Why Cornell Notes?

Many students and parents want to know why AVID uses the Cornell Note system. The answer could be as simple as, they work. Developed by Dr. Walter Pauk at Cornell University, this system is used and taught at high schools and universities throughout the US and many other nations. The process requires 3 parts. First of all, students must set up their paper, including writing their name and the date for the notes in INK on each page of notes. The students then create a margin on the left side of the page- about 2 inches, but no need to be exact. Students use the larger portion of the page to take notes on the class lecture, textbook reading, or other activities in class. Either during or after class, students add questions, comments, key terms, headings, vocabulary, etc. to the left margin. These serve as memory cues and help the students study for their tests or prepare for other class assignments. Finally, students should review their notes, add any other questions or comments, and write a 3-4 sentence summary of their notes, not of the class activity. The process of taking notes, reviewing them, and then summarizing helps create long-term memory of the material.

So take notes now and help improve your memory, or lose 69% of what you learned in two days and try to cram it all back in right before the test... I think the notes are a better choice!

To be successful in AVID...

There are a few things you need right away to be successful in AVID:
Binder (somewhere between 2 and 3 inches)
Pens
Pencils
Highlighter
Notebook paper
Divider for each class
A sturdy bag in which to carry your books
A planner (which Poly will provide this year to all students)
Determination to be successful!

Make sure you get all of your syllabi, contracts, and other teacher information signed and returned to all of your teachers quickly. Those are usually worth points!

When should you start taking notes in your classes? NOW! Take notes on your teachers' likes and dislikes, procedures, and the lessons that will start right away. There's no time to waste.

Let's make this a great year!

Welcome to Poly AVID's blog!

This is the first post on Poly High School's AVID blog. The goal of this site is to provide students, parents/guardians, community members, and other supporters of our program with the most up to date information about Poly AVID and important college information. This our first venture into the cyber world, and we hope it proves beneficial to everyone!