1. The STAR Strategy for Cornell Notes
S- Set up paper
T- Take notes
A- After class, Ask ?s
R- Review & Summarize
After sharing this slide, stop and have students discuss the following:
This is our first slide of notes. What would you write down in your notes for this slide?
Think: individually think about what each would write
Pair: collaboratively decide what they want to write down on the right side of the Cornell Notes
Share: Pull sticks to elicit student responses; show the anchor to compare/validate student responses 1

2. Name:
Class:
Period:
Date:
Topic:
Objective: S
Set up your paper
1. Fold you paper into two sections, 1/3 and 2/3 or draw a line.
2. Write your heading
3. Write your topic and objective
4. Leave a space at the bottom of the last page for a summary
Point out to students that the space for the summary is only done at the end of the notes, not at the bottom of every page.
You may have students do a quick check of their partner’s paper to see if everyone set-up their papers correctly.
“Look at your partner’s paper. Please look at the heading. Does your partner have their Name? Show me a thumbs up/down. Does your partner have the class? Thumbs up/down. Does your partner have the period? Thumbs up down? Do they have the date? Thumbs up/down.” For any thumbs down- allow 10 sec to fix.
“Okay, look at the line or fold. Is the paper or line set up as 1/3-2/3? Thumbs up/down or choral response yes/no” For any thumbs down or no’s- allow 10 sec to fix.
Continue in this manner to make sure students have done the set-up correctly. 2

3. Name:
Class:
Period:
Date:
Topic:
Objective: T
-Use your own words, write in phrases, and decide what is important or trivial information
Take Organized Notes
1. While reading text
2. While listening to a lecture alone or from a PowerPoint
3. While watching a video or demonstration
4. While watching a math problem being solved
-Leave space by skipping lines between ideas
-include logical symbols and abbreviations
-Use a variety of note taking styles: bullets, lists, thinking maps, outlines different colors, symbols, or abbreviations

4. A -Write ?s on the left that mirror or match the notes on the right
Name:
Class:
Period:
Date:
Topic:
Objective: A
-Write ?s on the left that mirror or match the notes on the right
After Class, Ask ?s
Why should you write mirror questions?
How will mirror questions help you?
Now that you understand how to take notes, the next step of “A” is to write mirror questions on the left side of your paper.
This strategy will ensure that you understand the notes you took.
This will help you to improve your study skills, and improve your test scores!
Let students know that you will help them learn how to do this as we continue through summer institute. 4

5. R -Read through your notes after class
Name:
Class:
Period:
Date:
Topic:
Objective: R
-Read through your notes after class
Review & Summarize
In order to make notes useful, students must review them and interact with them beyond the classroom.
-Study for tests/quizzes by folding the right hand questions and work to answer them, alone or w/partner
-Summarize your learning and understanding from the notes by writing a summary at the end
-Use your notes as a tool to help with homework and projects

6. Practice Set up your notes in the “Notes” section of your notebook.
Practice taking notes as you watch the video segment: American Dreamers Part 1
After the video, write mirror questions in the left-hand column of your notes.
Finally, write a summary about what you learned.