Touch Typing

[barefootcook]

Can anyone recommend a good touch typing app suitable for DS7 to improve his speed and accuracy? It will need to be compatible with a Mac.

BBC dance mat

Animal typing is really good. My ds really likes it.

bigbrownbear.co.uk/learntotype/index.html

As far as I know, it doesn't matter what kind of computer you have, as normally all the 'keys' will be in the same relative places.

However, it is MUCH harder to type properly on a laptop style of computer. So an 'office' or 'desktop' computer is better for serious typing (though not so 'cool' perhaps).

The keys on a laptop don't have the correct 'feel' and the 'mouse pad' puts the keys too far away for comfort.

Learn the 'home' keys thoroughly to start with, and feel for the raised 'pips' on F and J to keep your hands in the correct place. Type words using those keys : dad has a salad and dad is a lad kind of things.

Be prepared to go slowly at first; observe that keys have a 'diagonal' flow in many instances.

(I was trained to touch type in the RAF in 1958, and have been doing it ever since, so there isn't much I don't know about it!)

Ferguson do you recommend any of the commercial programmes to help adults learn to touch type?

Nessy fingers is good

My ds uses a portable word processor to encourage him to type. It is fab. He has a Forte word processor which he types on and then connect it to computer, press send and it transfers it all onto a word document. My ds has to do most of his school work on the word processor because writing is so tiring for him.

I used typeonline.co.uk to teach myself how to touch type, it's free and think it would be suitable for kids, it's very straight forward so there may be a better app which makes it more fun for kids.

I used to have a list, but things change.
Most of these should work; I'll come back if I find better alternatives.

www.kiranreddys.com/products/typing/

www.typeonline.co.uk/aboutus.html

www.educational-freeware.com/news/top-5-free-typing-tutors.aspx
(*Note: some of these items may be out of date.)

www.mavisbeaconfree.com/

Pitman has always been a good one - and besides the touch-typing aspect, there is a lot on formal layout for letters, memos etc.

Thank you Ferguson

My dyspraxic son used Mavis Beacon 15 years ago.Can still touch type quite fast.

I am interested in this too as my children have dyslexia and were advised touch typing would be a useful skill for them to have.
Nessy Fingers was the programme recommended by a dyslexia charity but it isn't compatible with a Mac unfortunately. We have tried CBBC dance mat but they have found it boring and given up.

There IS a version of Nessy Fingers for Mac, but some versions are changed for:

mac.brothersoft.com/nessy-fingers.html

"charged" for I meant to say!

Cheeky sub to come back to later, I've been advised BBC dance mat for my dyspraxic son with hypermobility but other suggestions are always good!