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Courtney
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| Posted: May 10 2005 at 11:38pm | IP Logged
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Do any of you use a keyboarding program with your children? At what age do you start? I saw one on Timberdoodle, but don't know if this is something I should address now or not. Any ideas?
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Courtney in Texas
Wife to Mike since 3/94 
Mom to Candace 10/97 ,Christopher 4/00 and Connor 11/11
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stefoodie
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| Posted: May 11 2005 at 5:21am | IP Logged
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Hi Courtney, I don't use a formal keyboarding program with my kids. I talked to my 14-yo about touch typing when she was 10 or 11, we had some really cheap software that she would play every now and then; something with basketball, if i remember correctly. she only used it for a while, but learned quite a bit and now keyboards very well. i think it's more actual use than anything else -- until she "discovered" the Internet a couple of months ago (she's been using it for years but the past two months she's been seeing it almost as a lifeline LOL), she didn't have to apply keyboarding skills that much. today she types fast and furiously because the motivation is there. i haven't tried to teach my 8-yo but i allow him to blog, so he is getting some practice, and is getting faster at finding letters. i think i'll introduce keyboarding when he's around 10. hth,
stef
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stef
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Courtney
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| Posted: May 11 2005 at 5:29am | IP Logged
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Thanks, Stef. My daughter has a friend that lives out of town that she wants to email periodically. I think just letting her do it and have the experience on the keyboard is probably enough for now (she's only 7!). I like the idea, though, of just letting her put her thoughts on paper via computer. Thanks!
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Courtney in Texas
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Mom to Candace 10/97,Christopher 4/00 and Connor 11/11
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Mary G
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| Posted: May 11 2005 at 6:49am | IP Logged
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Courtney:
When you get ready (or rather your daughter is ready) I highly recommend the Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. If you get a previous version (ours is 12 and the latest is 16) you can usually get the earlier versions cheap (like $5.00) and still get a great program.
I used to teach computers in a parochial school and I'd start the keyboarding in 3rd or 4th grade -- helps so much with paper writing, note-deciphering and now, of course, emailing and IM'ing!
Blessings!
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my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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momwise
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| Posted: May 11 2005 at 12:32pm | IP Logged
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Courtney,
We bought the program you're thinking of from Timberdoodle: Typing Instructor Deluxe. My 15 and 8 y.o. love it. They are both doing total touch typing.
My 13 y.o. ds, who is the one who hates to write and really needs to learn typing, doesn't like typing tutors. He's too impatient and he gets really mad when the letters on the screen indicate he's made a mistake. I hope he'll mature a little and try it again, because if he doesn't want to write anything it'd be better to be a fast, accurate typer.
Come Holy Spirit!!
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"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Victoria in AZ
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| Posted: May 11 2005 at 2:15pm | IP Logged
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momwise wrote:
My 13 y.o. ds, who is the one who hates to write and really needs to learn typing, doesn't like typing tutors. He's too impatient and he gets really mad when the letters on the screen indicate he's made a mistake. I hope he'll mature a little and try it again, because if he doesn't want to write anything it'd be better to be a fast, accurate typer.
Come Holy Spirit!! |
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My ds was the same way. The typing tutors/games did not work for him. We are in the middle of AVKO's Keyboarding manual and it is going much better. The AVKO program is the old-fashioned type-this-page-in-front-of-you that I learned in high school.
www.akvo.org
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Victoria in AZ
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TracyQ
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| Posted: May 17 2005 at 3:28pm | IP Logged
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We've used Slam Dunk Typing, which my kids loved, but I think is no longer available. Ours doesn't work, it got messed up, and my son's disappointed.
We now use RollerTyping. It's roller blading games as the format. The kids like that too.
I try to keep the typing fun, and not too serious. I can't believe how fast our oldest actually types! I guess it's been working! That is one thing we've been quite diligent in, as I felt it was a very important skill.
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Courtney
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| Posted: May 18 2005 at 8:38am | IP Logged
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Thank you all for your input. I think I will wait a little before I start this. Now I have some great resources to check into, though. Thank you!
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Courtney in Texas
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Mom to Candace 10/97,Christopher 4/00 and Connor 11/11
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Courtney
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| Posted: April 27 2006 at 9:21am | IP Logged
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Yesterday I found Mavis Beacon version 16 at TJMaxx for $7! My dd started this morning and really likes it! THanks for the recommendations!
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Courtney in Texas
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kingvozzo
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| Posted: April 27 2006 at 10:10am | IP Logged
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I"ve been wondering about this as well. Ds8 has been writing a "book," using Word. He gets 45 mins at the computer each day, and it's frustrating to him how slowly the typing is going. He usually only gets a paragraph or so typed 
Maybe I'll check out out our TJMaxx today.
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Noreen
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: Keyboarding?
