AVID focus note taking session 8.25.22

​Shared by Heather Bowes

AVID Focus Note Taking

​Goals;

1) Improve note-taking skills of students.

2) Understand why there are 5 steps to the Focused Note Strategy​.

3) Increase the attention to the details of each step in ​focus note taking.

Poll

Rate your knowledge level;

The 5 steps of the Focus Note taking strategy

• 1 = new to me

• 2 = I am aware of the steps

• 3 = I have used a few of the steps.

• 4 = successfully used all the steps.

• 5 = sit down Heather because I am a pro!

​If you want a fast visual in class to check for understanding - try Fist to Five

​We all know relationships are important - look at the yellow.​

​Directions: Match the number with the phrase that you think completes the thought. Use the left column first & then as the video plays fill in the column to the right.

NUMBER MANIA Strategy

• can be done on Google slides, Canva, white boards, or paper.*

• Use with number facts. Add an image or icon to go with the facts.

• 30 years teaching middle school

• 4 certified areas

• 3 counties

• 5 schools

• 11 classrooms

• 13 principals

​The Curve of Forgetting

​OR Why focus note taking has 5 steps.

Use this video to check your number mania guesses.​

​Most of us as teachers have taken notes and have given them to our students to complete. Let's see if we can add to our tool box and shift our thinking from 'notes are a 1 day lesson' to notes as a teaching & learning tool.

​

Focus Note Steps

​Flip your 3-2-1 over & evaluate yourself by adding a + in the steps you are doing well and a Δ to areas where you want to change.

​Layering; AKA Easy ways to level up in step 2 & 3

​Consider using these as you increase interaction with the notes;

1​. Use a different color for each interaction.*have students make a key.

2. ​Complete each layer (color, task) on a different day.

​3. Start out modeling for them and then gradually release for them to do it on their own.

Ex rotation; Day 1 - add definitions, Day 2 added a drawing, Day 3 -​ rephrase/clarify drawing

​Below are screenshots from a quiz my students took this Spring after doing the Focus Note Taking strategy.

It was by far their highest average score on a quiz.

I saw them looking at their notes between attempts to find the correct answer to missed questions.(CRITICAL THINKING!)

AND Focus notes hit all of WICOR!!​

What are the benefits?

Reorder

Reorder the following steps of the Focus Note taking strategy so that they follow our infographic.

• Set purpose & take notes

• Think about notes and revise

• Analyze the notes by making connections

• Think about notes as a whole & summarize

• Apply the notes & learning on a quiz.

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2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Open Ended

Choose a letter from WICOR and explain how it was present in the lesson.