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7/30/2016 34 Comments

How to Actually Use Doodle Notes: Tips for Implementation

Strategies for Trying the Doodle Note Approach in Math Class
Not only are doodle notes based on brain research, but they are loved by students and teachers!

After getting input from hundreds of teachers, I've seen lots of:
  • "really liked how students responded!"
  • they "retain more information"
  • "keeps the students engaged"
  • "students keep asking for more!"
  • "helped my students stay focused"
  • "helped my math class tremendously!"
  • "great way to connect with some of the different types of kids"
  • "HUGE hit"
  • "My students absolutely love the doodle notes and they feel like they retain more information"
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But, I've also had quite a few questions about the best ways to use them in the classroom, and requests for tips when trying them out.  So I wanted to put together a post to help guide people who are getting started (but beware, you are very likely to become a doodle addict once you start!)

I'm going to kick it off with some of my top strategies for actually using doodle notes, but I would love if those who are enjoying them in your own classroom would jump in.  Please leave a comment so I can add to the list!

If we can all share different ways they have worked, or tips we develop as we go, it would really benefit everyone!  I'd love to hear from you all.

First of All...

There is no way to write a one-size-fits-all doodle manual.  They are extremely flexible, and the best way to use them really depends on your own students and your classroom culture.

Using the same page can go completely differently in your 1st period class than in your 2nd period class.  Some classes will take it and run with it, and some will walk through it right alongside you as you fill it in together like a whole class graphic organizer.

There are really no "right ways" or "wrong ways" to teach with doodle notes.  Be flexible, because you'll be amazed how that one kid who has never been engaged in math class is suddenly focused, excited, and begging for more!

Brain Benefits

Be sure to keep the research in mind as you implement doodling in math class.  Keep your focus on the brain benefits as you guide your students through these. 

Of course, just by coloring or doodling, they will get some visual connections and will activate both sides of the brain, but to maximize the benefits, this should ideally occur while also getting verbal input.

Review the brain benefits of crossing the midline in these posts:
  • Activating the Right Brain in Math Class
  • Brain Benefits of Coloring & Doodling
The study in which people listened to a boring phone conversation showed that the group who was doodling while listening was able to remember all the people that the little old lady was going to invite to her party, what was on her menu, etc.  much better than those in the room without doodling supplies.

Scientists learned that the act of coloring or doodling requires just enough focus to keep you from zoning out, but not enough to actually distract you.

So, to maximize that effect, there should be focused, active teaching occurring during the doodle note lesson.

Use a Teacher Copy

The easiest way to do this is to project/display a blank copy of the same doodle page that you hand out.  Then, complete your "teacher copy" as you give notes.  You can expand past it and add notes on the board, talk through the lesson, and lecture as you normally would. 

Even if you keep your note page "bare bones" and just fill in the blanks, your main job is to talk and model the concept and examples, just as you normally would.

Students will have plenty of time while you talk and explain to embellish their pages. 
How to Teach with Doodle Notes
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Your teacher copy can look as boring as this answer key.  You won't need to model the doodling and coloring.  That's where their own creativity comes in.  All those little right brain hemispheres will automatically turn on and get excited to make the page their own as soon as you let them know they are allowed.

Show a Sample

However, some will need just a little guidance, or official permission to do whatever they want on their own page.  You really do want to encourage and allow personalization and creativity.

So, the first few times you use a doodle note approach, show a student sample just briefly to give them the idea.  I include a photo in each one that I create so that you can use it as an example until your students get the hang of it and develop their own styles.
How to Teach Math with Doodle Notes
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Another Approach

Depending on your students, you may want to forget the lecture approach, and let your students complete these as a study guide or graphic organizer using a textbook as a reference.

If you choose to try this strategy, be sure to have students work in pairs, so that the conversation is still happening.  This way, you can get a variety of input going into their brains while they complete the page and fill in the information.

