How To Use Sticky Notes While Reading: 4 Easy Steps

If you want to know how to use sticky notes while reading to better comprehend, you’ve landed in the right place. 

Reading and learning go hand in hand. That’s why it’s important to equip oneself with a variety of reading comprehension strategies and skills. 

Whether reading for pleasure or necessity, this post outlines a simple formula that teaches how to use sticky notes more effectively.

Plus, you’ll discover what to write on sticky notes.

This method also works well if you’re demonstrating good reading skills using an interactive read-aloud.

All you need for this strategy is a pen, sticky notes, a book, and the P.A.C.E Method.

The P.A.C.E method is…

P = Pay attention to key information.

A = Arrange your thoughts.

C = Clarify information.

E = Engage in questioning.

The steps are explained in the next section. 

How to Use Sticky Notes While Reading

Here you will learn how to use sticky notes while reading using the P.A.C.E Method.

1. Pay Attention to Key Information.

P stands for “Pay Attention”.

The first step in the P.A.C.E Method is to remain watchful for important information as you read. This requires active reading.

Pay attention to text features and any important vocabulary.

Ask yourself…

  • What text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections am I making?
  • What questions do I have about the text?
  • Which parts are confusing for me?
  • Are there word and/or picture clues to support my thinking?
  • How does prior knowledge (or my lack of) help or hinder my understanding?

2. Arrange Your Thoughts.

A stands for “Arrange”.

The second step in the P.A.C.E Method is to arrange your thoughts from step 1 by jotting them down on sticky notes, tabbing appropriate parts of the text that prompted those thoughts. 

Arrange these sticky notes strategically so that it’s easy to refer back to certain sections of the book.

Use a different sticky note for each thought. Do this process for the completion of the text.

Consider using the following sentence stems to help stimulate your thoughts:

  • An important part…
  • A part that is confusing…
  • I made this type of connection…
  • A funny part…
  • This part is a favorite of mine…
  • I predict…
  • What surprised me…
  • I visualize…
how to use sticky notes while reading
how to use sticky notes while reading
how to use sticky notes while reading
how to use sticky notes while reading
how to use sticky notes while reading

3. Clarify Information.

C stands for “Clarify”.

The third step in the P.A.C.E Method is to review your notes. After reading, review your sticky notes to clarify any information that still remains unclear.

If needed, reread certain parts of the book.

Fill knowledge gaps by conducting further research and/or by asking for help.

4. Engage In Questioning.

E stands for “Engage”.

The last step in the P.A.C.E Method is to respond to various questions.

If you understood the text clearly, you should be able to answer a variety of questions related to it. See a list of comprehension questions

After you’ve completed this last step, you can go back and repeat the process to gain more clarity or deepen your understanding.

Final Thoughts: How to Use Sticky Notes While Reading

Sticky notes can be valuable tools that help to boost reading comprehension. The P.A.C.E Method is an easy-to-follow formula that leads to big results.

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