children seek Critter Slips Guided Notes
Brief Description
Guided Notes provide a handout of notes that have blank spaces for writing down
lesson concepts, allowing the student opportunities to demonstrate appropriate
classroom behavior. Notes are reviewed by the teacher, providing positive
reinforcement. This intervention can be used with children of many ages (especially
those in grade four through twelve), with or without disabilities. Guided Notes can be
adapted to any instructional level and altered for students with specific skill deficits.
Guided Notes are inexpensive, efficient, allow teachers to exhibit their own style, and
are often preferred over “regular” notes by both teachers and students.
What “Common Problems” Does This Address?
Guided Notes can increase on-task behavior, improve note taking accuracy and help
improve academic performance. All students in a classroom are given multiples
opportunities to respond to material learned from the teacher by having their own outlet
to provide answers. Further reinforcement is offered when the teacher reviews or
checks each student’s notes. .
Procedures
1. Make a lesson outline using a form of presentation software or overheads,
concentrating on major concepts and facts to be learned.
2. Make a student handout, leaving an adequate amount of blank spaces in order to
maximize engagement. Blank spaces may be short with one to three words, or long
with four to eight words.
3. Lead a training activity (depending on age/level of students) to teach students how to
use Guided Notes while listening to lessons and looking at presentation materials (e.g.
PowerPoint, transparencies). Training can be done by first explaining how the notes
work, providing an example, modeling how to fill out the notes, and holding a practice
lesson with feedback.
4. Teach the lesson utilizing presentation software/overheads to go along with students’
Guided Notes. Include prompts and/or questions in lessons if it is necessary or aids in
student learning.
5. Review the students’ notes in order to provide positive reinforcement. This can be
done by walking around the room and checking notes, or by collecting, grading and
returning Notes to each student.
6. Supplemental strategies may be added to the Guided Notes intervention to further
promote responding (see below).
Supplemental Strategies
o Combine Guided Notes with unison responding, a lottery incentive, or response
cards.
o Quiz students on the material from the Guided Notes after a lesson.
o Offer extra credit to those who accurately fill out Guided Notes.
o Use with an entire class, a small group of students, or an individual student.