They can work together to decide what key information should go where.  This will work if you are comfortable with variation.  They may not write exactly what you would have written on the board, but you can walk around and check that they have the concept, key ideas, vocabulary, and examples all correct. 

This method allows a little more freedom for the students, but may not work for all classes.

Doodle Tools

The kids will finally be allowed to use all their gel pens, special glitter markers, etc.  I would recommend letting them use whatever they want for these, even though I am generally a "pencil only" math teacher. 

If you are looking for perfect doodle markers, I have found paper mate flair "Ultra Fines" to be the best.  They are like the regular flair pens (those classic felt tip marker-pens we all love for grading), but with super thin tips.  These are great for doodle noting.
Tools for Teaching with Doodle Notes

Limit Time

When it is time to cut off the lecture or the lesson, be sure to stop.  Just as you would have with regular notes.  Move on.  Students who want to add to it can do so later during free time or at home.

Do not add class time for just coloring.  That is not the purpose.  If students do want to color, embellish, add a million little doodle spirals, that's fine.  But once the learning and teaching portion is over, the brain benefits start dwindling.  Coloring the corners is not the valuable use of class time that completing the note sheet is.

Guide your class to doodle AS they fill the page, during the moments that they are still listening and learning.  Let them do fancy lettering of a vocabulary word to help it stick in their minds.  Let them color ideas that go together using the same pattern.  Show them how to focus in on the visual triggers that will stick in their brain.
How to Teach Using Doodle Notes
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Even myself, I still notice that I can remember something better if I was doodling while I heard it.  A few times recently, I've said something like "oh yeah, I do remember when you said that in our meeting.  It was while I was drawing little triangles around the words "Singapore Math."  Students create the same brain triggers by doing these pages.  During a test, they'll think "oh, right, I remember making the "s" really small and the "t" really tall to fit the word "sector" inside the circle just right.
Math Teachers: Strategies for Teaching with Doodle Notes
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The Visuals & Graphics Will Work for Themselves

Really, you can't go wrong.  The visual connections are built in.  Doodle notes are like a twist on a graphic organizer.  They have the benefits that a basic graphic organizer has, plus more, and those benefits will come automatically. 

It's all about shapes, layout, and graphics.  These act as brain triggers.  Students will visualize the page, plus they will have formed connections in their minds that will help them retain the information. 

Since math is usually left-brained, and any creativity that they put into the page (coloring, doodling, fancy lettering) is right-brained, the two hemispheres of the brain will be working together. By crossing the midline of their brains (the corpus callosum), they will automatically maximize their focus, learning, and retention of the content.

Working Document / Reference Sheet

One of the most unexpected benefits that comes along with this teaching strategy is how proud the students are of their note sheets!

They will pull it out over and over again to use as a reference. (Which they should be doing with a standard notebook as well, but often don't.)  Instead of reminding them to pull out their notes when they get stuck, you'll see them jump to grab their doodle note sheet so they can show it off and add to it.

Encourage this!  Let their note pages become working documents that are always on hand as graphic organizers or study guides.

They love to make these their own.  So don't sweat it too much as you implement them.  Just print it out.  When you hand your kids these pages, the benefits will happen automatically.  They will get excited and engage with the page in all the right ways.
If you are ready to give it a try, this post will lead you to two different sets of free doodle notes.
More tips and specifics
Use this link to hear from teachers using the doodle note method in their classrooms:
Doodle Notes in The Classroom - Tips, Tricks, and Testimonials
​

Video Training: Teaching with Doodle Notes

To support you in implementing the doodle note method in your own classroom, I've created a video tutorial on teaching with visual notes. These strategies will help you get started right away. To get some of the resources shown, you can access my free toolkit here.

Teach the Benefits

Advanced: For True Doodle Note Addicts

On the first time around, try modeling the process while explicitly teaching your students the benefits of this note-taking strategy!

This free doodle page is a great introduction and will get your class zoned in on the results and how the hemispheres of the brain work together when they incorporate coloring, doodling, and visual triggers in class.

