This chapter has given me much
insight into how to take notes. While reading this chapter, I too concur with
the statement that "students need to be shown how to take notes- good
notes- that they can use later." (121) I believe this chapter mainly
focused on the difference between note taking and note making. I personally
never knew that there was a difference in the two. I was never shown a way to
take notes in high school. Very seldom was I given an outline or PowerPoint to
guide in a review. It was more or less a feast or famine. I would have loved to
have had the different methods/strategies that the book refers to for my own
note taking. It would have made things so much easier. I know that I have
always been OCD in my life. I'm an extremely organized person, and I love to
have more than I need. I always take notes on just about everything. I would
have loved for someone to have shown me how to properly take notes, so that I
wouldn't have so much for me to filter through. However, my stringent note taking
has lead to great review materials. It has also helped me remember exactly what
was said during class. As you get older and busier in life, you find yourself
forgetting things. I constantly keep
reminders to myself about important things. I think of this as my own note
taking. I would be lost without them and my calendars!!! We each have our own
way of taking notes that makes sense to each of us. Until recently I was completely unaware that taking notes can be extremely easy. My friend who has a daughter in the 7th grade informed me that they get to take notes on Ipads in one of her reading classes. This teacher downloaded an app that allows for them to take notes and add pictures for better understanding. I'm very intrigued by this and am going to see if I too can find this app for my IPhone. How awesome would that be to have organized easy to read notes that I could add visuals to and print off if I wanted. Wow, wouldn't that be nice to have in future elementary school classes. With the way times are changing, using technology to take notes would make it easier and maybe less stressful for younger children and older children.
While reflecting on my reading there was several things that stuck out to me. One was the discussion that teachers need to format their lessons around easy note taking. They also need to review and check the students' notes to ensure they are done properly. This leaves me with the question......How am I suppose to find time to teach and check all students notes while I'm responsible for so many other things? How can I make note taking fun and easy while incorporating multiple strategies?
Mary,
ReplyDeleteIn my reading of the chapter,I also wondered when I would have time to sit down and review notes giving each helpful feed back. And as you mentioned earlier, everyone has their own way of taking notes that is best for them so how as a teacher could I expect all students to write notes that are going to make sense to me and to them? What if a student takes notes best by having images or by putting little notes out to the side...would these be considered bad note taking skills?? I think that as teachers it is important for us to teach students different strategies on how to take good notes and then let them chose for themselves which work best!
The IPad program sounds really cool and sounds like it could be really helpful while note taking because I feel as though I could type and select photos faster than I can pen to paper.
I really enjoyed your insights and your thoughts into note taking and note making and I too would be lost in life without my calender and little notes that I have everywhere!
-Emily :)