Taking Math Notes

Everybody knows that it's important to take good math notes, but do you know how to take notes that really make a difference? Use a smart pen or pen with many colors to highlight important formulas or ideas or to organize notes.

1. Replay each lecture as many times as needed as you take your notes. No matter how quickly you copy notes in class, you are likely to miss something. It is best to use a notebook that allows graphing and drawing, as well as writing. Notes should include the topic or its description along with the following: 1. Vocabulary – definitions of key terms with examples or illustrations, 2. Formulas with definitions of variables of constants (e.g. Area of a circle is pir2, where pi is about 3.14 and r is the radius), 3. Key concepts written by teacher or lecturer on white board, 4. Any example demonstrated by presenter, and 5. Summary of lecture.

2. Copy every single step of every problem and in the margins of your notes, jot down anything the teacher says that may give additional clues to the process. Problems copied should each have the following parts: 1. Problem statement, 2. Strategies, math concept needed to solve problem or useful formulas, 3. Solutions steps, and 4. Answer clearly indicated (if there is a check of the answer with the problem statement, write it also).

3. Rewrite each problem or process at night as you study. Review your lecture notes or re-listen to lecture.

4. Before you leave a class, ask for extra sample problems that are similar to the problems your teacher works through. Try to work through the extra problems on your own.

5. Ensure you understand how to work all the problems in the practice and/or lab assessment section of each lesson. Get help from your teacher to make this happen.

6. Buy a used math textbook or two with more sample problems. Use these textbooks to supplement your lectures. It is possible that one book author will describe things more clearly than another.