Note-Taking in Your Homeschool

Note-taking is a foundational skill that can significantly enhance a student's learning experience and academic success. Teaching students effective note-taking strategies helps them retain and organize information and fosters critical thinking and active engagement with the material.

*A 1st grader’s notes for an introduction lesson on anatomy.*

The Value of Note-Taking

Improves Retention and Understanding: Taking notes encourages students to process and rephrase information, which enhances their understanding and retention. When learning is effortful, students retain more. Check out this blog post for more on the Science of Learning.
Encourages Active Listening: Note-taking requires active engagement with the material being presented. This active participation helps students stay focused and better comprehend the subject matter.
Organizes Information: Structured note-taking methods help students organize information logically, making it easier to review and recall. Organized notes also facilitate the identification of key concepts and relationships between ideas.

Different Methods of Note-Taking

The Cornell Method: The Cornell Method, or Two-Column Notes, divides the paper into three sections: notes, cues, and summary. Students take notes during the lecture in the main section, jot down key points and questions in the cues section, and summarize the main ideas at the bottom. This method promotes a thorough review process and aids in identifying key concepts.
Webs: Webs visually organize information around a central idea. This method is particularly useful for subjects that involve complex relationships and hierarchies, as it helps students see connections and structure their thoughts.
The Outline Method: This method organizes notes by main topics, subtopics, and supporting details using an indented hierarchy. It is straightforward and effective for subjects with clear, linear structures. IEW teaches outlining as part of their writing programs. For more on IEW, check out this blog post.
Boxing Method: Information is written in boxes, each dedicated to a section or topic. This method is useful for students who prefer a visual representation and need to keep their notes uncluttered and well-organized.
Sketch Notes: Students can add quick drawings to their written notes to represent their learning. Incorporating drawings into notes to visually represent concepts, terms, and relationships significantly enhances memory and learning.

Scaffolding

We can support students’ learning by scaffolding note-taking. By modeling note-taking, sharing the pen, and providing students with note templates, we set students up for success. For more on ways to scaffold note-taking and writing instruction, check out my soon-to-be-released Homeschool Elementary Writing Instruction Guide.

By providing students with various methods and explicitly teaching and modeling these strategies, educators can enhance students' retention, understanding, and organizational skills. This is especially beneficial for students with weak executive functioning skills, helping them to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential