teaching typing/keyboarding

[Gracefulmom]

I'm wondering how to teach typing to my 8yo. She likes to send emails, write stories, etc. on the computer... but hasn't learned how to type yet. She does use several fingers in her "pecking" method so I think she's ready to learn.

I know there are several programs available, but I'm not familiar with any of them. Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks!

[reeseccup]

I've read great reviews about the jumpstart typing, but haven't found it locally and so not bought it. We have the MevisBacon(sp) on and it's dry so ds (teen) gave it up a long time ago. I have just this week found another one in a multi-pack, but haven't tried it out yet. Will review when we do it.

http://www.smartkidssoftware.com/ndsas5.htm this is the software I came across and will try when we get to it.

[Lillian J]

Here are some free kids' typing sites:
Keyboarding - ComputerLabKids

Let us know if any of them work out well for her. Lillian

[kaylee18]

I tried several teaching programs when trying to teach myself to touch-type. Mavis Beacon is worthless IMO (and in the opinion of my mom, an old-school speed typist). I gave up on learning from drills and lessons after about a year of frustration. In college, I got the advice that led to my current skill in touch typing:

Always, always register your hands on the keys (index fingers on F and J) and always use the correct finger (as designated on diagrams you can find many places - I'm sure a Google search would get you some) to type each key. Then type whatever you were going to type (an email, an essay, whatever). The repetition of the movements by each finger lead your brain to "map" each finger with the set of letters it can access.

After about 6 months of just doing this every time I typed anything, I was touch typing consistently. I was surprised at how effortless it was - I never had to do those stupid boring drills.

As a side note - you may want to investigate the Dvorak keyboard layout rather than QWERTY, since you can tell Windows to use the Dvorak keymap instead of QWERTY quite easily (without changing your actual keyboard at all). The Dvorak keymap was designed for faster typing and less finger strain, and it is a whole lot easier to learn if you don't have to convert from already knowing how to touch-type on the QWERTY keymap.

hth

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by kaylee18

As a side note - you may want to investigate the Dvorak keyboard layout rather than QWERTY, since you can tell Windows to use the Dvorak keymap instead of QWERTY quite easily (without changing your actual keyboard at all). The Dvorak keymap was designed for faster typing and less finger strain, and it is a whole lot easier to learn if you don't have to convert from already knowing how to touch-type on the QWERTY keymap.

Question - might that be a problem when having to use keyboards other than your own later in life? I remember my husband feeling that our son should learn that pattern. The funny thing is that he learned to type not from the software I'd bought him - some cute programs that just never interested him - but from IMing and emailing with his friends. They used to type rhyming IMs and creative emails to one another, and it really drove their keyboarding skills. He types at the speed of light today. My husband, who was so concerned about him learning innefficienty, is in awe. Lillian

[Gracefulmom]

Thanks for all the responses. I had no idea there were free typing websites. (Haven't bothered to use Google yet, since I have all you smart Mothering moms! )

--Good to know I can ignore all the Mavis B. ads I've seen. I don't think drill is the thing for us, although that's how I learned.

Kaylee, I'm impressed by your method... might have to see what dd thinks of trying that...

Happy typing, everyone!

[bhawkins]

My DS (10) love this British site. It's really cute and it's free. He's doing so well with his typing and he's only been doing it for a couple of weeks.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/

Betsy

[reeseccup]

Ok first look review on the http://www.smartkidssoftware.com/ndsas5.htm

1. It has some cute games to go along with it as well as the 10 key stroke (numbers).
2. It does do some of the 'boring' finger exercises, but you can practice those exercises through games and such.
3. It has some stories you can "copy type" so you aren't doing the same ol' boring drill ie. "Every good man comes to the aid of his partner." ect.


Overall as of just a quick run though it seemed interesting. I'll put it to the 'test" with my oldest since it's he who wants to type faster.

my dd (7) thought it was fun, but she's easy to please


NOW off to look at the others posted

[rumi]

They used to type rhyming IMs and creative emails to one another, and it really drove their keyboarding skills. He types at the speed of light today.

yeah i was going to say the same thing. i type much faster than my mom who learned typing. and nearly no mistakes even when i am not looking either at the keypad or the screen (which often happens). these days with auto-correct in the Word processing programs it is even easier to get away with this - before i woudl have to go through and correct all the typos if i was composing something for public consumpiton..