confusion to bring to the tutorial.

To better understand the content being presented in their core subject areas, it is essential for students to learn to think critically and to ask higher levels of questions. By asking higher levels of questions, students deepen their knowledge and create connections to the material being presented, which in turn prepares them for the inquiry that occurs in tutorials. Students need to be familiar with Costa’s (and/or Bloom’s) levels of questioning to assist them in formulating and identifying higher levels of questions

Level 1 (the lowest level) requires one to gather information.

Level 2 (the middle level) requires one to process the information.

Level 3 (the highest level) requires one to apply the information.

3—Applying, Evaluate, Generalize, Imagine, Judge, Predict, Speculate, If/Then Hypothesize, Forecast

2—Processing, Compare, Contrast, Classify, Sort, Distinguish, Explain (Why?), Infer, Analyze

1—Gathering, Complete, Define, Describe, Identify, List, Observe, Recite, Select

We are really enjoying having your child in our Nichols' AVID program!

Here are ways you can support your AVID scholar at home:

1. Each Friday, students will have an AVID grade check. They will be bringing this document home for you to sign. Please sign it and return it with your scholar on Monday. This is used as a part of their AVID homework grade.
2. Please make sure your scholar is here at school daily by 8:00 am so that they are not missing instructional time which could impact their school performance.
   
3. If you have any immediate AVID questions that you need answered, please reach out to Ms. Lopez (lopezv@district65.net).
   
4. If you have any questions concerning the upcoming November AVID field trip, please reach out to the 6th grade counselor, Ms. Hlavacek (Hlavacekh@district65.net).