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on March 28, 2024 · Leave a Comment

Getting Started with Sketch Notes in the Classroom

If you are one of my TPT or Instagram followers you may have noticed that I have been posting a good amount of doodles (clipart) lately. Amidst working on my other resources, I finally built up the courage to dedicate more time to my art. My friends have been pushing me to do clipart for at least 8 years now after seeing me taking notes at various teacher conferences. I have been a sketch notes taker since high school. I am a visual learner diagnosed with ADHD and have found that doodling in my notes has helped me tremendously when trying to process key facts, review my work, and remember important information that would float away on printed or bulleted lists. I was thinking about my experience with sketch notes and thought I would share about what sketch notes are, why studies find them valuable for students, and give you a FREE resource so you can create your own sketch note templates or outlines for your students… or yourself!

sketch notes examples

What are sketch notes?

Sketch notes are an incredible tool for enhancing student information retention. By incorporating visual elements such as drawings and colors into their notes, students engage multiple senses and cognitive processes simultaneously. This multisensory approach helps reinforce learning and memory retention in a profound way.

When students create sketch notes, they are not just transcribing information; they are actively processing and synthesizing it in a way that is personalized and meaningful to them. The act of doodling allows for creative expression and promotes a deeper understanding of the material.

I recently watched a Ted Talk on the value of sketch notes for all learners. It validated my experience with doodling and the impact it has had (and still does) on my retention of new learning. It also made me frustrated at my son Mason’s experiences surrounding doodling. He has had multiple negative interactions with teachers about how he must stop doodling in his notes. He was even made to recopy all his notes without doodles in them. Even though his grades reflected retention through this strategy, this led to multiple parent-teacher conferences defending his processing strategy of doodling.

Sketch notes can serve as powerful memory aids. The combination of words, images, and colors creates unique associations in the brain, making it easier for students to recall information when they review their notes later. It’s like creating a visual roadmap that guides them back to key concepts and details.
In addition to improving memory retention, sketch notes also make the learning experience more enjoyable and engaging. Students feel a sense of ownership over their notes, which can boost motivation and confidence in their academic abilities.

How do I introduce sketch notes to students?

Like anything else, we have to introduce students to the skills we want them to utilize and understand. You can start by teaching some basic symbols of note-taking. In addition, you can model sketchnoting when recording information in front of students. Another great way to introduce sketch notes is by creating pre-made templates or graphic organizers for students to utilize using common symbols. You can use these pre-made templates just like you use graphic organizers in other subject areas to build routines, organization, and confidence.

I’ve created several sets of clipart that can be used to enhance learning and create sketch note templates in your classroom. Check out these sets available on TpT:

phonics clipart for sketch notes
digital icons for sketch notes
apple math clipart
financial literacy clipart
Month of May clipart
counting clipart bundle

Ready to get started? I’ve created this Sketch Notes Bundle available on TpT and I’m sharing part of it with you for FREE to help you create your own sketch note templates!

Sketch Notes Template Freebie

More Information

Want to learn more about the how and why of sketch notes? Check out these books full of student examples and steps on how to model and support students as they learn how to create sketch notes! (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

  • How to Sketchnote: A Step-by-Step Manual for Teachers and Students
  • The Sketchnote Handbook: The Illustrated Guide to Visual Note Taking

I hope you will find that using sketch notes in the classroom is a great tool to enhance information retention, promote understanding, and foster creativity, and by doing so, reach a wider range of our diverse learners.

Be sure to check out these other blog posts for more ways to enhance learning in your classroom:

  • Creating a Sensory Friendly Classroom
  • Using Questioning Strategies to Increase Reading Comprehension
  • Simple Steps to Implement STEM in your Classroom

Don’t forget to grab this free resource to help you start on your sketch note journey!

Kacie Brown Having Fun First signature

Filed Under: Supporting Student Growth Tagged With: Diverse Learners, Notetaking, Sketch Notes

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