Bookmark

Sign up or login to use the bookmarking feature.

50 Classroom Skills

Page
429
from
Write Ahead

Classroom Skills Chapter Opener

Start-Up Activity

Ask your students, "Who keeps notebooks and journals, anyway?" Then answer your own question: John Lennon, Anne Frank, Leonardo da Vinci, George Lucas, Mark Twain, Maya Angelou. . . . What do all of these people have in common? They changed the world. And why? Because they were pretty much the best at what they did. Keeping notebooks and journals let them think more deeply and effectively than others around them.

This chapter will show students the best way to keep notes and learning logs, two simple but powerful ways that students can think more deeply and perhaps change the world.

Think About It

“The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.”

—Leonardo da Vinci

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.8

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.9

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.10

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.8

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.9

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.10

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.3

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.6

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

LAFS.910.W.3.8

LAFS.910.W.3.9

LAFS.910.WHST.3.8

LAFS.910.WHST.3.9

LAFS.910.WHST.4.10

LAFS.910.RI.1.1

LAFS.910.RI.1.2

LAFS.910.RI.1.3

LAFS.910.RI.2.4

LAFS.910.RI.2.5

LAFS.910.RI.2.6

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

110.36.c.11.E

110.36.c.11.F

110.36.c.11.G

110.37.c.11.E

110.37.c.11.F

110.37.c.11.G

110.36.c.5.C

110.37.c.5.C

110.36.c.9

110.36.c.10

110.37.c.9

110.37.c.10

110.36.c.4.F

110.36.c.7.D

110.36.c.7.E

110.37.c.4.F

110.37.c.7.D

110.37.c.7.E

110.36.c.5.D

110.36.c.7.D.i

110.36.c.7.E.i

110.36.c.4.G

110.37.c.5.D

110.37.c.7.D.i

110.37.c.7.E.i

110.37.c.4.G

110.36.c.8.B

110.37.c.8.B

110.36.c.2

110.36.c.8.F

110.37.c.2

110.37.c.8.F

110.36.c.8.A

110.36.c.9.A

110.37.c.8.A

110.37.c.9.A

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

Page 430 from Write Ahead

Setting Up Your Notes

Use the side notes on the sample notes page to give students pointers about note taking. Remind them to title each section, write down the date, put ideas in their own words, use lists, and draw pictures and diagrams where appropriate.

For more on note taking, see "Taking Notes in Science" on page 292, "Taking Notes in Social Studies" on page 302, "Taking Notes in Math" on page 314, and "Take notes as you read" on page 386.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.910.W.3.8
TEKS Standard:
110.36.c.11.E, 110.36.c.11.F, 110.36.c.11.G, 110.37.c.11.E, 110.37.c.11.F, 110.37.c.11.G
NE ELA Standard:
LA 10.2.1.c, LA 10.2.1.b, LA 10.2.1.i

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 9Grade 10
Form:
Note

Page 431 from Write Ahead

Taking Lecture Notes

Impress upon students that writing-to-learn activities such as note taking are not formal assignments. If you grade them, you will do so only to indicate whether students are taking them or not. You will not be looking at spelling, punctuation, grammar, and so on.

Lead students through the tips on this page to help them get the most out of their note taking. Next time you lecture, have students turn to this page, review the tips, and use them to write their notes. Afterward, walk through the classroom, glancing at student notes to see how well they are applying the tips.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.910.W.3.8
TEKS Standard:
110.36.c.11.E, 110.36.c.11.F, 110.36.c.11.G, 110.37.c.11.E, 110.37.c.11.F, 110.37.c.11.G
NE ELA Standard:
LA 10.2.1.c, LA 10.2.1.b, LA 10.2.1.i

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 9Grade 10
Form:
Note
English Language Arts:
Writing

Page 432 from Write Ahead

Taking Reading Notes

The tips on this page combine the best practices for close reading and note taking while reading.

Lead your students through the strategies, and then provide them a reading you want them to complete. Have them use the strategies to take careful notes. Afterward, circulate through the class to see the notes that students have taken. If you notice "teachable moments," help reinforce concepts with individual students, small groups, or the whole class.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.910.RI.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.36.c.4.F, 110.36.c.5.C, 110.36.c.7.D, 110.36.c.7.E, 110.37.c.4.F, 110.37.c.5.C, 110.37.c.7.D, 110.37.c.7.E
NE ELA Standard:
LA 10.1.6.g

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 9Grade 10
Form:
Note
English Language Arts:
ReadingWriting

Page 433 from Write Ahead

Reviewing Your Notes

After students write notes, they should actively review them. The four strategies on this page help students actively engage their notes, remembering what they wrote and thinking more deeply about the subject. For example, when students question their notes (tip 1), they will seek answers from others, which engages social, emotional, interpersonal, and oral circuitry in their brains.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.910.RI.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.36.c.4.F, 110.36.c.5.C, 110.36.c.7.D, 110.36.c.7.E, 110.37.c.4.F, 110.37.c.5.C, 110.37.c.7.D, 110.37.c.7.E
NE ELA Standard:
LA 10.1.6.g

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 9Grade 10
Form:
Note
English Language Arts:
Writing

Page 434 from Write Ahead

Keeping a Learning Log

A learning log is just like a journal except that it focuses on a specific subject that the student is studying. The log creates a space for students to reflect on the learning they are doing in a class. It helps them review concepts, wrestle with difficult ideas, ask questions, and run thought experiments.

Lead your students through the guidelines for creating a learning log, using the example to show the main components. Then assign students to create their own learning logs for your class. Tell them you will not grade the log for grammar or punctuation, but just for participation. (For example, you might ask for three entries per week, with each entry being at least a paragraph in length.)

For more information, see "Keeping a Science Log" on page 293, "Keeping a Social Studies Log" on page 303, and "Keeping a Math Log" on page 315.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.910.W.3.8
TEKS Standard:
110.36.c.11.E, 110.36.c.11.F, 110.36.c.11.G, 110.37.c.11.E, 110.37.c.11.F, 110.37.c.11.G
NE ELA Standard:
LA 10.2.1.c, LA 10.2.1.b, LA 10.2.1.i

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 9Grade 10
Mode:
Personal Writing
Form:
Learning Log
English Language Arts:
Writing