LESSON FIVE: Note-taking and Organizational Strategies

                             

LESSON DESCRIPTION

Students record and organize relevant information using a variety of note-taking methods and organizational strategies.

 

GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS

W3B       Use a variety of note-taking methods to organize information.

IL1          Record relevant information using a variety of note-taking and organizational strategies

 

LESSON MATERIALS

§         Source of Literature

o        None

 

§         Supplies 

 

§         Handouts provided

o        Lesson Five Formative Assessment

 

§         Words to know

o        note-taking

 

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT 

Given a different nonfiction article, students select a note-taking strategy and create an informal outline, webbing or combination showing detailed notes from a passage.  Scoring guide provided.

 

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

 

1.        In small groups, students name different types of note-taking methods or graphic organizes they remember using. Ask a representative from each group to add examples (until a master list has been completed).

 

Questions

for

Students

What is the purpose of notes?

What are different ways to take notes and organize information?

Are some ways better than others? If so, how? When?

       

Ideas  

The following definitions are from the Glossary of Terms: Communication Arts Grade-Level Expectations:

§         Note-taking: use of a system (e.g., graphic organizer) to summarize concepts and ideas presented in print, verbal, and nonverbal communications.

§         Organizational strategy: a means of structuring ideas and/or information; use of graphic organizers.

 

Ideas 

Online note-taking and organizational strategy websites with research-based reading strategies:

http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers/cerebralflatulence.html

 

2.        Model how to take notes (informal outline, webbing, and a combination of the two) from a nonfiction article.

 

Questions

for

Students

Do your notes look like mine?

Were there ways you would have liked to have taken notes differently?

Was this the best way to organize the information given?

 

 

 

Strategy 

Pass out partial notes of the passage for students to complete

After completion of notes, lead the class in a discussion of problems or questions.

 

Strategy 

Note-taking: use of a system (e.g., graphic organizer) to summarize concepts and ideas presented in print, verbal, and nonverbal communications

 

Organizational Strategy: a means of structuring ideas and /or information; use of graphic organizers

 

Idea 

Adapted and modified from Marzano, R., Norford, J., Payner, D., Pickering, D., & Gaddy, B. (2001). Classroom Instruction That Works: Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievment (pages 46-48). Alexander, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

 

3.        Given a short magazine article or textbook entry, students use cooperative learning structure to create an informal outline, webbing or combination on chart paper. After presenting to the class, lead a discussion to determine similarities and differences among groups.