I’ve tried various methods to introduce upper elementary students to note taking. The easiest and most effective method I’ve found so far is using “t-notes.” It’s a simple concept and easy to get started using, especially with younger upper elementary students.

There’s just a little bit of prep needed for the lesson – identifying the key words or phrases you want the children to focus on (that is, take notes on) during the lesson. Once you have those, you’re ready to go!

Before the lesson, draw a large “T” on the whiteboard. Draw horizontal lines below the top of the T – as many as you have key words, creating rows on the whiteboard where your information will go later. As you draw the horizontal lines, you’ll notice that you’re creating two columns – one on the left for the topic or keyword, and the right-hand column for notes.

Now write the keywords, one per line, down the left-side column. Leave the right-hand column blank for now.

Before the lesson begins, I have the students copy down my “T” chart with the keywords. That way they know what they should be listening for during the lesson.

Once the lesson begins and we get to a keyword, I make somewhat of a dramatic move and a say “aha!” (or something to that effect) pointing out that we got to something on the “T” chart. I ask the children for a synopsis of what the key word means, or why that idea is meaningful (i.e. why we’re taking note of it). Then I write down those words in the right-hand column of the t-notes chart, across from the keyword. We continue through the lesson, making sure we get some meaty information on each of the keywords.

Keep in mind that note-taking is not an easy skill to learn for most children. Lots of guided practice is needed, I think, until the children are comfortable to handle it alone, without my writing keywords on the board prior to the lesson. To check in on their progress, I like to go back and have the children share with the class what they thought was important and what they wrote down on their own as they become more familiar with note-taking.

I’d recommend doing a lesson on how to set up the t-notes chart and discuss what notes are as a separate lesson on its own, prior to using the above instructions for meatier content (say, a science lesson).

Have you used t-notes with your students before? What other note-taking lessons do you use with your students?