Keyboarding is specifically referenced (often) in the CC standards. Here are a few standards where it's called out:
W.3.6. With guidance and support from adults, use technology to produce and publish writing (using keyboarding skills) as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
W.6.6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting. W.4.6. W.5.6. are similar - one page (4th) , and two pages (5th) in a single sitting.
I pulled the above from Qwertytown.com (yes, I double checked the standards directly). Other forums have referenced it and positive comments have been made, but my school has not used it. There's a free trial available.
Here's a good list of keyboarding resources that supports the CC requirements.
Typing Web - Programs to learn typing (free registration to save progress) - this is my school's favorite. Good practice, and the progress tracking is really nice.
Key Hero Typing Test - No log on required but you CAN do so to save work.
Dance Mat typing -Good for all ages! This is one of the most 'fun' for students.
Typing tests - can be customized from simple to hard.
E-learning for kids - Fun games! Requires Flash.
Fix the Keyboard - Good game for learning key location. In general, ABCya.com has several keyboard practice games for grades K-5 that look fun and engaging; need to hunt around a bit but they are there.
What do YOU use or recommend for either web-based or tablet keyboarding/typing apps? Please comment!
CC Connection: As noted above, keyboarding skills are a big part of CC, so that's the connection!
7 comments:
Typing Club (https://typingclub.com/typing-qwerty-en.html) is a Google Chrome app. It allows the teacher to track the students' progress in terms of accuracy and speed. I have also use byteback.org. All Grade 3-5 students maintain their data in an Excel spreadsheet.
I have created a page of keyboarding links for our students to use to supplement our keyboarding instruction. https://lablinks.weebly.com/keyboarding-links.html
You had some additional ones listed here. Thank you!
Thanks Sara and Anonymous - these are good contributions!
We use QwertyTown in my school district with all the k-8 students. The students absolutely love it because it teaches keyboarding in an engaging and fun way. The teachers love it because it is addressing Common Core Keyboarding standards and is preparing them to write with stamina on the upcoming PARCC assessments. We've tried all the other programs listed and frankly there is no comparison. QwertyTown is by far the best keyboarding program that promotes digital literacy.
This is great information and resources!
I teach a 2 times a week, 30-minutes each, elective on keyboarding/blogging. For keyboarding practice we have been using freetypinggames.net (OK but game screen is small; you can record scores with a screen name) and more recently slimekids.com The latter is better because the games fit the screen better. I just loaded my class list onto typingclub.com over the break, and we'll be trying it out. I like the ability to have them finish a prescribed list of lessons. For blogging we're using kidblog.com, which we LOVE! I'm checking out QuertyTown next.
We use freetypinggames.net and slimekids.com in a 2X a week, 30-minute elective I teach for keyboarding and kidblog.com for blogging. I just loaded the kid list into typingclub.com to try that this coming semester. We love kidblog.com for blogging. Next, checking out QuertyTown.
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