Download this doodle note page and try using it to introduce students to the process and the concept behind doodle notes at the same time!  It's a perfect starting point before using content-based doodle note pages.
Free
Download Free "Engage Your Brain" Page
If you have already gotten into your doodle groove, first of all, please leave a comment below to share any experience you have had in your own classroom.  We all need your tips!  Tell us any little tricks, benefits you have noticed, or approaches you have tried.

Then, you may want to check out a little more on sketchnoting, hand lettering, icon drawing, and more to get your students (or yourself) some more doodle skills!  I've got some links in my "Doodle Addict" pinterest board that you may enjoy!  Check it out.
Shop "Doodle Notes"

To Learn More & Get Started with Doodle Notes:

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Are you looking to get started with this brain-based learning strategy in your own classroom?

You will be amazed at the benefits that doodling, coloring, and sketching in class can offer your students!

Plus, they will love it!  Kids really enjoy doing doodle note pages.

Download your complete, free eBook: The Doodle Note Handbook for Teachers.

The handbook will walk you through WHY to use doodle notes, HOW to teach with them, WHAT is included in an effective doodle note page, and HOW to start making your own for your own classroom!

Get Your Handbook

To Read Next:

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34 Comments
Patricia Westin
8/1/2016 10:33:05 am

Thank you so much for posting this. I am excited to give the doodle notes a try. I too, have read this research study you are referring to. I am a middle school math teacher and a summer school college statistics instructor. I use the study for a discussion in my statistics class to discuss random samples. The study itself is riddled with mistakes but the overall idea is awesome and I am a huge advocate of doodling in class. I have not created notes like you and am excited to try your notes out within my middle school classroom. You have been a life saver with all you post and sell on TPT. Keep up the great work.

Reply
Math Giraffe link
8/1/2016 07:56:31 pm

Hi Patricia,
Wow, now you've got me curious. I will have to do more research about the research! ;) Interesting... Thanks so much for commenting. I'm so glad you are excited to try them and are enjoying everything so far. Thanks, and have an awesome school year!
-Brigid

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Glennan
8/4/2016 05:02:54 pm

Doodle Notes are a wonderful thing. The prepared ones are terriffic, as are ones that happen in situ. Diagrams in any form make things soooo much better, and who doesn't love coloring.

I've been doodling the "not-not" for integers forever. It even has an emoticon. :-( * :-( = :-)

Reply
Math Giraffe link
8/4/2016 07:21:58 pm

Hi Glennan!
Thanks so much! Love the emoticon ;)
Have an awesome school year!
-Brigid

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Sherry
8/7/2016 10:13:15 pm

I'm very interested in trying these but I teach junior high (= US middle school) math in French. I would need to do a lot of translating but I'm happy to have the foundations to work with. I will be purchasing something from your TPT store to get me going.

Reply
Math Giraffe link
8/8/2016 05:00:29 pm

Hi Sherry,
Thanks so much! Yeah, these are tricky to try to translate since the design is centered around the fit and shape of each word. Sorry. :( I really appreciate your interest!
-Brigid

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Leanne Pope link
8/15/2016 10:06:06 pm

I was wondering if there is anyway you can send me the template for the doodle syllabus. I recently has downloaded it but then our district got new laptops and I guess I downloaded it after I had already transferred everything :( I was really excited about those notes. I love these notes and I'm going to show your blog to all of the math people on my campus, I teach ELAR.

Reply
Math Giraffe link
8/16/2016 12:59:50 pm

Hi Leanne,
Absolutely! Just send me an email at mathgiraffe.bd@gmail.com so I can send it back your way :)
Thanks so much!!
-Brigid

Reply
Lynn Emrich
8/19/2016 10:31:57 am

I am very excited to try doodle notes. I teach 6th grade math, and think my kids will love these. I was wondering if you could send me the template for the doodle syllabus. I can't seem to find it anywhere.
Thanks,
Lynn

Reply
Math Giraffe link
8/19/2016 07:52:20 pm

Hi Lynn,
Thanks so much! Yes it is in this post: http://www.mathgiraffe.com/blog/syllabus-for-math-class-doodle-style-free-printable
Or if you need one without the text boxes so you can add your own, email me at mathgiraffe.bd@gmail.com

Reply
Erin
9/21/2016 10:53:22 pm

I am trying them in 6th grade this year and they love it!!

