Summarizing+&+Note+Taking

Summarizing
==I really would like my students to be able to summarize what they have read in either reader's workshop or in science and social studies. This way they can remember or show me that the important facts that they have read or they can summarize the part of a book that htey are reading. Often during reading I just get stuff copied word-for-word right out of the book. As a class we have broken stories apart into the story elements using a tree map and then tried to write a summary of the book. They were unable to do this. I am planning on using the rule-based strategy for summarizing with them when we get back to school. I will make an anchor chart of the rules and then work on articles with them before moving on to books.==

Note Taking
==I personally did not have to really start taking notes until I was in my senior year of high school and I was never really taught how. I had to devise my own way of taking notes so that I could remember the important information. I would like to teach my students how to do this, but they are still at a stage where they have difficulty discerning what is important and what isn't. I personally used a combination of bullets, outlining and pictures to help me take notes. I would also create my own abbrievations to be able to write down information quicker. In order for note taking to occur in my classroom, I would have to create a fill in the blank type of thing for them to use.==

We really discussed how it would be really great if we could use all of this technology in the classroom, but don't have access to updated computers that allow students to get to it. It is also difficult to find ways to introduce and model how to use the various technologies because of the tight curriculum that we are expected to teach to. It is getting to the point where every classroom is going to need their own set of computers to make the use of technology happen in all settings and subject areas. It is getting very tiresome to fight for use of a computer lab.

== This sight was awesome! I love it! It would be a great tool to use. We will be starting to work on inferencing when we come back from break. This is a great way to start with using pictures to make inferences. The students will be able to summarize what they think is happening in the picture. Fousing on the main points. It can also be used to go along with a report. They could create a presentation of a book they read, an animal that they researched, etc. I would use this with my students if they all had an email. ==