Community Building: Taking Notes Together

The Community Building Series was designed to help students learn important skills that can turn every classroom into a true learning community where all students are sincerely interested in one another, actively work to help each other learn, and all members feel valued for what they can contribute. They feel safe and protected, and are able to take risks as learners. They feel connected to one another. As a result, negative interactions and bullying are minimized, and students who need help and support can receive it within the structure of the class. In this series, students learn confidence and competence-building skills associated with participating and working with partners and the concepts of respect, tolerance, and a learning community.
Taking Notes Together Guidebook cover image

The Taking Notes Together program provides a framework for teachers to use to deliver information when they want students to take notes. Students review the learning community concepts from the Talking Together program, then learn how to record information quickly and succinctly during lectures, reading assignments, and videos.

Nearly 380 students--including 30 percent who were minority students and 34 percent students with exceptionalities--participated in research studies. When taking notes on a reading passage, students in the experimental group increased their scores from 21 percent on the pretest to 78 percent on the posttest. Students in the comparison group scored 18 percent on the pretest and 19 percent on the posttest. Students with exceptionalities in the experimental group scored 17 percent on the pretest and 73 percent on the posttest. Students with exceptionalities in the comparison group scored 15 percent on the pretest and 16 percent on the posttest.

---

This product is available through Edge Enterprises, Inc.

Please note that professional development, coaching, and infrastructure support are essential components to effective implementation of SIM instructional tools and interventions. It is highly recommended that you work with a SIM professional developer. See the SIM Event list for sessions or email simpd@ku.edu to learn more.

---

Author(s):D. Sue Vernon, Jean B. Schumaker, and Donald D. Deshler

Publication Info: Edge Enterprises, Inc.

Resources: