My sons learned how to type when they were in elementary school. We started with Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing and later found Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing with Sponge Bob.
The interactive software made typing fun and easy to learn.
Mavis Beacon is fully interactive and keeps
track of students’ progress by measuring accuracy and speed. It also keeps
track of errors made by students and suggests games that concentrate on problem
areas. Games can be selected by
clicking on the Game Room. This software also emphasizes
specific typing skills, such as speed and accuracy. This is perfect for
young kids; however, older children should find a different option.
Emphasizing typing early on has provided a great tool to our kids. The earlier they are able to become proficient, the better off they have become! JO
ReplyDeleteI agree. It is never too early. It is amazing that the school system does not offer typing until high school. Good thing that we, as homeschoolers, are in control.
DeleteThis is one area we've struggled with learning. We found a Mickey Mouse typing CD but it was too young for my older children to really enjoy it. Really interested in the CD's available, would love something my sons (Sponge Bob) would be interested in and the other CD looks like something my oldest daughter would work with. Any other ideas for typing curriculum's or resources would be FABULOUS!~P.W.
ReplyDeletePlease see reply below. Sorry for the delay. We just got back from vacation.
DeleteHello Tricia. Thanks for your comments. Here are some additional tips about typing.
ReplyDelete1.Check the correct finger position (fig. 1) and teach your children that this is the position that the fingers must return to before and after typing. The letter J and F have a little bump on them, which makes it easier to know if the fingers have been placed in the right position.
2. Make sure that the students uses all 10 fingers as shown above (fig. 1)
Notice that the keyboard (fig. 2) is color coded and each matching finger has the same color code as the keyboard. Allow the students to create a mental map of each key so that they are not hunting and pecking their way around.
3. We don’t normally use the muscles required for typing, so make sure they stretch their fingers.
4. Do not allow them to create bad habits. They should not look at the keyboard or use the wrong fingers. It is best to be slower, but accurate.
5. Once the children master the concepts above, they can have a competition to find out who can type the fastest and the most accurate. Give them one sentence to start with. Increase the number of lines as they improve their typing skill. Allow them to practice the sentence or paragraph before the competition.
Make a list of prizes each individual child would like to have. A few extra hours of video game time, a new book, a new game, or anything else they may be interested in. Instead of giving them an award each time, they can earn a point for each time they win. After a certain number of points, allow them to pick an award.
6.Learning how to type can be tedious, so 15 to 20 minutes of typing a day is more than sufficient.