There is a lot of debate about the best way to take notes. There are some studies that show that paper note taking is better for long term retention than computer-based notes. I do not think that the conclusions of these studies are not as clear as suggested. But they do highlight some important points to consider when picking a note taking strategy. 1- Paper can be easier to draw on that most software. This is very helpful for classes…
Writing can feel very frustrating for students once they reach high school. Even students who have traditionally been good writers may start to feel some stress. I have come to understand that a lot of this frustration comes from how we teach writing in school. Watch the video below to see how we the trajectory of writing instruction can impact our essay writing stress levels. Like 0
Writing well can be very time-consuming. Part of the writing process is learning how to edit our own text. Editing our own work can be difficult what we are trying to say does not get communicated to the reader. One of the most effective ways to edit our writing is to have another person read it out loud, but this is not always possible. Watch the video to find out about a fast technological solution that will help you edit…
Introductions can be the hardest part of an essay to write. A lot of this difficulty is the result of how we teach academic writing. Writing instruction generally peaks in about 5th or 6th grade when students are still writing creatively. The goals of creative writing and academic are similar but also differ in important ways. Watch the video below to learn how to get unstuck when writing your next essay. Like 0
Do you feel stuck when you write in English class? Academic writing is centered around finding and analyzing themes. Themes help us talk about literature in conjunction with other literature because we can connect ideas and concepts. However, learning to do this can be very hard because it is abstract. Students can learn to do this type of analysis with something they know very well. Watch this video to see how you can use Harry Potter to improve your writing. …
Do you feel stressed when your teacher announces a test? Do you have a hard time figuring out how to use your worksheets, textbooks, online activities, and class notes? Graphic Organizers are a great way for students to organize all of the information they get from each class. This general format students can use to help them organize their materials in any class or subject. Graphic Organizers help students take materials that are given or assigned to them and allow…
I have created a note-taking template that students can use to help guide their literature reading so they can write a thoughtful and polished essay with less stress. Using this template as students read will help them avoid time-consuming strategies such as re-reading to find relevant quotes or flipping through a mountain of sticky notes throughout the book. I have included additional lists and reflective questions to help students jump-start their reading and writing process Using a template can help students…