Sketchnotes Gallery: Students Draw to Demonstrate Thinking

Redefining Note-Taking with Visual Strategies

I could talk about sketchnotes all day. I could also really talk about how I think sketchnotes merge seamlessly with thinking maps. Both of these tools create a visual method of note-taking for students that defies the traditional norms of the column notes or teacher-guided notetaking. They also have the power to transform assessment in our classrooms. Students light up when they are able to complete a formative assessment or a summative assessment in a way that isn’t standard. It is outside-of-the-box. It is necessary.

Sketchnotes is visual note-taking.

If you need to be sold on the love of doodling watch this TED Talk, or simply check out any of Lynda Berry's work, like Syllabus. I love Verbal to Visual because they have made an entire center for teachers to become familiar with sketchnotes. This post is a gallery post of examples of sketchnotes and applications from my classroom. This post is meant to be an inspiration to infuse art into your literacy classroom.

Video Introductions

Video #1: “What is Sketchnoting?” by Verbal to Visual

Video #2: “ My Pencil Made Me Do It: A Beginners Guide To Sketchnoting In The Classroom” by Carrie Baughcum

Video #3: “ Sketchnotes for Classroom: Why, How, and Tips” by Teachings in Education

Getting Started & Inspired

WeAreTeachers created a great article for helping teachers understand some ways they can use sketchnotes in the classroom. I got the original idea from my teaching-internet friend Buffy, who runs Living in the Layers blog. Her blog post on poetry with sketchnotes immediately had my brain on fire. The kids love this strategy. They often choose this over conventional means of note-taking or prepping for a writing assignment. I always require some sort of pre-writing before a project, and the majority of students are choosing this for their option. I have used this for writing, for reading logs, for table talk discussions, and gallery walks. This changes teaching. I love strategies that change how we do business.