As we were looking over some of the syllabi for Rachel’s classes this fall, I heard her moan.
“MOM! Have you looked at this? I have to TYPE this year!” A period of wailing followed. (never good, but common with a pre-teen in the house)
Since I type every single day in my job as a nurse, I was confused by all the drama.
“Oh,” I commented. “That’s pretty standard for essays and papers. They’re easier to read, and you can make corrections, etc.”
More wails from the peanut gallery followed.
“But MOM! I don’t know how to type!”
“Sure you do”, I responded. “You type all the time. You send emails to your best friend, you use the chat in your online classes, and you search Pinterest. Of course you know how to type.”
“Nooooooooo!”, she wailed. “I don’t know how to type like you!”
I can type fairly quickly, but my accuracy leaves a LOT to be desired. I look like I’m typing fast, but a lot of those strokes are judicious backspacing, deleting, and starting over.
We sat down together and hashed out a plan for typing success. We’re making it part of our middle school curriculum this year, just like Latin and math.
I was compensated for my time to explore TypeKids with Rachel. All experiences and opinions are our very own.
Tips for Middle School Typing Lessons
Schedule the Typing Lessons:
I know, I know. We’re all busy. Trust me, with 5 children still at home, I get it. But typing practice really doesn’t take long. For Rachel, we’re doing 15 minutes, 3 times a week. Sometimes she chunks it all together, in back to back days. Other weeks, she spreads it out, over the entire week.
Encourage Avenues for Typing:
This one was easy for us, as her composition class requires typing this year. She’s learning how to open up Google Docs, type a paper, save it and email it to me. It’s an excellent way to incorporate technology into our classical homeschool.
Get Involved Yourself:
I’ve told my typing story. My children think I type phenomenally, but they fail to see that my speed doesn’t match my accuracy. Most of the finger flying they see includes me backing up and correcting.
If you want to get your children typing, jump in with them and practice your skills, too.
Track progress:
With regular practice, your middle schooler will progress quickly. Remember back to the days when you were beginning to type, and how clunky it was? Inside our TypeKids program, it’s super simple to eyeball progress reports, see what letters students are having trouble with, and see their improvement.
She admits, learning to type is hard work. But, she’s motivated by the improvement she’s starting to see.
Make it fun!
Our homeschooling curriculum is pretty intense, so I didn’t want formal, stiff lessons for Rachel. Instead, we opted for TypeKids. Here, the typing lessons are presented in video format, tied into a pirate game. It’s right up her alley.
Middle School Typing Lessons with Type Kids
There are a million different typing programs out there, but when we looked over them, Rachel dismissed many of them as ‘too babyish’ or ‘so boring’. When we discovered TypeKids, she was hooked by the game format. Completing lessons gives you badges and coins to spend in the arcade. (The arcade games are sneaky renditions of more typing practice!)
Who Would Enjoy Type Kids Typing Lessons?
Honestly, all the kids in my family are dying to try it. Daniel stands and watches Rachel during every lesson, which he has dubbed “Rachel’s pirate games.” Everyone wants to give it a try here.
I would recommend waiting until age 8 or so before beginning. Little hands sometimes have trouble stretching past the home keys.
Even as a grown up, I have to admit, the layout really appeals to me, and I’ve taken it for a spin a few times. It would be a fun way for an adult to learn touch typing.
What I Love About TypeKids Middle School Typing Lessons
Layout
TypeKids is easy to navigate, with games, lessons, and review clearly laid out.
Teaching Method
Instead of just turning kids loose and expecting them to follow a placement chart, the program utilizes animated video to assist new typers with placement, and keeps these lessons handy for review in the dashboard.
Progress Reports
I may forget to check the dashboard, so TypeKids automatically emails parents each time children complete a lesson. These reports are also housed in the dashboard for easy access. Letters on the keyboard are color coded, so that parents can tell at a glance which letters need more practice.
Cloud Based
Since there’s no program to download, we can access it from any computer at home, or even at the library.
How Much are Middle School Typing Lessons?
The typing course from TypeKids is 89.95 per student. You can try the first three lessons for free, to see if the format fits your family.
I’d recommend this for students ages 8 and up. All you need is an internet connection and a computer or laptop to get started
What about you? Have you tried teaching your middle schoolers how to type correctly? How’s it going in your homeschool? Be sure and let me know in the comments.
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