I have never been able to take notes well. I can't seem to write fast enough and I can't write and listen at the same time, so in taking the notes I find myself missing half the lecture.

Just listening to a lecture, I often find my mind wandering.

The one thing I find does help is to draw in my sketchbook while I'm listening. Having something to do with my hands and eyes seems to open my ears to whatever I'm hearing, and I listen better and remember more. I'm not sure this will work for every kind of class, and I'll probably encounter some resistance from teachers, but so far this is the best system I've found.

What are your experiences with taking notes in class? What works best for you?

Note taking isn't too fun for me either. I do better if I can copy something instead of just listening.

Not only do I have trouble listening at the same time and taking notes, since I am aware of the problem I started to hyperfocus on the problem and aren't even able to listen.

If you have documentation of your AD/HD(and/or other LDs) you will be elligible to receive accomdations. Two big ones that help with note taking are being able to record the lecture and/or having a note taker.

One thing that has helped is definitely sitting in front of the class and bringing a tape recorder. I noticed that increasing numbers of students do that...even ones who don't have ADD:) The thing is that nowadays teachers are requiring less notetaking because with powerpoint presentations, many notes are already contained within the presentations themselves -- you just add notes to the side...hopefully you will see more of that Djiril. Perhaps if teacher has assigned reading on the material on which he is about to lecture, you can always come to class having read that material, therefore having some idea on what he will be talking about....but I do totally relate to the frustration of having to write so fast, one misses the lecture...and mind wandering...:(

The school I'm going to go to does have note-taking services, but for some reason it never occured to me to ask for them before. ;)
I tried the tape recorder once, but the teacher has such a soft voice that it didn't pick up.

Oh man how totally frustrasting....a teacher who talks softly...:( now if that isn't something that makes no sense at all I don't know what is....but sure, why not ask for a "notetaker"? They are paid to do this service....Meanwhile you get to sit there and listen and they take notes for you...and then when you go over the notes, you will have heard the material already once...cool, huh?

Well, I try to just take notes on the important points and stuff related to the themes. Doing the reading helps. IMO if its a class like history, literature math, or a science, it's a good idea to get something that summarizes it in a nutshell and read it. This helps me to some extent and I've read that ADDers are better with looking at the big picture. You can either buy cliffnotes, or go to sparknotes.com.

I like using colorful sticky notes while I read.

This is what is working for me... it took me a year to figure this out, along with help from a tutor...

things I do:
1) tape lectures on digital recorder
i) listen to it (with headphones) while "commuting" - bus to and from school, walking between classes, waiting for class to start, waiting in line etc.
ii)download them to computer files

2)make note in written lecture notes of things I don't understand, with the time (so I can find it in the recording later)
-I use PLENTY OF SPACE when writing notes... I used to try and cram stuff in, but then I realized it was WAAAAY too messy and chaotic...
-so, I make an effort to use BIG FONTS and colours to identify main topics, sub topics, definitions etc. and LEAVE SPACE INBETWEEN the sections (not so you can add later, but just to give my brain/eyes a break and to signal there is a change in topic)
-new big topic change... I just turn the page and put the title at the top... this is probably the best (simplest) thing I did for my brain! hee hee


3)textbook:
this is key to how I figured out to remember stuff...
I was so confused about reading textbooks before I tried this.
I TYPE out major heading from the book for a chapter.
I GO BACK and add in minor headings
I go back again and add in sub topics
I go back again and add in definitions and details

This whole process helps my brain to see how it pans out.
I use different colours and sizes for the different "levels"

TYPING is easier than writing, b/c I can go and revise.

KEY POINT:
-by going back redoing your ntoes, your brain is organizing the information, which requires processing and categorizing and storing the info... until you do that, it's just meaningless info, without any connections of flow.

Once you organize the info, your brain will have stored it away somewhere, and thus, you have "learned" it.

...now the trick is to keep at this..
but I found that because I found myself actually LEARNING and REMEMBERING the stuff, I wasn't anxious about "studying", and that I didn't procrastinate AS MUCH.

Get a "notetaker" from the Disability Office at your School.

The one thing I find does help is to draw in my sketchbook while I'm listening. Having something to do with my hands and eyes seems to open my ears to whatever I'm hearing, and I listen better and remember more. I'm not sure this will work for every kind of class, and I'll probably encounter some resistance from teachers, but so far this is the best system I've found.
That makes sense to me. I used to draw all over the margins of my notes and it somehow helped to keep me focused. My notes were always a disaster and I probably could have benefited from having a note taker. My friend was a notetaker and I went with her to the disabilities office one day to photocopy her notes and the guy there asked me if I wanted to be a note taker. I just laughed.

You can use a note-taker if you desire (it can be a profession notetaker or another student in your class), however my school disability counsler asks of her students to continue to take their own notes even when they have a note-taker. I find that being near my friends (even though it can be a distraction sometimes ;) ), helps me to focus and take better notes. Sitting in the front of the room can help avoid distractions. I got this note out of a book, if you are right handed sit to the left side of the room. Oppisite way if you are left handed (right side of the room). Don't know y but that's what I read.