Study Skills 7th Grade How to Take Class Notes

Educational Talent Search Program Eastern Kentucky University 521 Lancaster Ave. Keith 129

Richmond, KY 40475 859-622-5425

www.ets.eku.edu

Why Take Notes????

• Within 2 weeks you forget 80% of what you hear

• Within 4 weeks you remember only 5% of what you hear

• Organized note taking will lead to longer memory and better grades

• Listening and note taking are two critical classroom survival skills

• Without listening, taking accurate notes is impossible

• Without class notes, learning and retention of class materials are greatly

reduced.

Shorthand

• Develop a “personal shorthand method”

• Note taking is a life long skill

• When do adults take notes?

• Look over notes from a recent class

• Make a list of words that have been repeated several times

• Decide upon a symbol or abbreviation for each word

• Similar to texting

• Examples of shorthand

• b/c = because govt = government

• w/ = with b/f = before

• w/o = without rt = right

• cont. = continue intro=introduction

• + = and > = greater than

• < = less than ? = confusing

Show importance by SIZE or underlining the important thoughts!!

Write your notes CLEARLY

Date each sheet of notes, including subject and source

Remember QUOTES, RULES , and LAWS

Find the note taking style that is best for you

Don’t be afraid to ask….your teacher, other students

Learn to use the library

Review your notes regularly

IN CLASS

• Keep Alert

• Listen for Key words

• Listen for Clues

• During discussions, listen for major Conclusions

• If the teacher writes it on the chalkboard, WRITE IT Down , TOO!!

• Tune out distractions

• Pay Attention

Taking Notes from Text Books

• Look for the Big Picture

• Look at chapter Headings

• Read summaries at the end of chapters

• Read Key Points

• Have a sense of Purpose. What do you really want to know?

• Make sure you understand the Words

• Understand what “relationship” is happening?

• Look for ideas and facts

• Outline so you can review

• Summarize –find the main points

• Read your notes out loud to yourself

Terms For Taking Notes Match the following terms with their meaning to check your understanding of key words used to explain note-taking

1. Active Listening

2. Clarify

3. Details

4. Edit

5. Highlight

6. Memory Triggers

7. Main Ideas

8. Organized Notes

9. Paraphrasing

10. Personal Shorthand

11. Phrases

12. Raw Notes

13. Subject Matter

A. Arrange material according to topic by subject matter, main idea and detail

B. To make clear and fully understandable C. Cue words and phrases placed in the left-

hand column to jog memory D. Think about what is said, picking up on all

available cues and making some type of response

E. Material as taken directly from a lecture to be rewritten at a later time

F. Main divisions: definitions, results, methods. The topic, are of precise division of the subject.

G. To organize, categorize and classify; to add or subtract ideas.

H. Explicit examples, illustrations or statistics. I. Thought units, not sentences. J. To focus attention on certain points by

underlining or color-coding. K. Generalization. Subject headings and topics. L. To express in your own words M. Shortened forms or symbols that are

meaningful to the note-taker

Terms

Meaning

1.D 2.B 3.H 4.G 5.J 6.C 7.K 8.A 9.L 10.M 11.I 12.E 13.F

Activities in Taking Class Notes Evaluate your present note-taking skills by putting a check mark beside each of

the note-taking hints that you already practice. The put a check mark beside those

steps that you plan to practice. Leave a space blank if you do not plan to follow a

particular strategy.

1. Keep a written record of the class.

2. Sit where the teacher can see me.

3. Read in advance textbook material about the topic to be presented in class.

4. Write notes in outline form as follows:

5. Write examples 6. Question the instructor when

an idea is not clear

Now Do Plan to Do