I recently got a message asking how to color code notes, and because it was such a hit I decided to expand on the topic!
Color coding your notes is proven to enhance your learning and make you a more efficient thinker. Try using these few tips and see how much your note taking experience improves!
Write your notes using a black pen
Pencils get smudged easily when highlighted, and often fade. Using a fast-drying pen will ensure that the ink does not smudge.
TIP: Write your original notes in pencil, make additions, add diagrams, get all the facts in. Once you get home, rewrite your notes neatly in pen, organizing the topics and making sure you understand the material.
Use highlighters to color code
Choosing to use colored pens is much more time consuming, and can make it hard to find key topics when rereading the notes.
TIP: Although highlighters take up much more space than pens, try to find some travel sized highlighters that save space.
Yellow: important points, facts, examples, etc.
Pink: very important factors, key points, definitions, teacher additions, etc.
Blue: undefined words, confusing topics, requires research, etc.
Green: dates, names, places, etc.
Purple: works cited, authors, etc.
Highlighting too many words will in return emphasize nothing. Don’t highlight entire sentences, only key points in the sentences. Try to keep it to a maximum of 4 words highlighted in a row.
Use corresponding sticky notes to elaborate
For example, use a green sticky note on the side of your paper to go into more detail about Abraham Lincoln’s early life.
TIP: As an alternative, use white sticky notes and a pen in that corresponding color.
Don’t feel like you have to color code your entire paper! Only highlight what is necessary. If you can summarize in a shorter sentence, do so. As long as you understand and can remember the information- that’s what matters.
Hopefully you find these tips to be of some help. Please let me know if you have any questions, or would like to suggest a topic for my next post.
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