Summarizing+and+Note+Taking


 * [[image:leslievanhauter/note.png width="84" height="76" align="left"]]Summarizing and Note Taking**

**Read and Reflect** Summarizing
 * **It is important for my students to summarize when new information is presented. In order for them to acquire new knowledge they need to synthesize the information. This process is different for all learners. The way one student interprets information is different from another, based on their prior knowledge and life experiences with the content being presented.**


 * **Summarizing helps my students make sense of the new material and relate it to their own life, the world, or other content. They can make connections by comparing and contrasting the new information with something they already know. Summarizing helps students break down big ideas; pull out key concepts; and focus on main ideas.**


 * One way I help students use the process of summarizing by having them read a paragraph, close the book, then tell their neighbor what they just read. Another way I use summarizing is to have my students write one sentence down on their white board after they've read about a concept. A third thing I have students do is I give them a paper to complete during their reading on a topic. For instance, while reading about the French in Michigan, they have three questions to answer about what they just read. Why did the Ojibwa want to trade with the French? Why did the French want to trade with the Ojibwa? How do the Ojibwa tribes' lives changes because of trading with the French?


 * I would like to know what other ways I can use summarizing in my class that aren't paper and pencil related. I know many kids have difficulty with comprehending what they read so I would like strategies to help them synthesize this new information.

Note Taking
 * The purpose of note taking is to identify the most important parts of new concepts or ideas that are being introduced.


 * My personal style for taking notes is to use various color schemes to organize information. I tend to bullet, star, and underline. I use symbols as another tool to group items together.


 * In the classroom I help students take notes by using paper, crayons, and pencils. I have them fold paper into sections. Then write the main ideas or key words at the top of each section. Next, I have them use various colors to write the definition, ideas, and examples (or nonexamples). I have them make a visual representation if necessary.


 * I would like to expand my note taking abilities to offer a variety of strategies to students. I am constantly seeking ways to reach "all" of my students' needs and strive to offer them tools to meet their needs.

After meeting with my group, we felt using technology is a good tool to enhance learning in these areas but we need to be careful and think about the purpose for these tools. Sometimes, we feel we may be using graphic organizers for the sake of saying we used the tool but not really connecting it with a purpose/goal that is meaningful to learning. For this reason, I am happy that our textbook has planning sheets to guide us in planning our lessons. If there isn't a good reason to connect a strategy, lesson, or concept to technology then we could find another way to deliver, teach, or have children practice thier work/learning.

**Apply and Reflect** **At first I was intimidated using voice thread. I thought it was going to be a complicated application. Once I started playing around and looking at the examples, my comfort level increased. I could see using this as another way to accomodate all learners. I'm excited at the diverstiy of this resource. I think my apprehensive writers would gain confidence with summarizing and note taking if they had the abiltiy to speak their ideas and not have to write them down.** media type="custom" key="11926858"