Sketch Notes Round 2

Last year, I toyed with Sketch Notes as a technique for note taking. Some of my kids really latched on and loved it! It is super visual and keeps busy hands moving during note-taking time. Those that are easily distracted can channel their doodling tendencies into something productive.  I loved the concept, but I couldn't fully figure out how to support my students in the technique. I put it to the side for a while...

Then... I FIGURED it out!

We are a Schlechty district, here, so I have the design quality words etched in my brain (not to get into the whole lesson design thing because that its whole own topic). I am constantly trying to think of ways to give students content in an organized way that compels them to focus on the end product, while protecting them from initial failure, providing them with choice, novelty, and variety, and giving them an authentic task.

We read Night by Elie Wiesel, and I have transformed my question packets into reading note boxes over the years because I felt like this was more authentic to the task. However, this year, I decided to GO for it. I presented students 3 options for note-taking:

Traditional Notes

Digital Notes

Sketch Notes

I provided boxes with chapters and page numbers for the traditional and digital kiddos. (The digital option is the same as traditional, but they have to share it with me through Google Drive and are able to type in class.) I explained that I would be supporting the folks that choose sketch notes.

It's not the easiest thing for ME, but it's working great for THEM.

Each day, in every single class, I take the notes while we read on my document camera. I model for them in REAL time - I think that part is important. Sometimes, I think we don't want to look dumb in front of our students and are therefore afraid to create in front of them. They need to see you work. They need to see the process, so right now, I take these notes 5 times each day. (They get much better by fifth period.)

This seems to have unlocked something magical in my kids. I have modeled the first two chapters entirely, and I plan to continue through about chapter 4-5. Then slowly, I will begin to do less with them and less and less. Until, they are ultimately taking their own notes in the end.  My kids (who were initially reluctant to try this because they said they aren't artists) are LOVING it.... They tell me they understand the book. They remember the book.

Here are some pictures of my Notebook for Chapters 1 & 2: (Note how much they change and get better each class)

Chapter 1 Page 1 (5 times)

Chapter 1 Page 2 (5 times)

Chapter 2 Page 1 (5 times)