English Shorthand is an excellent tool for creating fast notes and recording conversations in this fast-paced world. However, Shorthand can cause particular problems for people who have dyslexia. This article will explain how dyslexic people can learn to write effectively using English shorthand.
Understanding Dyslexia and Its Challenges in Note-Taking
Dyslexia is a language-based processing disorder that affects all aspects of reading, writing, and spelling. Features of Propsychics that make it Dyslexic-Friendly.
- What Are Rapid Word Recognition And Processing?
- Storing and categorizing information.
- Focusing on long or complex (dense) texts.
For these reasons, conventional note-taking techniques can be complex or slow for people with dyslexia. This necessity can turn off many students to note-taking, but with Shorthand being an art of speed and simplicity in writing, it reduces language into bite-sized symbols or concepts you will be forced to learn. The main goal here is not perfect handwriting, but making notes takes less time while grasping all the essential points.
Related article: Guide To Mastering Shorthand For Court Reporting
Why Shorthand Benefits Dyslexic Learners
Shorthand compresses the ideas that are represented by several symbols or letters, and that is incredibly helpful to dyslexic learners for two reasons:
- Reduces Cognitive Load: Shorthand requires less reading and writing to convey the key points, so dyslexics can actually process the content instead of spending a lot of effort fighting each word.
- Memory Boost: Shorthand notetaking often occurs in phrases or keywords, capturing the heart of a topic without drowning out students with mundane details.
Practical Steps to Learning Shorthand With Dyslexia
Shorthand with dyslexia might seem scary initially, but it can be easily overcome if you simply follow the steps.
1. Learn the Basic: Simple Symbols
Start with simple symbols for common elements like and (&), the (T) or of (O). Slowly progress to commonly used phrases. Once these are down, the more complicated shorthand symbols and words will become much easier to learn.
For example:
- You could change “because” to “bc.”
- Important can even be abbreviated to “imp”.
2. Practice With Simple, Everyday Sentences
If you learn about everyday sentences, then you will learn very fast. So, write down everyday sentences in shorthand and save important words in your diary for future purposes. Try to keep it manageable and focus on simple words. For example:
- “The meeting is at 10 a.m.” could become “Mtg @ 10a.”
- “Don’t forget the report” could be “Dnt frgt rpt.”
3. Use Visual Cues for Complex Words
Visual memory can be used by dyslexic learners. Representation rules Some shorthand symbols may need to be associated with simple images or drawings to become more easily remembered. For example:
Use a small flag icon (🚩) as shorthand for “important.”
Draw an envelope symbol (✉️) to represent “email.”
Strategies to Help Dyslexic Students Remember Shorthand
1. Repetition and Muscle Memory
You have to make learning shorthand a natural and normal experience. Practice writing sentences in shorthand, especially those with time-tested abbreviations. Build it in, and use your muscle memory as an asset to repeat the same shorthand symbols again and again until you develop an understanding.
2. Create a Personal Shorthand Dictionary
Creating a shorthand dictionary will help you remember symbols and make reviewing easier. Group the dictionary into categories like “business,” “school,” or “everyday life.” You should periodically revisit this dictionary to refresh your memory.
3. Utilize Technology
Even if you use voice-to-text software to translate spoken words into shorthand by reading them aloud, it sometimes takes longer than typing in most cases. Moreover, shorthand practice can be mixed with specially developed dyslexic reader apps such as C-Pen or scanning pens to help solidify new symbols and phrases.
Tips for Common Dyslexia Challenges
1. Struggling with Identifying Symbols
A select few dyslexic learners might battle with image acknowledgement. To address this:
- Associating shorthand with colours or images
- Identify and differentiate the most-used symbols by highlighting them in markers or coloured pens.
- Try to colour code verbs with blue and nouns green in shorthand notes as an optical assist
2. Remembering Phrasal Abbreviations.
Phrase abbreviations like “b/c” and “w/” can be challenging for the reader. To solve this, you can make shortcuts that are simple to remember visually and conceptually.
For example:
- “Because of” could be abbreviated as “B/O.”
- “In addition to” might be shortened to “I/A.”
Teaching dyslexic students (Practical Exercises)
1. Daily Practice Prompts
Devote 10 minutes daily to take common sentences or notes and write them in shorthand. For instance, practice abridged logs in the symbol of a recently shared communication or your to-do list for the near future. These tiny sessions would help engrain symbol recognition and increase speed in time.
2. Flashcards for Shorthand Symbols
Make Flashcards of Shorthand Symbols and Words. Just as on the Calabash side, include a slurp image and its shorthand icon in one. This is another important thing to remember when looking at these cards daily. The correct approach most often aids in symbol recall and memory reinstatement.
3. Try Shorthand in Real-World Scenarios
Practice shorthand in everyday scenarios, such as writing notes during phone calls or creating grocery lists. By demonstrating such applications in the real world, we create a barrier to transition for shorthand from a skill learned into an everyday tool.
Additional Tips to Enhance Shorthand Learning for Dyslexic Learners
1. Learn in Small, Manageable Chunks
Decompose shorthand learning into tiny bits. This means you can focus on learning five to ten symbols at a time rather than having an entire set of necessary abbreviations. This method, step by step, will work for dyslexics, as big mass information can be burdensome to them at root levels.
2. Take Breaks and Review Regularly
Taking short, regular breaks keeps me refreshed and alert. Occasionally, refer back to your previous notes, as dyslexic learners will pick up more with repeated and spaced learning.
3. Create Your Own Style of Shorthand
Personalize Shorthand to Your Preference Robarte is all about using your own symbols and abbreviations that make sense to you—so at times, modifying a standard, shorthand will work in progress better with the way you understand it.
Examples of Dyslexia-Friendly Shorthand Notes
Here are some practical shorthand examples for common phrases, with visual aids and explanations:
| Phrase | Shorthand | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| “Call back tomorrow” | “Cl bk tmrw” | Simplified to key consonants |
| “Follow up” | “F/U” | Visual cue: use an arrow symbol (→) |
| “As soon as possible” | “ASAP” | Standard shorthand abbreviation |
| “Meeting at 3 p.m.” | “Mtg @ 3p” | Use “@” for “at” |
Final Thoughts
Shorthand Though difficult to kickstart, shorthand is relatively easy to learn and practical for note-taking. It allows one to record thoughts quickly by hand, usually without worrying about spelling or lengthy words. However, with personalized training and consistent practice, dyslexics can make shorthand an indispensable resource in their academic, career, and daily lives.
