Megan Jones

March 9, 2011, 2011

Chapter Eight – Notes
Book and Selected Text

Selected Text: Who Moved My Cheese?

BeforeIdea
Main The story starts
Information of off about a person who is
interest
visiting with friends after a class reunion,
talking about life, work, families, etc.

The Story The main ‘meat’ of the book is the story the author
talks
about. That there were two groups of mice that
find
cheese daily. However, one day the cheese is
moved and
disrupts the life of the different sets of mice. While
one
set of mice is upset, chose to be lazy and not find a

different path, getting angry at the world; the other

set
of mice are out looking and find ‘new cheese.’

After, people’s views The end of the book was with the same group
of people discussing how the story relates to
them, how most people aren’t comfortable
with change or someone else moving their
cheese. Some individuals loved how easy it
was to change, pick up, and find that
happiness.

Chapter 8 – Getting it Down: Making and Taking Notes Across the

Curriculum

Why Teach Students

Heading/Subheading Cornell notes, of
Information two part I am tryingofto reflect on
Reaction
How to Take Notes? big ideas/details.
interest what type of notes that I
information
use. I mainly use the
 Teachers disagreeing ‘outline’ format with
that note taking should major points.
be taught vs. the skill
I think different content
already given.
has different methods to
taking notes, some are
Helping students learn
more appropriate than
does mean teaching
others.
them note taking skills,
good notes, which are
useful later on.

Strategies at Work English: dictoglos – I find it rather ironic

listen to a read aloud, that previously stated
review their notes, and that I enjoy taking notes
then have a discussion in an outline format;
(helps with listening that later the content
skills as well) Math used that as one
of its prime examples.
Mathematics: outline
framework, tells them Maybe the way students
what to write, folded take notes is a good
quad paper notes *table indicator of their
tents that say learning personality?
working/ready to inform
I think helping students
teacher of students’
with their notes is vital,
pace
and a variety of
methods should be
Social Studies: use a
shown.
structured outline,
involve technology, note
making guide (for
students to fill in the
blank).

Science: split-page note

format, promote
dialogue

Electives: research
process, by topic with
 supporting evidence
(bulleted). Research
Grid is frequently used.

Conclusion Note taking is required My 7th and 8th grade

for nearly every high math teacher gave us
school and college notes to copy. It was a
student. great guide for her,
talking about steps,
Those who do better processes, examples,
taking notes, do better and explanation. I think
with essays and test. because of her class I
am a better note taker
Teachers should provide in general.
instruction on note
taking skills. To help
guide them to
independence.

Summary: I believe that few teachers actually teach note taking skills. A
few more teachers might spend a day or two explain what they want for
notes; but not guiding them, helping them, scaffolding their learning or even
explaining WHY they are using the format that they are. I think some
teachers just tell students “please take notes” but the students are not
aware of what information needs to actually be written. Then instead of
learning, the use all their ‘mind power’ consumed by the thought of “should I
write this down, or not?” I plan, as a teacher, to design notes where
students can not only copy them (absent students can also have a copy), but
will receive stress and allow for students to focus on the subject at hand
versus the note taking itself. Slowly, going from fill in the blank outline to
just giving them main points to fill in hopefully students will become more
skilled for life and more equipped with mathematical knowledge.