Below is a sample of one of our daily schedules. We have hundreds of daily schedules that target different areas each day, so the schedule below is just a small taste. This is an actual schedule taken directly from our program. When I talk about "typing" your notes, that can be actual typing, or using CAT software.
SimplySteno.com Schedule – 200 WPM DAY 11
Time – 3 Hours, 20 Minutes
Golden Tickets! They’re everywhere! Do you know what I’m talking about? If not, you probably think I’m nuts. Even if you do, you probably think I’m nuts : ) But a Golden Ticket is what you need, and that’s exactly what you’re going to get.
I was in class one day speaking once again about the importance of using all of your typing time (for the billionth time). What brought it up was the fact that I had graded a test that day and the student had used the word “finely” instead of “finally” in the test she typed. She took 45 minutes of her 75 minutes of typing time. Think she would have found her error if she had used all her proofing time? In the context of the sentence, yes.
But that’s not why I’m bringing it up. As I was speaking with the class, one of my students who had just taken the CSR exam (December 2003) got visibly upset. She had not passed the test. She turned to the class and said “The typing room should be your temple. I screwed up in the typing room and that’s why I didn’t pass.” She went on to explain that she had put so much time into her writing, she totally neglected the typing part.
She found herself unprepared to type for 3 hours. She found herself unprepared for the pressure of proctors shouting out, “5 more minutes!” She found herself without a proofing plan once she had finished her first draft. She found herself without the ability to make educated guesses on her notes. She failed the test in the typing room. Now, I rarely use the word “failed.” I always use the more positive, “did not pass.” But in this case, a fact is a fact. She’s a great writer who failed when it came time to transcribe.
Don't let the typing room be your downfall.
Things you need today –
1 – Your Red Pen
Do you have a special place you’ve been practicing? Comfortable? Eaten something? You can’t practice and focus if you have a growling stomach. Now let’s get your fingers stretched out. Spread your fingers as far apart as they’ll go. Use one hand to push the fingers on the other hand back. Then the other hand.
1 – FINGER DRILL EXERCISE 11A – 5 Minutes
A - Steady finger movement – 1, 2, 3, 4 - accuracy is the key – not speed. Go over this drill 10 times – at a speed of about 2 or 3 strokes per second. After 10 times, repeat any of the outlines that may have caused you to stumble. Repeat the drill for 5 minutes – 2 or 3 strokes per second.
2 – FINGER FUN EXERCISE PAGE 11 – 5 Minutes
A - Follow the instructions on page 11.
3 – 190 LITERARY DICTATION 11A – 5 Minutes
A – We’re going to do this take twice, back-to-back, and read back the second take. Are you doing your breathing exercises every time before you begin? Are you visualizing the red, negative energy being expelled from your body and the positive energy being taken in? Start the dictation.
B – Toss your notes in the trash can.
4 – 190 LITERARY DICTATION 11A – 15 Minutes
A – One more time, only this time we’ll go over your notes (computer or paper) afterwards. You have a sneak peak now, so you know the areas that may trip you up. Make the decision to go for them or drop them as soon as possible. 3 GREEN breaths in and 3 RED breaths out. Start the dictation.
B – Now go over your notes and stop the dictation at each spot you had an error. If you have a drop of a few words or more, take a look up a few lines. Was there something there that caused you to stumble? If so, was it worth trying to get it?
C – Toss your notes in the trash can.
5 – 210 2-VOICE DICTATION 11A – 5 Minutes
A – A last push before we test. That’s right, test! Ahhhhh!!!! Oh, wait…a test isn’t that bad. It’s just another chunk of dictation, just like the 4 million we’ve done before. And in your case a test is a good thing. Sounds lame, right? But a test is your Golden Ticket.
Just in case you’ve never seen Willy Wonka, I’ll explain. There was a boy named Charlie who had a dream. He wanted more than anything to visit Willy Wonka in a magical chocolate factory. The only way to do that was to find a Golden Ticket that was hidden within only a few of millions of candy bars. The chances of finding that Golden Ticket and living his dreams were pretty thin. But…this was a movie, so he found that Golden Ticket and everybody lived happily ever after.
In your case the Golden Ticket is your state exam. And you don’t have to search high and low for it – it’s right there! They are handing it to you! All you have to do is take it from them!
