Sticky Note Reading Strategy

Here is an easy-to-use reading strategy that helps students focus while they’re reading and provides entry points into the text that will strengthen understanding after they’ve read the passage.
Many teachers already use this strategy because it provides concrete reminders of what students were thinking about while they were reading. Students can use these reminders to prompt discussion and strengthen understanding.

Why Use It?
How many times have we absent-mindedly read the same sentence, paragraph or page several times? Tracking and returning to important points in our reading is something that all competent readers do, particularly with material for a course or other practical purpose. And when the notes mark particular concepts, facts, or thinking strategies that teachers wish to emphasize they help students actively watch for them.

How Does it Work?
1. Students need guidance when they first use this strategy. Explain what you want them to discover, find or investigate. Maybe you simply want them to note a confusing word or idea in the text. A question mark on the sticky note with a brief note on the confusion is all that’s needed.
2. When students are done reading you may want them to look back on their notes and see if any questions are clarified. If not, they will be able to ask questions for the following day’s discussion. 3. Assessing this assignment is easy. Have the students peel off the notes after completing the chapter or unit, stick them to notebook paper and turn in as an assignment.
4. Use the paper cutter to make strips of sticky notes. Most applications don't require a lot of writing space. Cut the stack of notes in half and double the quantity, double the pleasure, double the fun.


Here are some other options for sticky notes:



Making Connections



Content Area Suggestions