Combination Notes

This strategy will help students to:  Similar to Cornell notes, combination notes allow students to organise and process new knowledge while it is being presented to them. Like Cornell notes, students will divide their page into two columns with a section at the bottom of the page for summary notes. However, rather than the right side of the page being used for notetaking the focus is on non-linguistic information such as webbing and drawing. This strategy may take additional time in class, but students process the information a second time (non-linguistically) resulting in deeper learning.

Implementation: 

1. Students divide their page into two columns, leaving space at the bottom of the page for summary notes.
2. As the teacher presents new information to the class during the focused instruction phase of the gradual release of responsibility, students record key ideas (succinct statements) and brief details in the left column.
3. The teacher stops periodically throughout the teaching to allow students to draw or web the concepts and ideas being taught in the right column.
4. Once complete teachers work with students to write the required summary of the information.