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Is there a typing skills program that is recommended? I could not find anything on the HOD site, if there isnt does anyone have an elementary leveled program they use?



Christina

My three older children all learned how to type from the Mavis Beacon program. My younger two are beginning to learn with it now, and I had forgotten how much fun and how painless her program is. The adult kids use their keyboarding skills in their education as well as employment and easily passed the typing tests.

I am also looking into this. I have heard Typing Instructor is very good.
There are some free sites online to learn typing as well. You can google that and find them on there.

Christina,

We don't schedule one within the HOD guides, however with our own sons we have used Typing Instructor with good success. We typically start with just 10 min. a day around 6th or 7th grade. Our boys set the timer and quit when it rings. We've found that if we start typing too young, our boys hands aren't really large enough or coordinated enough to use the right keys, however girls may be ready sooner. We also try to make sure that we begin typing instruction when our boys have a need for it. So, as my 6th grader is doing RTR this year, he needed typing instruction to allow him to type his Medieval History-Based Writing Lesson final drafts more quickly. "Need" is very motivating!

We do make our kiddos correct their mistakes and try for an increasing number of target words per minute over the year. We also check to be sure they have their fingers on the correct keys, because at first they can hen-peck more quickly than they can type correctly. We try keep it low-key as the goal is to eventually type well, rather than to get a grade. Typically, 11 words per minute is our first target. Our older two boys were very motivated by Typing Instructor and did well with it. My second son is doing it this year for his first year, and my oldest is pretty much ready to be done. We continue doing it over 3 years or so until they are typing very well. I hope that helps!

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie wrote: So, as my 6th grader is doing RTR this year, he needed typing instruction to allow him to type his Medieval History-Based Writing Lesson final drafts more quickly. "Need" is very motivating!

This is a good consideration. We are looking to do RTR next year.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. Typing Instructor it is.


Christina