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who specializes in reading and writing instruction. Together, we dive deep into the world of note taking—what it really means, why it’s essential, and how it can be tailored to fit every kind of learner (yes, even the ones who love doodling during Shark Week!). Michelle shares her personal journey of transitioning from traditional teaching to homeschooling her neurodivergent daughter, and how this experience shaped her approach to individualized learning. The conversation covers everything from the benefits of classic note taking methods like Cornell Notes, to the creative freedom of sketchnoting, to practical strategies for kids who struggle with handwriting or prefer digital tools. Whether you’re a homeschooling parent, an educator, or someone just curious about how to help learners capture and process information in ways that work for them, this episode is packed with actionable tips and a refreshing reminder: the best notes are the ones your child will actually take.

In this episode you'll hear about:

Brief overview of Michelle’s background as both a homeschooling parent and a college professor
Michelle’s unexpected journey into homeschooling due to her daughter’s needs
Comparison of homeschooling environment vs. public school and college-level teaching
Transition from traditional teaching to online homeschool classes for middle and high schoolers
Community and philosophy behind her educational approach
Michelle’s Teaching Platform and Community
Introduction to Dayla Learning
Description of available classes, resources, and the supportive parent community
The Role and Value of Note Taking
Addressing parental concerns about note taking and working memory
Is note taking necessary in the digital age?
Emphasis on note taking as a process rather than a product
Value of making thought processes external and the variability among individual learners
Anecdotes demonstrating different note-taking styles (color-coding, outlines, etc.)
Importance of experimentation and flexibility with note taking
Note Taking Methods: Personal Experiences
Sarah’s experiences teaching her son to take notes using Shark Week as a topic
Reflection on traditional outline format and contrast with her son’s drawing/sketchnoting style
The challenge of letting go of preconceived ideas about note-taking formats
Research and Best Practices in Note Taking
Explicit Note-Taking Strategies and Teaching Approaches
Sketchnoting
Visual note-taking as a supplement to standard methods
Use of mind maps, columns, bullet points, and illustrations
Customization and Flexibility in Note Taking
The value of having multiple templates and options for different subjects (e.g., timelines for history, concept maps for analysis)
Encouraging learners to create their own templates and systems
Handwriting vs. Digital Note Taking
Research indicating the benefits of handwriting for retention, with caveats regarding digital natives
Prioritizing accessibility and separating skills as needed (writing vs. synthesizing content)
Supporting students who struggle with handwriting through guided notes and breaking down tasks
Annotation as a Note-Taking Method
Benefits of annotating texts (writing in books or using transparent sticky notes)
Michelle’s personal annotation symbol system and its long-term usefulness
Annotation as a lower-pressure way for reluctant writers to engage with content
Practicing Note Taking Across Formats
In-class practice: taking notes on articles, videos, stories, and visual materials
Self-evaluation of strategies to foster metacognition and executive functioning
Recommended Resources and Tools
Prepped Cornell Note material (printed or drawn)
Direct instruction resources (e.g., YouTube library tutorials)
Hands-on, personalized approaches (choosing or designing their own materials)

Links and Resources From Today's Show

Connect With Our Guest, Michelle Parrinello-Cason

Michelle Parrinello-Cason is a writer, educator, and lifelong seeker of stories that embrace tension and complexity. She holds a Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition from Saint Louis University, where she studied agonism and the interplay of oppression and freedom in remedial writing instruction.

After years in higher ed, she now creates ELA courses for the secular homeschooling community through her platform, Dayla Learning — a space for “homeschooling the humanities with humanity.” Her work centers on writing as a reflective process and literature as a way to navigate ambiguity and meaning. A homeschooling parent and academic, Michelle helps students read critically and empathetically, especially when engaging with challenged or banned books. She believes students can approach complex texts with care, curiosity, and evolving ethical insight.

Her work has appeared in Pretty Much Pop and the Secular, Eclectic, Academic Homeschoolers magazine, and she has presented at academic and homeschool conferences. Her interests include pop culture as text, educational equity, neurodivergent learning, and empowering all readers and writers.

Rethinking Note Taking: Strategies, Mindsets, and Making It Work for Your Child