1. Silent Reading!!
Grab your book (if you found one you liked) or get a new one and start reading. We will read for about 10 minutes.
You may put your headphones in for this if you would like - but you must set your music and leave it - do not touch your phone again.

2. Journal - Write a letter to yourself
Journal - Write a letter to yourself. Reflect on where you’re at and where you want to be. What goals do you have for your sophomore year?

3. Note taking How do you do it???
Note taking is really a “develop your own process” kind of thing, so these are just tips

4. Being an effective student
Learning to take notes, and then study those notes is one of the hardest things to do in school.
So here are a few tips on how to note take and then how to take those notes and turn them into something useful

5. Always look for a guiding question
Step 1
Always look for a guiding question
This will help you keep the bigger picture in mind.
Some units will have one, others will not, but you should always keep the bigger picture in mind...understand the the literature is more than a story, you should be learning from it as well.

6. Step 1 (cont)
If you are doing a smaller assignment that doesn’t have a guiding question given to you, survey the text/assignment, and create one for yourself

7. Actual rest of the tips...
Actually write things down -- Don’t just type something on your phone or computer
It is scientifically proven that you retain more information when you write it down
I will not allow you to use your phone to take pictures of notes, so don’t try
Develop a shorthand system
You do not have to write down every word - in fact, many teachers don’t want you to
Try to keep your sentences around 5 or 6 words
Use abbreviations
Drop articles or prepositions
Use arrows to make connections
Pay attention to KEYWORDS

8. Paraphrase
Put the notes in your own words...don’t just write verbatim what is said or written - often times those are the teacher’s or the textbook’s words and you may look back and think, I don’t understand what the teacher was trying to say
Putting it in your own words means that you have read, processed, and comprehended what is being said

9. Using a graphic organizer
Sometimes a graphic organizer will be provided for you
It has been set up a certain way or the teacher has chosen a certain organizer for a reason, so be sure to READ and FOLLOW instructions

10. Start a new page every day
Date your notes….this is so important…
This will help keep things very organized
Also please keep your notes in their own section of your binder, if not in their own spiral notebook
Do not just shove things into the abyss that is your backpack

11. Listen to what is being said
While what is written on the board is important, often times what I say is more important
The words on the power point or board are often references for me to remember what I want to say
Listen and write down important things that are said, as well as, what is written

12. Don’t freak out if you miss something - I won’t go back
Share your notes….
If you miss something, chances are someone else got it…..borrow your neighbor’s notes
Or maybe they got something you didn’t even think to write down
Move on when I move on….Don’t waste everyone’s time by dwelling on a concept

13. More Go back over your notes more than just the night before a test!!!
Annotate your notes-- This involves your commentary or filling in the blanks, highlighting what’s important then writing why it's important, crossing things out, etc...

14. Should you miss anything...
All notes and worksheets are up on the website….go there