Notetaking/
Studying
Areas of executive functioning that impact notetaking/studying include: Inhibition, emotional control, working memory, shifting, planning/organizing, tasking monitoring, task completion, and organization of materials.
Taking Notes
Try using a template like Cornell Notes (template for Google Docs) to take your notes
On an iPad, use the Notability App
Use Google Keep to add photos, voice notes (tutorial for Keep)
Use Collect Highlights in Read & Write extension. This feature allows you to highlight on the web, Docs, or PDFs and then export these highlights to a new Doc which autosaves into your Drive.
Use TabResize extension to organize your web windows/layout. This allows you to split your screen to read online and take notes at the same time.
Teachers:
Provide a note-taking template before class starts
Provide a copy of class-notes (or digital slides) before class starts so that students can take their notes within these notes
Studying
Use checklists in Google Keep to break up and organize tasks and make review lists (you can color code notes by subject, tack notes to the top for quick access) (click here for Keep tutorial)
Create a vocabulary list with Vocab Builder in Read & Write extension. By highlighting the vocabulary words (on the web, in a Doc, or on a PDF), this tool will make a vocabulary list with the word, picture, definition, and a space for writing.
Create digital flashcards with Quizlet.com
Use resources from Flippity.net for free study tools
Watch videos from KhanAcademy for tutorials and lessons on all subjects
Use the Collect Highlights tool in Read & Write to organize your notes by color; click Collect Highlights, and a new Google Doc will be created with your highlights organized by color or order (click here for Read & Write tutorial)
Teachers: provide study guides with clear expectations of what students should know before a test or quiz. Any links to resources or class material that you can provide are helpful!
Use a graphic organizer to layout your work
Actively Reading
Use Beeline Reader to help you stay in line when reading digitally
Use Simplify Page in Read & Write extension to isolate the actual article and remove distracting ads
Do not listen to music when reading. Research shows this decreases your comprehension, especially music with lyrics.
Make a goal (either chapter amount or number of pages) and set a timer
Read your writing out loud and record it using Practice Reading Aloud with the Read & Write extension or with a voice note in Google Keep. Actively listening to your own writing will help you catch errors and make corrections.
Teachers: Provide students with a focus question before they start reading so that they have something specific to look for.
Use Annotation Bookmarks:
Find 2 new vocab words
make at least 2 connections
ask at least 2 questions
(something you don’t understand, or ask a good “discussion question” for us to talk about in class)
Highlight 2 key events
Use an Annotation Guide
Summarizing/paraphrasing without plagiarizing
TurnItIn (video tutorial)
Check your summary against a digital summarization tool like the Simplify/Summarize tools of Read & Write for Google
Use these Slides, Organizing Writing Tasks, to learn about EmPOWER.
Click here for a Story board template to summarize.
Tips for Summarizing:
Read the original passage or text carefully.
Highlight main ideas or events as you read.
Using a graphic organizer, write down only one or two words for each main idea or event you highlighted.
Put the book away, and elaborate on the main ideas in your own words. This is easier to do without the text open in front of you!
Note:
Your summary should always be shorter than the original text.
Tips for Paraphrasing (Saying something in your own words):
Change the order in which the sentence is presented.
Example:
Original: If you don’t come at 6 o’clock, the coach will leave without you.
Paraphrased: The coach will leave without you if you don’t come at 6 o’clock.
Original: The school has a big park.
Paraphrased: There is a big park at the school.
2. Use synonyms to replace some words in the sentence.
Example:
Original: If you don’t come at 6 o’clock, the coach will leave without you.
Paraphrased: If you don’t arrive at 6 o’clock, the coach will go without you.
Original: The school has a big park.
Paraphrased: The school has a large park.
3. Change the sentence structure.
Example:
Original: If you don’t come at 6 o’clock, the coach will leave without you.
Paraphrased: You must come at 6 o’clock, or the coach will leave without you.
Original: The school has a big park.
Paraphrased: At the school, there is a big park.
4. Use two or more strategies if you can!
Example:
Original: If you don’t come at 6 o’clock, the coach will leave without you.
Paraphrased: The coach will go without you, so you must arrive at 6 o’clock.
Original: The school has a big park.
Paraphrased: There is a large park at the school.
Identifying Main Ideas and Details
Use Simplify Page in Read & Write extension to focus the text on the main points (important points appear in a larger font)
Use a graphic organizer to break down the text
Use the highlighting tools of Read & Write extension. Highlight the main idea in one color and the supporting details in a different color.
Main Idea
Highlight the most important details and events in the passage. What is repeated? What is the author trying to get across? That is your main idea! When selecting supporting details, choose the most significant ones, or the ones that come up the most (are repeated).
Click here for a template for main idea