Margin notes aid comprehension

Help your child determine what to take notes on with this simple tip: Read one paragraph at a time, then record a 1-5 word phrase describing just that paragraph in the margin next to it (or on a post-it note if he doesn’t own the book). This phrase could be a short summary, a new character’s name, a connection between scenes or characters, a recurring theme, or simply a label, like “Macbeth’s Soliloquy” or “Harry, Sorting Hat, Gryffindor.” Margin notes can be anything, as long as the notes make sense to the student, and help make sense of the story! With a great set of labels and comments, your child will also have an easier time returning to the text at a later date and finding crucial details and information.