Reading Practice

[Deb]

Being able to read your own shorthand notes is as important as reading textbooks. If you can read textbooks well but not your own shorthand, a review of the theory and writing is in order.

I did some repeated sentence practices to practice certain Gregg shorthand outlines over and over. I wanted to practice something fairly easy, yet improve my shorthand writing. On a few I wrote faster on the second column until the last few lines for accuracy. However, it can be all for accuracy if need be.

Another option may be just word drills, like I did here. Practice those outlines you need help with. Practice them a lot. More then I did, if necessary.

One of the best ways to check your reading of your own shorthand notes is to type them up. This makes you think of each symbol because you have to go from shorthand to longhand. The next test is to wait a day, then type them up.

[Deb]

It is as important to read well as to write fast. The ability to write fast can only be gained by plenty of reading practice.

[Deb]

Why read so much? As you read you see the shorthand outline. So when you write it, you will write it like the one you've saw.

How many of you know the shape of a pumpkin without looking at one? How about the shape of a doodled heart? How about the same of a smiley face? How about the shape of an analog clock with numbers and hands? How about the shape of a hanger?

Some things might be varied, but we all know these shapes from seeing them all the time. Maybe we couldn't draw the shape of our significant other that we know so well (I can't draw), but we could give a detailed description to an artist who could do justice.

[Deb]

A quote from the 1973 shorthand instruction book for NY teachers ( archive.org/stream/ERIC_ED086788#page/n41/mode/1up ) talks about the importance of reading lots of shorthand.

[Deb]

Beginner:

You will find your reading slow. That is fine. You will not be able to read faster then longhand in any sense. You will write shorthand faster then longhand, but reading will be the same.

You are learning a new "language". Even though the words and sounds are the same, it maybe spelled different or written different then you are use to.

[Deb]

Take one of your previous lessons and try to read it backwards. Start with the last symbol. See if you can do that without previewing the outlines in front of it.

[Deb]

Training the eye in form recognition is the first reading objective. Form variation in the slightest degree must be instantly recognized, before the outline can be named.
This is the business of theory reading.

The ability to recognize grows with:
1--practice
2--increased knowledge in form construction
3--contextual understanding



From the Teaching Gregg shorthand by the analytical method.

[Deb]

Read out loud.
This requires you to "see" each outline. You will have to verbally say the word instead of just thinking it.

Sometimes our mind goes faster then out mouth and we won't realize that we're thinking the incorrect word, then quickly the correct word. Verbally we will say the incorrect word, then realize it and mentally make a note to say the correct word next time. For example, you may read a typo but not realize it's a typo (or auto correct) unless you were really paying attention or proofreading. Today most have backed away from reading thoroughly because of auto correct and text shorthand.

One way to do this is with dictation. Follow along and read out loud the shorthand while listening to the dictation. I found the pre-anniversary The Sign of Four on ebay, then found the audio on Livribox. I listened to it while I read the book. Helped a lot. Reading out loud would have helped more.

Read at any speed you feel comfortable at. You will get faster as you reread the same items. Some words and outlines may be difficult for your to say or read, but that's fine.

Read sentences and phrases that you will use in your own everyday life. The story The Milkmaid and Her Pail might be fun to read, but it's rare you will need that in your own life often enough to read it over and over.

[Deb]

"Practice reading is sometimes neglected so that pupils can write faster than they can read, and this is just opposite of what should be expected. Because a pupil has the ability to write shorthand, it does not insure his ability to read it.

Reading is just as important as writing, for a pupil's notes must be read before he can transcribe on the typewriter, and mover, reading should be more rapid than writing.

Therefore, from the very first day, students should be required to read everything they write.

Both oral and silent reading should always be included."


Problems of teaching shorthand in the high school
by Ferrari, Marion Elaine

Publication date 1933

archive.org/details/problemsofteachi00ferr/page/30

Read more: greggshorthand.proboards.com/thread/1620/problems-teaching-shorthand-high-school#ixzz5Ws38iXek

It goes on:

"Reading should commence as soon as possible in the course, but in the beginning the reading should be from engraved notes [books or written material by expert shorthand writers] rather than from the pupil's own work because the printed matter will give only accurate pictures which are sure to be retained by the pupil.

...should be read over and over again until the pupils can read correctly and without the slightest hesitation."

archive.org/details/problemsofteachi00ferr/page/40