Chapter 7

Having the mind set in a purposeful manner to gain facts and truths is studying. We all know that studying really can be all over the place if we are not given a heads up on what’s on the test or a study guide. Not always do we have teachers or professors who will be so kind to “fill us in”. They are the ones who lecture and expect you to take notes. That’s all well and dandy but shoo, how do you take notes. Even though note taking is the most important study skill, I don’t remember anyone teaching me how it’s done. I mean, I took it upon myself to listen to the sometimes “highs and lows” when they’d say something important, but who knows, maybe I missed something. I would have loved the opportunity to share what knowledge I took from the lecture and listen to what my classmates took as well. Even my note making skills could have been developed because I would be adding to what I missed, or even changing something I wrote down wrong!! Notes can be very valuable study aids because they can remind you how to do the problem and what it looks like. Note taking and activities surrounding it, can make us more aware of what is being said and we become skilled listeners. More content is learned because writing it down deepens our understanding and all the information can be used for tests.  

When I enter my classroom, I will remember the importance of providing my students with resources to help them become note takers or better note takers. Such resources would give procedures or “tips” on note taking. I would also make sure to provide feedback to them about their notes thru…NOTES. It provides a way to give feedback on their current performance in note taking. All in hopes that they see how helpful and useful note taking is and move toward independent skills in note making.