Hadley

Contracted Braille Writing 21: Shortforms Set 3

Hadley presents Contracted Braille Writing Workshop 21: Shortforms Set 3.

If you don't already know how to read these shortforms, we recommend first doing Hadley's reading workshop, Contracted Braille Workshop 21: Shortforms Set 3.

Okay, let's check out these shortforms. Turn to page 25 in the workbook. At the top of the page, read the shortform contractions: quick, letter, good, blind, friend, little, children, and first.

Let's practice writing paragraphs using these contractions. The paragraphs you'll be writing will be read in this recording, and will also be written in uncontracted braille in your workbook. You can use these uncontracted braille paragraphs on pages 26 through 28 to check the spelling of words and names, and to check how numbers and other symbols are to be written. Write the sentences in contracted braille.

Start this passage about friends by indenting and writing this first paragraph:

Ms. Goodacre wanted to give her new friendship with Ms. Linkletter, comma, who is blind, comma, a test with the quickest cooking lesson.

Ms. Goodacre had been volunteering at society for the blind, comma, and that is how she first met her friend.

Now write the second paragraph:

First, comma, Ms. Goodacre sat down to write a letter to her children, comma, and then she'd decide what they should cook.

Upon finishing the letter, comma, Ms. Goodacre mused, comma, opening quotation mark, I wonder if her blindness will keep her from being able to cook, question mark, closing quotation mark.

Continue with the third paragraph:

Meanwhile, comma, at Ms. Linkletter's home, comma, the friendliest phone call, opening parenthesis, about good cooking, closing parenthesis, came from Ms. Goodacre, period. Opening quotation mark, Would you like to come over and do some cooking tomorrow, comma, as I have the best little cookie recipe you ever ate, exclamation mark, closing quotation mark.

Indent for the next paragraph:

Ms. Linkletter thought that this would be a good opportunity to show Ms. Goodacre everything that a blind person can do.

Ms. Linkletter had noticed that sometimes her friend quickly jumped in to do things for her.

She thought, comma, opening quotation mark, She treats me like she treats her grandchildren, semicolon, is it that I am blind, question mark, closing quotation mark.

Start the next paragraph: Opening quotation mark. That's a good idea, comma, but first, I'd like to spend a little time showing you some things I've learned to do, comma, closing quotation mark, Ms. Linkletter responded.

Continue with this next paragraph:

The next day, comma, the women gathered with some friends at Ms. Linkletter's home and started with a quick tour of the kitchen.

The first thing Ms. Goodacre noticed was the little marks on the oven, comma, stove, comma, and microwave.

Indent for the dialogue in the next sentence:

Opening quotation mark, What are those little dots, question mark, closing quotation mark, she asked.

Now, continue with the next paragraph:

Opening quotation mark, They are a quick way to set my oven or microwave without seeing, comma, closing quotation mark, Ms. Linkletter said, period. Opening quotation mark, You may be interested to know that my grandchildren did such a good job placing them that I can still cook to perfection, exclamation mark. And my littlest granddaughter thought she was putting letters on the appliances, exclamation mark, closing quotation mark, Ms. Linkletter laughed.

Opening quotation mark, Honestly, comma, closing quotation mark. She continued, comma, opening quotation mark, even children who can't read their letters yet can learn to use the markings on the microwave, period, closing quotation mark.

Now indent and write:

Next, comma, Ms. Linkletter gave her friends quick lessons on staying safe while cooking by using good lighting and knife safety tips.

Indent and write:

Opening quotation mark, prior to baking, comma, let's first have some of this good coffee I made. I'll pour, comma, closing quotation mark, Ms. Linkletter said.

Continue with the next paragraph:

Opening quotation mark, No, comma, no, comma, closing quotation mark, Ms. Goodacre worried. Opening quotation mark, You can't do that with your blindness, semicolon, you'll get burned, exclamation mark, closing quotation mark.

Indent for the final paragraph:

Ms. Linkletter just winked and smiled at her new friend, comma, showing her one of the first skills she learned when she was newly blinded, exclamation mark.

Now you can check your writing with the contracted braille on pages 29 and 30. Did you notice in the very first sentence, that the shortform, gd, for, good, cannot be used in the longer word, Goodacre? How about the word, blinded, in the last sentence? Don't use the shortform in either of those words because they are followed by a vowel.

Congratulations, you've learned to braille a third set of shortforms. Do you have any questions about what you just brailled? Reach out to a braille expert today at 847-784-2816. We are excited to help.