I would like for my middle schooler to learn traditional keyboard typing skills. Can anyone recommend a free or low cost program/website that turns learning how to type into a fun game? Thanks!
Keybr.com - no bells and whistles, but very to-the-point practice
My HSer has had keyboarding since 3rd or 4th grade along with other Microsoft Office type skills. Do they not teach this in school?
Thank you, @AroundHere. @tutumom2001, the public schools here give the kids iPads in middle school now. They are “wired” but they are left on their own for typing skills, just as they were on their own for learning to print in elementary school. I preferred the old days where printing and cursive were part of the curriculum. No cursive anymore. No typing electives offered. Any other suggestions?
Keybr appears to be free…will there be requests to purchase as my kid progresses? Also hoping someone knows of a video game format for teaching typing.
My elementary school used, and (still uses) type to learn. Its a video game format but is aimed more at that younger age range, and costs money (dunno how much).
It’s not free, but you can get the second to most recent version of Mavis Beacon for $6.99. It’s what my kids used many eons ago.
Many, many years ago my S used Mario Teaches Typing. And he can keyboard like a demon. Looks like it’s still available.
There are lots of free typing games out there that teach keyboarding skills. When I am on the computer instead of the ipad, I’ll track some down for you. My pre-GED students really liked Dance Mat Typing at the BBC website.
Our middle school teaches computer skills, including typing on the keyboard without looking, in 6th grade.
They also had to learn cursive writing in elementary school. And tbese are public schools.
Type to Learn is very good.
There are a LOT of free online typing programs…do a google search.
I am a good keyboard user…I took regular typing back in the Stone Age. TBH, I don’t use that fingering at all. I’m a lot faster using my own fingering.
Lots of kids can hunt and peck using a couple of fingers…and they do just fine.
Is there some reason why you want your kiddo to know regular typing fingering!
One more vote for Type to Learn.
@happymomof1, is Dance Mat Typing free? It sounds good. Free/low cost game-style typing tutorial is exactly what I am looking for.
I saw that someone above recommended Mavis Beacon. We bought that software for our kids and it worked well for them. It was worth the money.
If you can find a game that makes it fun, then have at it. But IMHO touch-typing doesn’t really require training. When I was back in high school and took my first computer class, I read an article somewhere about hand placement on home keys. So I started doing that and just learned from doing. It was quick and painless, and I never really “practiced” because the only typing I did was for class, I never did any extra typing just for the sake of learning.
Thanks for the responses! Free typing game dot net seems to be working for my middle schooler at the moment. It has a selection of games, difficult levels, and it allows you to gradually add in additional keys until you know the entire keyboard without looking.
I learned to type in high school in the 80s. It served me welll throughout life and I cannot believe schools do not teach this basic skill especially since EVERYONE is on a keyboard all day. I am so thankful I learned this skill and it bothers me to see the way my kids try to type.
It’s weird, somehow both my kids never took a typing or keyboarding class but know how to type correctly (not finger pecking) and have decent, accurate speed. I think what’s helped is having a laptop or access to one since middle school and using it for homework/school projects.
Just to add: I think it’s important that kids know how to type correctly as it will translate to their jobs. My college kid spent last summer interning and using typing skills a lot. If he finger pecked his way through his internship, I think his supervisor would have raised his eyebrows
My kids taught themselves to type back 2 decades ago on Mario and Mavis Beacon. It is useful and they type quickly and well, mostly touch typing.
My nephew was just hired to teach keyboarding at a local public elementary/grade school. He’s a math/biology college BS. When my kids started HS, they had to pass a test to be exempted from the private school’s keyboarding Class.
I agree that keyboarding and basic computer programs are important for all people—word processing, spreadsheets and slideshows. Kids really need to know this from a young age or it will hold them back.
I learned to type in 8th grade instead of taking woodworking/shop. It was very useful and we learned basic business forms and correspondence, including how to write a cover letter, resume, invoice, business thank you note and more. I got pretty fast and accurate and it has been useful as lifelong skill.
Our kids did the “Read, Write & Type” program back when they were about 3rd grade ('90s). A google search show it’s still around decades later! Their middle school did a computer literacy class that also included keyboarding, which was a non-issue by that time.
I remember taking a typing class back in the '70s and, not being a star student, had to use a manual typewriter. My pinkies had problems with the keys on the ends. By college it was all electric, but correcting errors was tedious. Once it moved to a computer, I hit my stride. I’m sure many of you parents can relate!
Keyboarding was taught at the schools my kids went to…as well as the schools that I worked at. Starting in 3rd grade because that’s when kids have the motor skills to actually isolate All those different fingers.
Re: cursive. The only time I use it is to sign my name when needed. Our schools also teach kids to write their names in cursive.