60-Second Strategy: Read-Aloud Quick Sketch

By encouraging students to sketch visual notes during a read-aloud, teachers can turn doodles into deeper learning—and help boost retention and comprehension.

At Beaumonde Junior Middle School, in Etobicoke, Ontario, English language arts teacher Chey Cheney uses a creative and practical sketchnoting activity he calls “read-aloud quick sketch” that enhances reading comprehension and long-term retention by integrating visual notetaking with listening. Rooted in the belief that reading and read-alouds (even for secondary students!) are foundational to learning, this method offers a dynamic way for students to engage with texts—without requiring every reading experience to be followed by formal written responses.

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