Annotation Skills

Annotations, memory, and reading comprehension are closely connected and essential for understanding and retaining information while reading. Annotations—such as highlighting, underlining, and writing notes in the margins—help readers stay engaged with the text and process what they are reading more actively. This active engagement strengthens memory by allowing readers to make connections, ask questions, and summarize key points in their own words.

Memory plays a critical role in comprehension because it allows readers to hold onto details from earlier in the text and relate them to new information. Strong working memory skills help readers track characters, follow plot development, and understand cause and effect. When readers use annotation strategies effectively, they give their memory cues and visual reminders that improve recall and deeper understanding.

Reading comprehension—the ability to understand and make meaning from what is read—relies on both annotation and memory. Together, these tools support a reader’s ability to think critically, make inferences, and engage in meaningful discussion about a text. Ultimately, using annotations and building memory strategies lead to stronger comprehension and long-term academic success.

1. Explain What Annotation Is

• Let your child know that annotating means adding notes, highlights, or marks to a text to better understand it.

• It can include underlining, circling important words, writing questions or summaries in the margins, or using sticky notes if writing in the book isn’t allowed.

2. Model the Process

• Sit down and read a short passage together. Think aloud as you underline or highlight key ideas, circle unfamiliar words, and jot down a thought or question.

• For example, say: “I’m highlighting this sentence because it explains the character’s feelings,” or “I’m writing a question mark here because I don’t understand this part yet.”

3. Provide the Right Tools - Use the images on this page to help them!

• Give your child highlighters, pencils, sticky notes, or colored pens.

• If the book can’t be written in, use a notebook to jot down page numbers and notes.

4. Use Prompts to Guide Thinking

Offer your child some simple prompts to focus their annotations, such as:

• “What is the main idea of this paragraph?”

• “Underline a sentence that surprised you.”

• “Circle any words you don’t know.”

• “Write one sentence that summarizes the page.”

5. Keep It Light and Encouraging

• Praise effort and progress, not perfection. You might say: “I like how you marked that part—it shows you were really thinking about what was happening.”

• Don’t overdo it—one or two notes per page is often enough.

6. Make It Part of a Routine

• During reading time, ask your child to show you one thing they marked or noted in their book.

• Discuss their thoughts briefly to reinforce the value of thinking while reading.

7. Connect It to Their Learning

• Remind your child that annotating helps them remember what they’ve read and makes it easier to answer questions or write about the text later.

• Emphasize that it's a skill that will help them do better in school and feel more confident.