Learning Logs and Taking Notes

I’ve been concerned that we’ve gotten into the rut of doing work from the textbooks for the sake of completing them.  The kids are pretty independent and can read their lesson and do the work. But that is where it stops. There’s little review, little reflection.

So, as an effort to try to change the tide, I’ve created a learning log/notes template, based in part, on the Cornell notetaking system.  My older kids don’t really take notes, but sporadically and they don’t really go back and study them.  We’ve tried notebooking, which I love, but I usually end up doing everything, and it wears me out. So, we’re giving this learning log idea a whirl.

I have found a lot of useful links for learning logs, but in the end, I took bits from here and there to make something that I hope will work for us. I am trying to find a way to incorporate this into our daily learning, for the younger kids as well as the older ones.

Here’s basically the gist of it:

Each day, they will do a learning log-note combo, in sha Allah.

For paper and ink conservation, I just printed out a template to use as an example and they format their notebook paper accordingly.  The Cornell format is a two column format, but instead of having a line drawn down the paper, I just have them fold the page to create two columns.

What I really like about my form is that it has a space for reflection, which was really the impetus for embarking on this “project:”

At class time, they fill in the right side of their paper with notes.

After class, at a time maybe later in the day, they do two things:

1. Write up questions on the left side that are answered by the notes in the right side.

2. Reflect on what they  have learned. From what I have seen in the summary section of Cornell notes, the students summarize the main points. But I took it further, borrowing from a few learning logs, to create a section for reflection.  I plan on scheduling a block of time maybe late afternoon or evening, for them to do these two activities.

Summary/Reflection (later in the day, at a scheduled time); can be in list or paragraph form Summarize what you learned today Today, I learned about __________. Now give a few main points. Tell how this information is useful or relates to you, how you can use this information. “I can/would use this when (I need to)……..” Tell about something you understand now, but didn’t before “I thought that_________________, but now I know…..” I was surprised to learn________________ Discuss areas you don’t understand “One thing (or a few things) I don’t understand is ………” Discuss some things that you would like to know about this topic I wonder……………………. I would like to know how/when/where/why…………………………. If you’d like to use my template, here’s a copy of it. Again, this is just a guide template for them to use, they will be writing on notebook paper.  You could tweak it to be printed out for an actual template to write on. Download learning log/notes template

 

Weekly Plan Form

I just revamped our weekly assignment form and thought I’d share.  When I first started homeschooling, I used to make up weekly plans, but they were just for me. As the kids got older, I started giving them their own copies and they prefer that. We got off of that for a while and a few of them asked if we could use them again. 

I left it in Word so it can be tweaked. The subjects on there now are Quraan, Arabic, Math, Spelling, Grammar, Reading, Science/History, Writing, and Math Facts, plus a blank space for special projects or review.

Download Weekly Plan Form