WICR stands for Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, and Reading. Each category has a list of activities students may do in their AVID class.
- Writing: pre-write, draft, respond, revise, edit, final draft, class and textbook notes, learning logs, and journals
- Inquiry: skilled questioning, Socratic Seminars, quick-write and discussion, critical thinking activities, writing questions, and open-mindedness activities.
- Collaboration: group projects, study groups, tutorials, jigsaw activities, read-arounds, response/edit/revision groups, collaborative activities.
- Reading: SQ5R (survey, question, read, record, recite, review, reflect), KWL (what I know, want to learn, what I learn), reciprocal teaching, and think-alouds
Tutorials are held every class period except Fridays. Students are grouped according to questions they bring from their academic classes. They direct the questioning and learning process. In addition, they help each other work through their questions. Cornell notes are written on each question. A summary and reflection are written at the end of tutorials.
Cornell notes are a vital part to success in the AVID program and in high school. Students are expected to take at least 10 pages of Cornell notes each week. This breaks down to two pages per day. Each page of notes should have five parts: heading, title, notes in the right side, questions on the left side, and a summary at the end. Notes should be meaningful to students, and used often as review.
Binders are essential part of proper organization for an AVID student. It is recommended that students have one binder for all of their classes. In that binder students should have materials (paper, pencils, pens, highlighters, glue sticks, etc.), dividers for each class, the student planner, and any other assignment or information for the respective class. Binders are checked each Friday.
Tests are an important part of preparing students for college. Students are expected to take tests, including the PSAT, the SAT, the ACT, and more. In addition, AVID prepares students for the California High School Exit Exam, CAHSEE.