Reply
Math Giraffe link
9/22/2016 08:11:34 am

That's awesome! Thanks so much, Erin!
I am so glad they are enjoying these :)
-Brigid

Ann
9/1/2016 10:26:07 am

I love your doodle notes and am excited to see them in action. Do you have any advice for creating my own for subjects you have not published yet? What program do you use, for example?

Reply
Math Giraffe link
9/1/2016 09:58:25 pm

Hi Ann,
Thank you so much! :)
I am actually trying to make it possible to offer some video tips, etc. for this exact question because it seems to be a common need ... I am working on the tech end to try to make it possible, so be sure to sign up for my email list so you can get an update on that possiblity. A few tips in the meantime:
- I use PowerPoint to create the digital layout
- I usually draft it out on paper first.
- Plan ahead for the key ideas and most important vocabulary, examples, etc.
- Then design a layout that will flow and include some good visual triggers (clipart, boxes for structure, etc)
- Try making the text white but with dark outline to make any font doodle-able.
Hope this helps! :)
Thanks so much! Have a great evening!
-Brigid

Reply
Janice Barton
9/22/2016 11:53:22 am

Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Math Giraffe link
9/22/2016 04:52:21 pm

Hi Janice!
You're welcome! Thanks so much. Have an awesome school year!
-Brigid

Reply
Ashley
7/2/2017 10:57:31 pm

Hi i''ve been out of school for about 10 and have not been retaining most of the courses except for what i was interested in. I also never really learned how to take notes rather then just copying.I'm so glad to have found this as i am partly a visual learning and love to draw.I'm planning on giving this a try if it works well for the left side of the brain as well^^. do you have any resources regarding programming and languages for doodle notes? I would love to try it this way to remember al the terms better^^.

Reply
Math Giraffe link
7/8/2017 10:49:15 am

Hi Ashley,
I'm so glad it's helpful for you!
I don't have anything on programming, but you may want to check out the templates to make your own! :)
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Editable-Doodle-Note-Templates-SET-1-3146068
Thanks so much, and have a great weekend!
-Brigid

Reply
Connie Grogan
7/17/2017 03:07:12 pm

I know you say grades 6-12, but I am busy creating doodle sheets for the math vocabulary in my second grade math class. I.e. I used a pic of lego blocks put together for compose and spread apart for decompose with with numbers in front. My plan is to post those same pics and words together on my vocabulary board. I also put a few problems at the bottom of the page for them to do when they get to their math station. Any other suggestions?

Reply
Math Giraffe link
7/19/2017 07:20:24 am

Hi Connie!
That's perfect. I love the idea of the blocks.
I sometimes add areas for kids to sketch their own graphic or example for the concept too. You can also try color coding to classify. Here are more ideas and specifics for student tasks to incorporate to maxinize engagement. (You can register for free in the pop-up box to access this blog page.)
http://www.doodlenoteclub.com/blog/embedding-student-tasks

Reply
Amiee
8/8/2018 03:24:29 pm

I was wondering how you have your students store these notes. Do they keep them in a folder/binder or do you have them glue them into a notebook? I want to use these this year but also have a place to do practice work as well. Thanks!

Reply
Math Giraffe link
8/10/2018 08:11:22 pm

Hi Amiee,
Thanks for asking! I like a binder best, because then you can insert notebook paper / practice sheets in between. However, a lot of people do prefer putting them in interactive notebooks. They just shrink the pages to 80% before copying. I hope your students enjoy this strategy! Thanks so much. Have a great school year!
-Brigid

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Jacob Stone
11/26/2018 11:51:18 am

I have never been an artist of any kind but I do find myself making connections like these and that's my most effective study method. This works because as you said I remember the connections and the information during the test. I assume once I try this out it will be even easier to make these connections. Any advice for us non-artists?

