I see, you're only learning from these books and no classes at all, right? That's why practicing is probably a good idea. How long have you been learning from it?
That's good idea to take a class this fall. Practice by chatting would help alot, for example: one of my friend who just went deaf became good at sign language within months because he was socializing with other deaf people.
No, no classes yet and a I totally think I'll love it when I do take a class I already love when I'm talking and realize I can sign the whole sentence I just said