How do you teach your kids to take notes?

[Gamom3]

I assigned dc a paper that is due on Friday.
They are having a tough time getting the information and putting it together.

[angela in ohio]

What have you used for writing? Did it include instruction in how to do this?

[Amber in AUS]

When i was in PS i had an excellent teacher in year 5. Her idea of taking notes was -

Read the paragraph.
In a well written text each paragraph should have a main focus.
Summaries that focus into your own words and write it down. No more than 2 sentences per paragraph.

Then put the text away and write the assignment from your notes.

HTH

[Veritaserum]

If you mean taking notes from reading information, what I learned was to summarize sections in my own words. I'd read a paragraph or a page or a chapter, etc. and summarize the most important points.

[FloridaLisa]

I assigned dc a paper that is due on Friday.
They are having a tough time getting the information and putting it together.


Do you mean a report-type paper? If so, there is always the old-fashioned index card method. If, for instance, the report is on "My State of Florida" (bo-ring but just for sake of example), then they might do the following:

1. Brainstorm all possible subtopics under "Florida" -- history, geography and climate, people, industries, etc.

2. Label a separate index card (or piece of paper) with each subtopic.

3. As the student reads through resources, have them put notes on the appropriate index card. Create a master list of resources with citations and number them. The notes should cross-reference to the numbered source for later citation.

4. During the research process, they may find further subtopics and sub-subtopics. Create index cards accordingly.

5. Once the student has assembled sufficient research, have him/her lay out the index cards with notes to organize the paper.

6. Write the paper following the organization of the index cards, adding citations as they appear on the index cards.

This is the old-fashioned, Selectra typewriter version! This could be done on the computer, though it's helpful for many students to visually see the process at least once.

HTH,
Lisa

[Amber in AUS]

Gee that sounds pretty thorough FloridaLisa might have to note down your strategy for when my kids are old enough to write papers. I was never taught anything like that!

[mcconnellboys]

A lot of high schools and colleges use the Cornell Method. Here's an example of it:

http://cssdesigns.com/learningtoolbox/cornell.html

[matroyshka]

Do you mean a report-type paper? If so, there is always the old-fashioned index card method.

This is also the way I was taught. Makes writing a paper very straightforward. I don't think I could write a research paper without index cards!

The outlining curriculum I used with my kids last year also included note-taking this way, except that it didn't include bibliography information, but that's an easy step to add once you've got the basics down.

[Gamom3]

They are pulling information from different sites and books.

Ds is doing a report on the volcano's in Mexico
Dd is doing a report on Chichen Itza

[Rhonda in TX]

They are pulling information from different sites and books.

Ds is doing a report on the volcano's in Mexico
Dd is doing a report on Chichen Itza

From what I understand Units 4 and 6 teach this. Are you there yet?

[mom31257]

Thanks for posting this question. I'm watching for all the responses because my dd struggled with this last year. She hasn't had to do that kind of writing so far this year, but it's coming.