Note Taking
How to take good study notes
Come prepared
Bring your supplies! Pen or
pencil, paper, highlighters whatever you need for class
Lay all your stuff out on your
desk before class begins.
Get your mind focused on
learning.
Keep it neat and
Begin with
writing the date at
organized
the top of your paper each
day.
Start a new page for each
class.
Space your writing so that it
looks neat and not all run
together.
Paraphrase
Never try to write down every
word the teacher says.
Put things into your own
words you can understand
later.
Use bullets or lists.
Write down big
ideas
Facts
Connections
Main ideas
•
•
Use the Q&A
method
Example:
The koala bear is misnamed
because it is not a bear at all.
Koalas are in the sub-class
Marsupialia which means they
carry their babies in a pouch.
Q&A
•
•
•
Q:Marsupialia
A: Carries young in pouch
(Also extremely cute!)
•
•
•
•
•
Abbreviate
Use abbreviations for commonly
occurring names or words.
Example: Albert Einstein was a
famous
scientist. E died rich because he
never
bought conditioner. Cond.
makes hair
soft and keeps people from
looking scary.
Gimme room!
•
Leave space on the page to:
Moons and
allow room for more ideas
planets shine by
make your notes more
readable
reflected starlight.
draw diagrams and pictures
Always...
Write corresponding page
numbers if your teacher
references a textbook
copy EVERYTHING the
Example:
teacher writes on 5b+7=2
the board
5b-7=2-7
write down examples
5b=-5
b=-1
words with friends
Compare your notes to make
sure you both heard the same
information. Ask the teacher
if you have questions.
If you miss a class, ask your
friends if you can copy their
notes.
Group Practice
•
The following slides contain
information and examples.
Discuss what you would
include in your notes and
which strategies you would
use.
Math
•
Your teacher is giving a
lecture on adding and
subtracting integers. After
giving the definition of an
integer, she writes examples
on the board.
Science
•
Your lesson includes doing a
lab. Your teacher tells you
that for the test you will be
responsible for explaining how
you did the lab and the
outcome.
•
The koala bear of Australia is a living
“Teddy Bear.” Its thick coat of gray fur
is just as soft as the beloved toy. The
koala has a large head, big ears and
small,dark eyes that look at you
without expression. Its nose, as black
as patent leather,seems too big for the
rest of its face.The koala is a gentle
little animal. It is almost defenseless.
Only its color protects it from enemies.
The koala makes no nest. It just sits in
the forked branches of a tree. It likes
gum trees the best because it loves
entirely on the leaves of the tree.
Sometimes the supply of its special
diet is used up. The koala, rather than
seek food elsewhere, will stay in its
own area and starve to death.
ELAR
History
•
Your teacher is giving a lecture on
Christopher Columbus. This is what he
says:
•
In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail
across the ocean. HIs goal was to find a
quicker route to China. He and his crew
sailed the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa
Maria across the Atlantic to the
Bahamas. Contrary to popular belief, he
DID NOT discover North America nor did
he land in what is now known as the U.S.
That credit goes to Leif Erickson, a viking
explorer who landed here about 400
years earlier.
Summary
•
Now that you have all these
strategies in your toolbox, use
them! The better your notes
are, the easier it will be to
study for tests. And the better
you study, the better your
grades will be.