Keyboarding is a subject that most parents want their children to learn and many schools don’t have the time to teach it. Of all the topics on Ask a Tech Teacher, articles on keyboarding are the most visited. If you’re looking for a program for your K-8 classes, here are two popular programs we offer:
The essential guide–-a comprehensive K-8 curriculum for schools that spend approximately 45 minutes per week in technical lessons
The ultimate guide-a K-5 Where MRS deep dive into the keyboard (optional student notebooks available)
If you’re looking for a preview, stick around! We’re taking two weeks – two articles – to answer questions that should help you as a teacher or administrator decide which type of keyboard input program is best for your school.
Week 1 (click for previous lesson)
- Why learn the keyboard?
- What is the best age to start teaching keyboard?
- How important is teachers’ knowledge of teaching the keyboard or can anyone teach it?
Week 2 (this article)
- What’s the best way to teach the keyboard?
- What is the correct body position?
- What about typing assignments?
- Questions you may have
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Today we focus on:
- What’s the best way to teach the keyboard?
- What is the correct body position?
- What about typing assignments?
- Questions you may have
1 What is the best way to teach the keyboard
Two criteria are repeatedly mentioned in the search on the keyboard:
- Instruction in keyboarding is most effective when it spans several years and is designed to build on the student’s prior knowledge.
- Once the skills are acquired, it is important to use them, strengthen them and refine them.
I agree. Here is an overview of keyboard input for K-8 students:
kindergarten Kindergarten is about mouse skills, keyboard fluency and learning good posture
1st year Review mouse skills while focusing on key placement and posture, put your hands on the right side of the keyboard
2n/a grade Introduce tthe fingers of the hat type different keys; focus on the two-handed position on the keyboard
3rd start year touch typing – the right finger for the right key without looking at the keyboard; initiate discussions about accuracy; make good posture a habit
4th grade Mmemorize key placement, keep your eyes on the screen and continue to strengthen posture, accuracy and technique
5th year Start age-appropriate speed and accuracy goals
Grades 6-8 Work on technique, speed, and accuracy with grade-level goals of 35-45 words per minute
Lessons should include lots of variety so that no one gets bored. Here is an overview of the pieces I include (detail in the programs on how to incorporate them each year):
- classroom typing software
- Online Keyboard Websites
- Age-appropriate use of hand covers (grades 2-8)
- Quarterly Speed/Accuracy Quiz (Grades 3-8)
- Quarterly typing quizzes (Grades 3-8)
- Monthly homework (3rd to 8th grade)
- Wall Chart of Those Who Meet/Exceed Grade Level Expectations
- Wall chart to track student progress throughout the year
- Wall chart showing which students type faster than they can write by hand
- Wall chart on important keys, body position
- Grading based on student improvement, not compliance with class standards
I teach finger exercises to show students that they have eight fingers, that all of them work, that some are stronger than others (more on this in a upcoming article). I teach shortcuts at all levels from kindergarten. Students feel good about using a keyboard shortcut when they can’t remember an awkward combination of letter-number-symbol keys.
i keep it fun
2 What is the correct body position on the keyboard?
Headquarters
Chair facing the keyboard about a hand’s width from the table with the keyboard one inch from the edge of the table.
head and eyes
Position the monitor so that the eyes are looking straight ahead with the neck straight, not bent too far forward or back.
Body and Hands
Sit up straight with your elbows bent to the sides. Keep your body natural, relaxed and relaxed with your feet on the ground slightly apart. Keep your fingers curved over the keys, resting on the original row.
A caveat: I don’t worry about posture for students typing at 45 words per minute. However, they manage to get enough speed and accuracy!
3 What about keyboard homework?
In my classes, it starts in the third year. Why? Because typing needs to be reinforced 3-5 times a week, with practice. Few schools offer so much class time. If so, start each lesson with rote exercises and skip the homework!
4 questions you might ask yourself
Here are quick answers to these common questions:
- Will the keyboard replace cursive writing?
- What are some good online sites to practice typing?
- How to fix a broken keyboard?
Will the keyboard replace cursive writing?
Not until input devices are more available, more complete, cheaper and simpler, but why not?
What are some good online sites to practice typing?
Here is a long (long) list of online keyboard resources. You can find help at:
- Graduate programs
- Keyboard on iPad
- Entry by row
- keyboard software
- Keyboard for special needs
- lesson plans
- Typing tests
How to fix a broken keyboard?
You sit down to type that long project with the deadline looming, and nothing happens. The cursor blinks… and blinks… and blinks… but goes nowhere. What are you doing?
Before buying a new keyboard, try these:
- Is the keyboard power light on? If so, check the screen. Is something stopping you from typing? Maybe a dialog that wants an answer? If the light is not on, continue this list.
- Check the outlets. Maybe the cord that connects the keyboard to the computer is loose or has fallen off.
- Sometimes elements of the boot sequence cause the keyboard to lose work. Restart your computer.
- Do you eat at your keyboard? Isn’t everyone? I say this next solution with hesitation: Flip the keyboard over and hit the back. Sometimes food gets stuck between the keys.
None of these work? Throw the thing out the window and buy a new one. They are much more affordable than before.
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Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over 100 technical resources, including a K-12 Technology Program, K-8 keyboard program, K-8 Digital Citizenship Curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in technical education, master teacher, webmaster for four blogs, a Voice of the Amazon Vinefreelance journalist on tech ed subjects, and author of tech thrillers, Chase a submarine and twenty four days. You can find his resources at Structured learning.