Note taking is one of those lifelong skills that will help students in your classroom today and in college and beyond. Taking good notes means that students get the important information needed in a class or text, and then use those notes to study or while working on assignments. It’s a life skill, and this free Cornell Notes template will help you teach it.
Grab our free Cornell Notes template to use with students as you teach them to take notes. It has two variations, one for students learning to use Cornell Notes and one for students who are familiar with the technique and ready to use it. Both templates can be used for typed notes using fillable PDF or printed handwritten notes.
What are Cornell Notes?
The Cornell Notes system is a way to organize your note-taking space to capture important information during a lecture, discussion, or study. The program was developed by Cornell University professor Walter Pauk in the 1950s. Pauk wanted students to be active when taking notes, which his system of columns and organization provided.
To create notes at Cornell, students divide their page into three areas: a note-taking area, an index column, and a summary space. Each space provides a different activity for students as they listen or read and take notes, think about what they read, and review what they have learned.
Why use Cornell notes?
Cornell Notes is a structured way to help students take notes and use those notes during the course. They are also a way to keep students returning to their notes long after the lecture or reading is over.
What do Cornell notes include?
Cornell notes include spaces for:
- Note taking: This is the biggest column, where students record notes in a meaningful way.
- Indicators: The indicator column is a small column. As students listen or read, this column remains empty. After they finish, they write notes and questions in the index column to help them review their notes.
- Summary: The summary section at the bottom of the page is for students to write down what they read in one or two sentences. Another way to help students really summarize what they are learning is to give them a word count. Their summary statement should be no more than 15 or 20 words, for example.
How do I teach Cornell notes?
Teach Cornell Notes by modeling how to do them and within a larger note-taking strategy, such as the 5 Rs.
- Record: Students record as many facts and logical ideas as possible while listening or reading.
- Minimize: After reading, or at a stop in a lecture, review part of the notes. Students can extract important vocabulary words, write down questions they have, see important information, etc.
- Reread: Students cover the space for taking notes and state what they have learned in a lecture or reading in their own words. Then, they open the site and see what they did well. This is a good time to write a summary statement.
- Reflection: Students think about their connections to what they have learned and form ideas about the content.
- Review: Students review their notes regularly, at least once a week, during the course to help retain what they are learning.
Remember that students will still need to learn and practice the basics of note-taking, such as how to listen for important information and how to read notes when they are finished.
Get printable Cornell Notes
Our printable Cornell notes come in two variations, one for students who are learning to use Cornell notes and one for students who are familiar with the strategy and ready to use it. Simply enter your email address in the form on this page to receive the printable.
Do you have questions or advice for using Cornell Notes in your classroom? Come and chat on the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook!
Also, check out more Note Taking Techniques Students Should Know.
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