A test is nothing more than an opportunity to prove what you’ve learned. Don’t you think you’ve learned how to write well on your machine? Haven’t you acquired a skill that very few can even understand? You should be looking forward to tests! Every test is a Golden Ticket just begging to be snatched up by you!
B – You know what – let’s forget about the 210 and let’s go straight into the test right now!
6 – 200 2-VOICE DICTATION 11A – 65 Minutes
A – This is a test (Golden Ticket). Make sure you’ve set aside enough time to write for 5 minutes, and then type for 60.
B - Space up. Do a mental check of your body. Relaxed? Close your eyes. Take 3 GREEN breaths in and 3 RED breaths out. Start the dictation.
C - When the last word was spoken, how was your body? Relaxed or tight? If you were tight, make a mental note of that. You need to occasionally check your body during dictation pauses.
D – Now take your notes and head over to the computer. Start transcribing. You have 60 minutes. Not 61 and definitely not 59. 60. Do not use less time than you have. Use every last second. You probably won’t have enough time to type up the whole test – that’s fine. Don’t second guess yourself. You have to trust your notes. Your first instinct is usually correct. And you need to accept the fact that people occasionally misspeak. Make educated guesses if you have an empty space that you know was an error. You have nothing to lose.
I always use phone numbers as a perfect example. If the witness says 888 555-1212, but you only have 888 555-12 in your notes, are you going to leave the last 2 numbers off? That’s 2 errors. If you guess 7 and 3, that’s still 2 errors. Frankly, I’d rather take a guess and maybe one would be right! Start transcribing.
E – Done? Send your partially transcribed test to grading@rprprep.com Please include your name in the email and test number – 200 2V 11A.
7 - BREAK TIME – 10 Minutes
Drink coffee or soft drinks before you write? If you do it for the adrenaline rush, get out of the habit if you can. What comes up, must come down. And the downside you usually feel after a caffeine rush is usually lower than when you started.
8 – 210 2-VOICE DICTATION 11A – 10 Minutes
A – Let’s do that 210 now and do it for readback. Your batteries should be recharged a bit and your energy level should be pretty high. You’ve been putting in your practice time – worthwhile practice time - and how can you not feel good after that?!
GREEN air in and RED air out, right? Start the dictation.
B – Let’s check out your notes. No need to stop the dictation if you come across an error, just let it go and circle in red as many as you can. When you’re done, toss your notes into the trash can.
9 – 200 2-VOICE DICTATION 11B – 15 Minutes
A – Last readback of the day, so let’s really focus. Scan your body out from head to toe. Close your eyes. Take 3 GREEN breaths in and 3 RED breaths out. Start the dictation.
B – Play back the dictation and check your notes, stopping the dictation to circle your err ors.
C –Toss your notes in the trash can.
10 – 180 2-VOICE DICTATION 11A – 5 Minutes
A – And we’ll finish off the day with something a little more comfortable. Make it count. There is no “throwaway” dictation. Every single piece of dictation you write on your machine counts and you should put in the same amount of focus, regardless of the speed.
Sometimes writing at a speed below yours is even harder because you have that extra time between strokes for your mind to wander. That’s when you really have to pull it together and get back in the moment. Close your eyes. Take 3 GREEN breaths in and 3 RED breaths out. Start the dictation.
B –Toss your notes in the trash can.
11 – PUNCTUATION LESSON 11A – 45 Minutes
A – This is a continuation of yesterday's exercise, so make sure you save your work. We'll be testing on Friday.
12 – VOCABULARY LESSON 11A – 15 Minutes
A – You know the drill. You have 5 words to look up. Make a sentence up for each word and make sure it's relevant to the - no trying to sneak one through!
POST PRACTICE
Tests are nothing but Golden Tickets. And the state hands them out for free every few months if you’re one of the few who are prepared enough to take them. You have plenty of time to solidify that mental state that lets you stand up there, confidently, and take it out of their hand. Can you picture that?
Really, let’s picture it. The fact is that you get your test results by mail. It’s fairly anticlimactic considering all that you’ll be accomplishing. You deserve a parade! Maybe I’m biased. But imagine standing up on a podium, dressed in your graduation gown, your family and friends watching, as the state representative hands you a Golden Ticket.
The skies open up and a beam of light shines right upon you. The crowd goes nuts! You throw your arms up in victory!
Look forward to tests – they are Golden Tickets that allow you entry into everything you’ve been working towards.