Reply
Math Giraffe link
11/27/2018 01:51:39 pm

Hi Jacob,
Yep, you got it! Just interacting with the blend of text and images in this way will do the trick. You do not have to be artsy by any means!
As long as your hand, eyes, ears, and brain are active in working through the visual layout, those mental connections will form :)
It does not have to have a pretty end result to be effective. Enjoy! Have a great day,
-Brigid

Reply
Frances, New Jersey
1/5/2019 08:03:35 am

Hello! I finally got my Pre-Algebra Doodle Notebook today, and I can't wait to start doodle-ing in my 7th and 8th Grade Classes. Thank you so much for creating this notebook as a resource for teachers like me. I was just wondering if you an an answer sheet for all of the pages? If so, how do I get access to them? Thanks!

Reply
Math Giraffe link
1/5/2019 08:17:54 am

Hi Frances,
Thanks so much for your purchase!
The teacher guide and answer key file is included in the zip folder.
If you still have trouble finding it, email me at brigid@mathgiraffe.com
Thanks so much,
Brigid

Reply
Kristina link
1/19/2019 03:12:44 pm

My 6th graders (all boys) have interactive notebooks, and I have used many of your doodle notes -- they do love them. I read in your blog to limit the time they can doodle, but we only have 45 minute classes (barely). Some can barely get any doodling done in that time and they aren't always motivated enough to finish later. Do you think I'd see the same benefits as a class that had longer time? I guess something is better than nothing, and I am hoping to present this as an option for next year. :)
Thank you.
Kristina

Reply
Math Giraffe link
1/21/2019 01:11:13 pm

Hi Kristina,
45 minutes should be enough for a single page. The 2-page lessons are generally spread over 2 class periods (but obviously this can vary).
If they do not bother to go back later to add more coloring or embellishments, that is completely fine.
Prioritize the basic information, and doing their notes and lettering within the graphics, etc. during class time while listening will automatically offer them the brain benefits. That is the core of the value here. Any extra embellishing they do fit in later will help solidify everything, but even the basic parts will help memory and focus if not. The pages may not look as pretty, but your kids will still have those memory triggers in their minds from blending text and visuals while hearing your auditory input. Another thought if you do want them to do more is to have them add doodles and color to their pages as a review/study process later in the chapter before a quiz or test. Going back to their page at that point will also help :)
Thanks for asking, and let me know how else I can help. Have a great day!
-Brigid

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rohit aggarwal link
4/19/2019 05:21:49 am

thanks for the information

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varun gupta link
4/19/2019 05:24:11 am

good one keep it up

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Barbara
7/11/2020 11:46:24 pm

I am so excited about Doddle Notes!
I teach at a virtual academy (yes, I always teach online) and I cannot verify students are taking notes in Algebra class. I really think this may do the trick for many of the students!
Many online students are not proficient in math (Online students are no longer just there to work ahead), and they really need to access as many tools as possible to make missing connections.
You’re the best!

Reply
Math Giraffe link
7/15/2020 01:26:34 pm

Hi Barbara,
Wow, you must already be an expert in distance learning, while it's such a challenge right now for most! :)
I hope this helps your students. Thanks so much, and have a wonderful summer!
-Brigid

Reply
Barbara
7/15/2020 02:26:06 pm

Having discovered Doodle Notes less than a week ago I can say I have been having a blast. I am working on curriculum development for our school (Alg 1 and credit recovery) and I truly believe this may be just the thing to help some of the students who don't connect online. With the help of TPT and the DNC, I have been building and matching like crazy!
LOVE the anticipated return! Will share as new designs pass muster!
Thanks to everyone! You are all AWESOME!

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7/5/2021 01:31:02 am

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