How to Remember what you Read

Posted in how to be more creative

Do you spend a lot of time reading, but then feel like you can’t remember what you read?

I made a goal to read 40 books this year, but I didn’t just want to read books, I wanted to remember what I read, learn, and apply my learning, this meant that I needed to make some changes to how to read and process information.

In my online AP Art History class, I’m always encouraging my students to do sketching, so I thought, maybe I should take my own advice. First, I tried to take notes in my sketchbook as I read, but found that didn’t work well for me. I would get too caught up in the thinking about drawing, and sometimes it was hard to have the book the I was reading + my sketchbook + supplies. Instead, I decided to start by jotting notes and small sketches onto post-it notes, and sticking them to the related pages. Then after I finished the book, I went back through, moved the post-it notes into my sketchbook and added additional information. The process of reviewing and adding more information further solidified my learning. Plus, spending time playing in my sketchbook, feels like a reward each time that I finish a book. Watch the video below to see this process in action.

 

Tips to get started

  • When taking notes,  write it in your own words and pull out important information, don’t directly copy  from the book.
  • Write down important terms
  • Write headings of chapters or sections
  • As you move the post-it notes into your sketchbook, allow yourself to move them around to think about how they make sense together. You don’t have to put them in the same order as the book.
  • Be playful, give yourself permission to cut, trim, and turn your post-it notes
  • Adding additional notes and sketches, as you add images, look up references online, you don’t have to draw everything from imagination
  • Limit your tools. Too many colors can make the notes look messy and hard to follow. Select 2-3 colors that you’re going to use when moving your notes into your sketchbook.
  • Remember this is a learning process. You’ll get better at this the more that you do it.
  • Create a symbol for items that you want to take action on. You’ll see that I do a checkmark in a box.

Information without action and application is wasted time.