Note-Taking Skills Step 1: Finding important information using colors.

Example: The world is filled with bugs, and some of them are quite helpful. One helpful bug is the spider. Spiders like the friendly garden spider eat other insects. A garden spider will eat pesky mosquitoes. The lady bug is also a friend. She eats aphids, little insects that kill plants. It is easy to spot a lady bug because many of them are bright red with black dots on the back. A third helpful insect is the praying mantis. Mantises eat Japanese beetles that can destroy roses. The mantis is not harmful to people, but with its legs it will grab the beetle and destroy it. Some of the most helpful bugs are the ones who pollinate flowers. Bees and moths are pollinators. They carry pollen from one plant to another. In fact, our planet needs all of these small, helpful creatures.

Go! - Green What is the main idea or topic?

The world is filled with bugs, and some of them are quite helpful. One helpful bug is the spider. Spiders like the friendly garden spider eat other insects. A garden spider will eat pesky mosquitoes. The lady bug is also a friend. She eats aphids, little insects that kill plants. It is easy to spot a lady bug because many of them are bright red with black dots on the back. A third helpful insect is the praying mantis. Mantises eat Japanese beetles that can destroy roses. The mantis is not harmful to people, but with its legs it will grab the beetle and destroy it. Some of the most helpful bugs are the ones who pollinate flowers. Bees and moths are pollinators. They carry pollen from one plant to another. In fact, our planet needs all of these small, helpful creatures.

Stop! – Red (dashes and dots) What are the supporting details (es) for the key idea?

The world is filled with bugs, and some of them are quite helpful. One helpful bug is the spider. Spiders like the friendly garden spider eat other insects. A garden spider will eat pesky mosquitoes. The lady bug is also a friend. She eats aphids, little insects that kill plants. It is easy to spot a lady bug because many of them are bright red with black dots on the back. A third helpful insect is the praying mantis. Mantises eat Japanese beetles that can destroy roses. The mantis is not harmful to people, but with its legs it will grab the beetle and destroy it. Some of the most helpful bugs are the ones who pollinate flowers. Bees and moths are pollinators. They carry pollen from one plant to another. In fact, our planet needs all of these small, helpful creatures.

Stop! – Red (dashes and dots) What are the supporting details (es) for the key idea?

The world is filled with bugs, and some of them are quite helpful. One helpful bug is the spider. Spiders like the friendly garden spider eat other insects. A garden spider will eat pesky mosquitoes. The lady bug is also a friend. She eats aphids, little insects that kill plants. It is easy to spot a lady bug because many of them are bright red with black dots on the back. A third helpful insect is the praying mantis. Mantises eat Japanese beetles that can destroy roses. The mantis is not harmful to people, but with its legs it will grab the beetle and destroy it. Some of the most helpful bugs are the ones who pollinate flowers. Bees and moths are pollinators. They carry pollen from one plant to another. In fact, our planet needs all of these small, helpful creatures.

Stop! – Red (dashes and dots) What are the supporting details (es) for the key idea?

The world is filled with bugs, and some of them are quite helpful. One helpful bug is the spider. Spiders like the friendly garden spider eat other insects. A garden spider will eat pesky mosquitoes. The lady bug is also a friend. She eats aphids, little insects that kill plants. It is easy to spot a lady bug because many of them are bright red with black dots on the back. A third helpful insect is the praying mantis. Mantises eat Japanese beetles that can destroy roses. The mantis is not harmful to people, but with its legs it will grab the beetle and destroy it. Some of the most helpful bugs are the ones who pollinate flowers. Bees and moths are pollinators. They carry pollen from one plant to another. In fact, our planet needs all of these small, helpful creatures.

Stop! – Red (dashes and dots) What are the supporting details (es) for the key idea?

The world is filled with bugs, and some of them are quite helpful. One helpful bug is the spider. Spiders like the friendly garden spider eat other insects. A garden spider will eat pesky mosquitoes. The lady bug is also a friend. She eats aphids, little insects that kill plants. It is easy to spot a lady bug because many of them are bright red with black dots on the back. A third helpful insect is the praying mantis. Mantises eat Japanese beetles that can destroy roses. The mantis is not harmful to people, but with its legs it will grab the beetle and destroy it. Some of the most helpful bugs are the ones who pollinate flowers. Bees and moths are pollinators. They carry pollen from one plant to another. In fact, our planet needs all of these small, helpful creatures.

Go Back – Green What is the conclusion? The conclusion will restate the main idea.

The world is filled with bugs, and some of them are quite helpful. One helpful bug is the spider. Spiders like the friendly garden spider eat other insects. A garden spider will eat pesky mosquitoes. The lady bug is also a friend. She eats aphids, little insects that kill plants. It is easy to spot a lady bug because many of them are bright red with black dots on the back. A third helpful insect is the praying mantis. Mantises eat Japanese beetles that can destroy roses. The mantis is not harmful to people, but with its legs it will grab the beetle and destroy it. Some of the most helpful bugs are the ones who pollinate flowers. Bees and moths are pollinators. They carry pollen from one plant to another. In fact, our planet needs all of these small, helpful creatures.

What Next? Step 2: Making a T-chart (2-column notes)

1. Make your T

2. Add your topic T = Helpful Insects

3. Add your first star *Spiders T = Helpful Insects

4. Add your supporting details *SpidersEat other insects Garden spiders eat pesky mosquitoes T = Helpful Insects

5. Add your next star *Spiders *Lady Bugs Eat other insects Garden spiders eat pesky mosquitoes T = Helpful Insects

6. Add your supporting details *Spiders *Lady Bugs Eat other insects Garden spiders eat pesky mosquitoes Eat aphids Aphids kill plants Easy to spot Many are bright red with black spots on back T = Helpful Insects

7. Add your next star *Lady Bugs *Praying Mantises Eat aphids Aphids kill plants Easy to spot Many are bright red with black spots on back T = Helpful Insects

8. Add your supporting details *Lady Bugs *Praying Mantises Eat aphids Aphids kill plants Easy to spot Many are bright red with black spots on back Eat Japanese beetles Japanese beetles destroy roses Mantis grabs the beetle with its legs Not harmful to humans T = Helpful Insects

9. Add your next star *Praying Mantises *Pollinators Eat Japanese beetles Japanese beetles destroy roses Mantis grabs the beetle with its legs Not harmful to humans T = Helpful Insects

10. Add your supporting details *Praying Mantises *Pollinators Eat Japanese beetles Japanese beetles destroy roses Mantis grabs the beetle with its legs Not harmful to humans Some of the most helpful Include bees and moths Carry pollen from one plant to another T = Helpful Insects

All Done! Easy Shmeasy! (Mrs. Birnell might give you extra credit for telling her what register of language the above two statements are in!)