Summarizing+&+Note+Taking

**Summarizing & Note Taking**
 * Read and Reflect:**

I really like the summary frames ideas and plan to start using them. This module answered my question about how to help and teach students to summarize. I can’t wait to share this with my colleagues. My school hosts a Rock Star Reading mini lesson every Tuesday for ACT Prep practice and I think summarizing skills can be incorporated into these mini lessons. I am going to suggest that we add this to our ACT Prep practice because it helps students identify what is important. I still struggle with how much guidance to give my students but hope that it will come with practice as I become teach these strategies. I think it is important that students learn how to take notes and how to study for tests. I am going to use the note-taking rubric on page 90 to guide me in teaching my students how to take notes. I will also explain the different types or styles of taking notes to them so that can adapt them to their personal learning style and learn how to educate themselves.

Questions pages 59 of the // Handbook //

**Summarizing:** __1.__ __**In what situation is it important for my students to summarize?**__ I have my students summarize what we have read and talked about to help them internalize what we have discussed. It helps me gauge if they are on the same level of understanding of the material being discussed.

**__2. What does summarizing help my students do?__** When students summarize what they have learned it helps them connect and reflect on what is important from what they have just read or heard. It helps them express what is most important about the topic. **__3. What do I do to help students understand and use the process of summarizing?__** Summarizing is often very difficult for my students to do on their own. I give them guided notes or use cues and question to assist them in finding out what is important to put in their summary. I often model by giving them a summary of what we just read.

__4.__ __**What questions do I have about using summarizing in my classroom**__? Because summarizing is often difficult for my students I am searching for techniques to teach them how to summarize for better understanding of a passage or topic being learned. What is the best way to learn effective summarizing?

Questions pages 83 of the // Handbook // **Note Taking:**

**__1. What is the purpose of taking notes?__** Taking notes is like summarizing. Students must pick out what is important in the reading or lecture and write it down. Taking notes helps the learner pick out the important information, write it down, and reference it later. Taking notes is a reference guide you can use to help students remember what was read or discussed and what is important to learn for an evaluation or assignment completion. **__2.__** __**What is my personal style for taking notes?**__ I write notes using bullets. I take complete notes and write out words because I am not good at using shorthand. I star, underline and box important information when taking notes. I use a graphic style of taking notes.

**__3. What do I do in the classroom to help students take notes?__** I often use the white board or Elmo to present my notes for the student to copy as I discuss the lesson. I provide guided notes for students to fill in the blanks as I go over the material. I use worksheets and graphic organizers to fill in notes. I post my teacher copy of notes on my website that students can access later to add anything they might miss in class. **__4. What questions do I have about note taking?__** What is the best way to teach students how to take notes? How do I persuade them of the importance of taking notes and then use them to study?


 * Apply and Reflect:**

VoiceThread is rich with many possibilities but it is not easy to use. It is like Prezi but for some reason I struggle with the format or program structure. I found it interesting that while I was logged in on one tab I could view the VoiceThread in another tab that allowed me to comment on the picture identifying me in the Thread. I am curious to know how this works with many students logged in at the same time. I will have to give this a try after our holiday break. I am intimidated by this tool and I am not sure why. I will challenge myself to complete or use this web tool in my class by the end of this school year.

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commented on VoiceThread above.

I used the same pictures I used in my PhotoPeach presentation. I have to work on this some more but feel free to comment on how you practice or teach Internet safety. media type="custom" key="11989207"

Created a Flipsnack For Easy reference. Use this link to view complete flipsnack.

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@http://snack.to/5PIHl4R

We discussed these strategies and we all agreed that it would helpful if we had computers in every classroom. Time is always an issue and we have to meet teaching the core standards where do we fit it in? I know it will take some time but my goal is to start using these strategies in my lessons.