Why do we take notes?
Taking notes isn’t just about writing things down — it’s about helping your brain learn, remember, and understand more deeply. When you take notes:
You stay focused. Writing keeps your brain engaged so you're not just passively listening.
You remember more. The act of putting ideas into your own words helps information stick.
You understand better. Notes help you break big ideas into smaller, clearer pieces.
You create a study tool. Good notes save you time later because you already have the important information organized.
You learn what matters. Choosing what to write helps you figure out key ideas, themes, and patterns.
How do you take notes?
Fining the right note taking method for you is important – different things work for different people. Try some of the methods below and adapt them to find what works best for you.
What Should we take notes on?
You’ve taken your notes – now what?
Within 24 Hours – Process Your Notes
Processing your notes is a procedure in which you review and annotate your notes. This is done to help you limit the curve of forgetting by building strong pathways in your brain. Use the guide below to help you process your notes.
Within 72 Hours – Connect Your Thinking
Your learning is yours — it’s shaped by what you notice and care about. After you process your notes, ask yourself questions to make sure you fully understand the information and connect your thinking to things outside of your class.
Ask Questions
Level 1 – Understanding the Basics:
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What does this mean?
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Can I explain this in my own words?
Level 2 – Making Sense of Ideas:
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Why did this happen or matter?
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What patterns or relationships do I see?
Level 3 – Applying to the Real World:
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How does this idea show up in real life?
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How could I use this knowledge in another class, a job, or a real situation?
Make Connections
Try connecting your notes to things you already know or enjoy:
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Books, Movies or TV shows that explore similar themes
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Video games that reflect the same challenges or ideas
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Music or lyrics that capture the same emotions
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Current events or personal experiences that show these ideas in action
Tip: Use the margin of your notes or a separate “Connections” section to jot these links.
Within 1 Week – Summarize and Reflect
Continuing to reflect on your learning can help strengthen the neuropathways in your brain. You can do this by going back and summarizing and reflecting on your notes.
Summarize
Bring your learning together. Focus on the big picture.
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What have I learned? Write a few sentences that capture the main ideas or skills.
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Capture the most important aspects of your notes. Highlight key points, terms, or patterns that stand out.
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Answer the essential question. Use your notes to explain/support your answer.
Tip: Try to summarize in your own words - that’s how you know you really understand it!
Reflect
Think about how this learning connects to you and your goals.
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How will this be useful? Consider where or how you might use this knowledge again.
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How does this learning help you meet your note-taking objective? Look back at your purpose for taking notes - did you reach it?
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Plan where you go from here. Decide your next step: review, practice, ask questions, or apply what you learned.
Tip: Reflection helps turn notes into understanding — don’t skip it!
Downloadable Resources
Below are some templates and resources that you can download for taking notes.
"After taking one year of AVID at LWHS… I came to realize that note taking wasn’t just writing whatever the teacher was saying but more about going deeper and taking notes that would help me understand the class and subject" – Zuri (LWHS AVID Graduate, Class of 2024)
" I constantly see myself reflecting back on the resources and things I practiced and used in high school that I learned in the AVID classroom. Things such as note taking and studying that actually works. I find myself starting each week in college looking at my email and making sure I’m up to date with things and checking my grades to see where I need to focus most on for the week." – Kyah (LWHS AVID Graduate, Class of 2025)