{ Tips for Note Taking Competent communicators listen with their ears and their eyes to take classroom notes effectively.

Decide what kind of notes you need to take. Think about the teacher and the subject. Do you need only a few key words on each topic because the material is also in your history book? Do you need to write down much of what the teacher says because you have no textbook or because the material is not covered in your book?

Pay special attention to what the teacher highlights. Look at what the teacher writes on the board or on the overhead, since this is a clue to what is important. Listen carefully to what the teacher emphasizes or repeats. Example: “So by this time there were 13 colonies. Not 8, not 17, but 13.” Also listen carefully to what the teacher says is important. Example: “Remember this formula because you will need to use it again.”

Follow the teacher’s outline format. Try to get the whole picture before you start to take notes. Example: “There are six steps in this experiment” or “We will review the criteria for becoming a senator.” Use clues the teacher gives. Example: “So the second step is the addition of salt.”

Make your own comments as you write notes. Tie the points to your own life or your opinions. Star or circle ideas you think are important.

Review your notes after class. Correct your spelling or clean up messy handwriting. Underline or circles ideas you think are important. (Colored pencils might help with this.) Write down any reactions you have to the material or clues to help you to remember. Examples: “similar to Brazil” or “gopher story.” Draw arrows or lines to connect related points.

Remember the “don’ts.” Don’t try to write down every word. Don’t try to write down the stories and examples, just label them. Example: “Kentucky Derby horse story.”

Ask for more information. You may ask a teacher to write the main points on the board so that you can be sure you understand the major ideas of the lesson. Students may ask teachers to repeat points that went by quickly or to repeat the name of a person or place that was hard to understand.