Note taking is unpopular. It’s a chore. It takes effort. Young students don’t know what to write down. They tend to turn themselves into human tape recorders and write down the teacher’s every word. First, they need to understand that note taking is a life-long skill. We take notes all our lives–throughout high school and college, at conferences, during sermons, and so on. And professors or public speakers aren’t inclined to repeat themselves.

During lectures, it’s crucial to write key terms, unusual words or phrases on the board. Also key ideas such as literary themes. One should be alert to confused looks and encourage questions. Questioning the teacher is essential. And teachers love questions. It means the class hasn’t fallen asleep. One must stop to review difficult concepts. And the teacher should walk around the class during lectures to ensure that all the class is writing assiduously. (Lazy students invariably rely on other peoples’ notes for test prep.)

At the end of a quarter, it may be advisable to collect younger students’ notebooks, scan them while comparing them to others’ notes, and assign grades based on completion. With much practice, most students become proficient note takers.