Ooohh Back to School! :)

Today was my first day back to school from vacation! We got 2 weeks off, and I was SO ready to go back! I also started my court and deposition procedures class (it seems like it's going to be reallly boring) lol I hope I can stay awake!

Anyway, so today after I got home I relaxed for a little bit and then decided to get a little bit of practice time in. I listened to my 2 classes that I had today from my voice recorder. It only came out to about a full hour of dictation, but I typed it anyway. One class was strictly medical, and the other was jury.

So, I've been on a brief kick lately because I bought this new book:



and I absolutely LOVE it! I know it's not a "Sten Ed" brief book, and it's not 100% conflict-free, but HEAVEN forbid your writing isn't 100% conflict-free! I don't even think that's possible! I just love how the book gives briefs on pretty much every word imaginable, and they're easy to remember AND easy on the fingers! So I've been adding words to my rolodex of briefs so I can quiz myself every day, and I also add them to my personal dictionary on case catalyst.

When I talk about this book having way easier briefs than the Sten Ed dictionary, I will give you this example:
The word "perform." With the Sten Ed way it's P-FRPL or you can do it in two strokes. With the Brief Encounters book it gives you this option: PORM. EASY to remember and WAY easier on the fingers than trying to twist your fingers into the P-FRPL position!

So it works for me. I've always been pretty good about remembering briefs -- especially if they're easy on the fingers.

So just throwing out that other option to any of you that are reading this that are in the Sten Ed theory!!!

--Alyson

It's been a while!

Sorry I haven't posted something in what seems like forever! I have been on a 2 week break from school, and honestly I have only been on my machine, I think, like 4 times. BAD ME!!

But, I really needed a break since court reporting is an every day thing, and I think when you become burnt out, that's not good! You need some kinda days off! I recently got back from a 3-day Mexico cruise and it was so much fun! (Much needed, too.) :)

So anyway, I practiced last Wednesday (the 3rd) and I forgot to post a blog on what/how I practiced.

This is what my schedule was like for Wednesday:
Started off by looking at my rolodex of briefs (just started from the beginning) and stroked those out several times each for about 45 minutes, and added what didn't translate into my personal dictionary.

Then I worked on some dictation material that the court reporting director uploaded onto my laptop. One of the exercises was phrases that ended in dashes (in a Q/A format) which was dictated at a nice easy pace of 120wpm. I went through that about 4 times. That was a good exercise! And I think you can get it on www.courtreportinghelp.com.

After that I worked on stroking out addresses which was dictated at 100wpm. I worked on accuracy.

Then I finished with a 180 literary dictation for about 30 minutes. I didn't type for very long it seemed like, and I honestly kind of jumped around in my exercises that day. Not too sure if that's the right thing to do, but I'm trying to work every session like this: brush up on briefs, work on accuracy, and push. (At LEAST get those 3 components in).


--Alyson