Better+Note-Taking

= = ====Many students cannot simultaneously listen to a teacher talk, write down words, and think about the content. Something has to give, and that something is usually comprehension. Social studies teachers are rightly concerned about content coverage, thus many feel compelled to give students a great deal of information to write down in each lesson. But remember, just because a student has written something down does not mean he has learned it or will remember it. Many students have become conditioned to copying text while thinking about other things. We have to help students to break this habit. Even using a graphic organizer such as a Venn diagram or history frame can become a copying exercise, if students copy chunks of text from one place to another.====


 * If nothing else:**
 * Refrain from talking while students are taking notes.
 * Refrain from instructing students to copy notes from anywhere (book, screen, board, etc.).
 * Refrain from saying, "Okay, you can put it in your own words," or "Just write down the most important ideas." Most students faced with the choice of copying or actually summarizing will choose to copy -- the cognitive demands are MUCH lower!


 * Tips for Thoughtful Student Notes:**
 * Insert a gap between the source of information (slide, board, book, lecture) and the student's note-taking (have students close the book or turn over the paper before they attempt to summarize, or cover up the lens of the projector).
 * Give students a chance to discuss their understanding before they write.
 * Model for students how YOU decide what is most important and what to write down. Model abbreviations and jotting.
 * Ask students to draw their understanding as well as write it. One-third or more of your students may be primarily visual learners. It is not enough for them to look at pictures -- they need to create them too.
 * Collect notes frequently AND grade them. Let students know you are looking for summarization, personalization, and inference. Return notes with written suggestions.

[|> > Reading Quest's Tips for Teaching Summarizing]


 * [[file:cornellintro.pdf]] [[file:hist_frame.pdf]] [[file:Interactive Notes.pdf]] [[file:Somebody Wanted But So.pdf]]**