Note-taking accommodations (guided notes, copies of notes)

By the IEP Atlas editorial teamLast updated November 1, 2026

Short answer

A note-taking accommodation gives a student the content of a lesson without depending on fast handwriting, spelling or working memory. The most common are guided notes with blanks, a copy of the teacher's notes or slides, permission to record, and typed notes. Write each with the format, the classes, when it is given and who provides it.

Copying notes asks a student to listen, hold words in memory, spell and write, all at the pace of the teacher. A student who struggles with any one of those ends up with notes that are incomplete or unreadable, and then studies from them. A note-taking accommodation removes the barrier so the notes are usable.

The 24 accommodations below are written the way they should read in the IEP, with an accommodation or modification check and the effect on grading and testing. They are illustrations. The IEP must list the supports the student needs,^[1] so write each one clearly enough that a substitute could provide it. For how to choose and write any accommodation, start with the pillar on IEP accommodations.

Pick the format from the barrier

Different barriers need different note supports. Match before you write.

Barrier seen in the classroom	Best-fit accommodation	Why
Slow or painful handwriting	Typed notes or a copy of notes	Removes the motor load
Poor spelling makes notes unreadable	Typed notes with spell-check, or guided notes	Keeps notes readable later
Loses track while listening and writing	Guided notes with blanks	Cuts the writing to key words
Misses details in fast lectures	Copy of slides before class, or recording	Lets the student listen first
Cannot tell what is important	Guided notes or a skeleton outline	Shows the structure
Copies from the board slowly	Board content on paper or a device	Removes far-to-near copying

Guided notes keep the student active, which a full copy does not. For most students, start with guided notes and use full copies only when writing is truly the barrier. The note-taking goal hub has goals for building the skill alongside the support.

24 note-taking accommodations written for the IEP

Guided and partial notes

Accommodation as written in the IEP	Type	Effect on grading and testing
1. Guided notes with key terms left blank for each lecture in science and social studies, given by the teacher at the start of class.	Accommodation	None
2. A skeleton outline with headings for each lesson in English, given at the start of class.	Accommodation	None
3. Guided notes with no more than 10 blanks per page, so the student writes single words or short phrases.	Accommodation	None
4. A word bank on the guided notes page for the first 2 units of each course, then faded.	Accommodation	None on notes; check if notes are graded
5. Guided notes posted to the course page by the start of class, so the student can use them on a laptop.	Accommodation	None
6. A graphic organizer for notes during videos and readings in content classes.	Accommodation	None

Copies of notes

Accommodation as written in the IEP	Type	Effect on grading and testing
7. A copy of the teacher's slides given before each lecture in all core classes.	Accommodation	None
8. A complete copy of class notes posted to the course page by the end of the school day.	Accommodation	None
9. A copy of notes from a designated peer note-taker, collected by the teacher and given to the student the same day.	Accommodation	None
10. A printed copy of anything written on the board that the class must copy, given at the time of copying.	Accommodation	None
11. A summary of key points, 5 to 8 bullets, at the end of each lesson in math, from the teacher.	Accommodation	None
12. Notes from days the student was absent or out for services, given within 2 school days.	Accommodation	None

Tools and technology

Accommodation as written in the IEP	Type	Effect on grading and testing
13. Use of a laptop or tablet to type notes in all classes.	Accommodation	None
14. Permission to audio record lectures for personal study, in all classes, deleted at the end of the semester.	Accommodation	None
15. Use of a phone or tablet to photograph board notes, in all classes.	Accommodation	None
16. A smart pen that links handwritten notes to an audio recording, provided by the school.	Accommodation	None
17. Speech-to-text for adding to notes after class.	Accommodation	None
18. Captions on all videos shown in class.	Accommodation	None

Time, structure and study

Accommodation as written in the IEP	Type	Effect on grading and testing
19. Two extra minutes at the end of each lesson to finish notes before the class moves on.	Accommodation	None
20. A 10-minute weekly session with the case manager to check notes for missing parts before a test.	Accommodation	None
21. The teacher pauses for 30 seconds after each key point during lectures so students can write.	Accommodation	None
22. Use of the student's own notes or guided notes on open-note quizzes, when the class has that option.	Accommodation	None
23. Use of a one-page notes sheet on unit tests when other students do not have one.	Modification	Changes what the test measures if recall is part of the standard
24. Notebook checks graded for completion only, not accuracy or neatness.	Modification if other students are graded on accuracy	Changes how the grade is earned; note per district policy

Items 23 and 24 can change the standard. A notes sheet on a test the rest of the class takes from memory reduces what the student must learn. If the team wants it, write it as a modification and explain the effect on grades. The page on accommodations vs modifications has the test. For testing supports in general, see testing accommodations.

Guided notes vs full copies

	Guided notes	Full copy of notes
What the student does	Listens and fills key words	Listens, may highlight
Active learning	Yes	Less
Teacher prep	10 to 20 minutes per lesson the first time, then reusable	Little, if slides exist
Best for	Attention, organization, mild writing needs	Severe writing or motor needs
Risk	Too many blanks becomes copying again	Student stops listening

A common plan is guided notes in class plus a full copy afterward to check against. That gives both the active listening and a complete set to study from.

A worked example

Theo is a fictional 8th grader with ADHD and slow handwriting. In September his science teacher scored his notes against her own key points. Over 4 lectures, his notes captured 6, 4, 7 and 5 of 15 key points, a median of about 37%.

The team added item 1 (guided notes, 12 blanks per page) and item 8 (a full copy after school). Over the next 4 lectures, his guided notes captured 11, 12, 12 and 13 of 15 key points. His unit test score rose from 58% to 76% of items correct. The team kept both supports and added a goal for filling guided notes with no prompts.

To score notes this way, use the accuracy data sheet with the teacher's key points as the item list.

Building the skill alongside the support

An accommodation keeps the student from falling behind. A goal teaches the skill. A typical step is to fade the guided notes over the year: from 10 blanks per page to 20, then to an outline with headings only. Each step is a short-term objective. The study skills goals and organization goals have template wording. Students with attention needs may also benefit from the ideas in ADHD accommodations in the classroom.

Mistakes to avoid

Weak: "Copies of notes as needed." Better: say which classes, when the copy is given and who provides it.
Weak: a full copy for a student whose barrier is attention. Better: guided notes, so the student stays engaged.
Weak: guided notes with a blank every third word. Better: blanks for key terms only.
Weak: the peer note-taker is never named and the notes stop in October. Better: the teacher collects and checks peer notes each day.

Frequently asked questions

Are guided notes an accommodation or a modification?

Guided notes are an accommodation when they cover the same content as the full lesson. They change how the student records the content, not what the student must learn.

Can a student get a copy of the teacher's notes?

Yes, if the IEP or 504 team decides the student needs it. Write when the copy is given, in which classes, and who provides it, so every teacher does it the same way.

Is recording lectures allowed?

Many schools allow it as an accommodation for personal study only. Check district policy on recording and privacy, and write the limits into the IEP.

Use it in IEP Atlas

Sources

34 CFR §300.320: Definition of individualized education program, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
Accommodations: Instructional and Testing Supports for Students with Disabilities, IRIS Center, Vanderbilt University

Written and checked by the IEP Atlas editorial team under our editorial policy. This guide describes general practice and federal rules. It is not legal advice; your state may add requirements, and the IEP team makes the decisions for each student.