Just Keep Typing... Part Two

Summer is a great time to work on keyboarding... especially because so many typing programs these days are actually a ton of fun.  (Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth) I actually learned to type on a typewriter with the keys blacked out, and let me tell you, it was no fun at all :)

I wrote a blog entry on keyboarding last summer that highlighted a number of our top programs - BBC Dancemat Typing being my personal favorite.  A number of other ideas have landed in my inbox over the past few months, and I'd like to share them with you.

One of my best resources for techie ideas is the fabulous Free Technology for Teachers blog.  One of these days I need to send blogger Richard Byrne a batch of chocolate chip cookies or something to thank him for keeping me up to date on the latest in educational technology - he makes me look smart!

 Richard has suggested a number of other options to explore, and I have included a number of them below.

Typing Adventure is a web-based program that is designed for ages 8 and above that looks to make keyboarding fun. Over 70 lessons, practices and tests are available with a subscription... the good news is that there is a free 30-day trial available for parents.

 Typing Web is an online typing tutorial that provides instant feedback after every free typing lesson. Typing Web offers beginner through advanced typing lessons for free. You can register to track your progress or you can use Typing Web without registering.  

Type Rocket, Keyboard Invasion, Keyboard Challenge,  and Keyboarding Chase are a few of the many free typing games from ABCya. They are designed with younger students in mind, but are good practice for all.

Z-Type is a simple and fun typing game. The game has an easy level and a difficult level. The game is played the same way on both levels. To play Z-Type all that you have to do is go to the website and type the words that are falling from the top of the screen. When you have correctly typed a word a laser shoots it.   I would imagine the kids will love it.  The object is to shoot the words before they reach the bottom of the screen.

Power Typing hosts a small collection of five typing games that students can use to develop their typing skills. Power Typing also offers typing lessons for Qwerty and Dvorak keyboards. The two games that I found easiest to access are Alphabetic Rain and See Don't.

In school, we use keyboard covers when learning to type.  I think it's important to develop the habit of keeping fingers on the homekeys, and work on the muscle-memory necessary for truly speedy and accurate typing.  One thing to keep in mind if your child works on keyboarding over the summer... check on them every now and again to make sure fingers are on the homekeys!


If you are looking for something more structured, you might want to explore a very comprehensive online Summer Keyboarding Course for grades 2 - 6 offered by an organization called Structured Learning.  It's 50-minutes a day, five days a week for three weeks:

I don't have any personal experience with this program, but it looks to be a nice option.

And a note on keyboarding on an iPad...

It is amazing to me how fast kids are learning to type right on iPad screens.  If you would like to encourage this over the summer, Tap Typing seems to be a good option.  We will likely try this with our kids at Holy Trinity this fall.


And as I say to the kids all the time, just keep typing, just keep typing...