Question for History A level teachers (or similar) re revision and note taking.

[shadypines]

Hi DD 17yrs is currently studying for end of yr 12 exams and she is stressing about history.

The bone of contention is that the teacher appears quite rigid in her approach and comes over as a bit 'my way or the highway' in her approach, from what DD says. Her method of homework/revision/making notes is to get the students to rewrite the pages of the text book, in a lot of detail. DD finds this extremely time comsuming to the detriment of having time for other things ( I fully appreciate the poss that she may not be organising herself properly) and she struggles with it. She says she does not learn by this method and she is much better making her own form of notes.

I suggested that because the nature of the course/exam required a lot of writing that this is why the teacher is going for this approach. I have asked her to go and speak to teacher to ask her the rationale for her methods but she is reluctant at the moment. In the meanwhile, can anyone else suggest an explanation please?

If it’s revision notes then they’re for your daughter not the history teacher, so she can do them in whatever way works best for her (mind maps, flow charts, audio clips etc.) If the teacher is being rigid it’s maybe worth a discussion either with them directly or a head of sixth/learning mentor who may be able to mediate.

Ok, good advice , thank you. I had been thinking along those lines.

History or not, note taking and making is very personal.

I love dual coding and use the written and visual method to produce notes with pictures/diagrams etc to aid retention and recall.

Worth looking this up as possible method to help.

History A level teacher here. I absolutely cannot see the point in re-writing the text book in detail. I agree with emo that the notes are for your DDs benefit - and she needs to personalise them in the way that helps her remember them best.

What exam board/unit?

History A Level teacher. I’m forever trying to discourage kids from just re-writing the textbook. If the notes are just as complex as the textbook them she might as well revise from the book. I wouldn’t dictate the exact style of revision notes though.

Or indeed ( if she has time ) just read the history she is interested in @shadypines

My concern is that your DD's complaint is that the note taking is time consuming rather than that it isn't a method of revision that is most effective for her.

I'd be a bit worried that your DD isn't giving you quite the full picture. The teacher telling her that her notes are insufficiently detailed for example doesn't mean your DD is actually being expected to rewrite the textbook.