Typing

[trifling]

Do they teach touch typing at school? My 7 year old is keen to type but (naturally) very slow and I wondered whether a programme would help.

My ds started with the programme Euphemia linked to, that they actually started using in year 4 at school.

He is now 10 and has spent the summer using the Typing Instructor Platinum App to reteach himself. He did it every day for two weeks and then sporadically after that but can now touch type with 99% accuracy at about 25 words per minute, with his stats showing that he regularly types at 42 wpm with slightly lower accuracy.

He's really enjoyed using the app as well, as you collect stamps on a passport for completing the tasks and at the end of each task you get rewarded with a game that reinforces the letters you've learned that session.

It's pricey at £20 for an app, but it's been worth every penny for ds, as he needs to type, rather than write at school. If you are on pc rather than Macs, you can buy it off Amazon and they do a Typing Instructor for Kids version as well.

We don't teach touch typing routinely - although we should. It is targeted for children with dyslexia. The programme is TRRS (Touch Type Read Spell). I use the BBC Website Dance Mat with the children in my class who are interested. IMO it is the best skill I ever learned in school.

Just what I was thinking - doesn't sound like schools do then. I didnt' either, taught myself and it is so useful. Thanks for those links.