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Martha
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| Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 2:50pm | IP Logged
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My ds 14 needs some typing software.
I found a great one online for free, BUT the banner ads and stuff are a huge debilitating distraction for him. So it looks like I need to purchase something, if possible cheap, but good, and not with kiddie cartoons. Cheap approx $25.
Can anyone recommend a good one?
TIA!
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Martha
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 3:11pm | IP Logged
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This may not fit your criteria for software, but I really like Keyboarding Skills by Diana Hanbury King, Martha. Very straighforward - no frills! It is intended for any grade, so if you needed to remediate an 8th grader and teach a 4th grader simultaneously it fits all! My mom used this to teach my brother and sister when they were homeschooling and I inherited it and have used it with my oldest two. It is written to the student and can be completed independently. I can't recommend it enough!
This is the version I have - it is somewhat older, but I see that it's $6 so it fits your budget requirements and since I've used it I can recommend it.
Keyboarding Skills
I never know if an update is good or bad, kwim? But here is the current version also available at Amazon:
Writing Skills, Keyboarding Skills
There's a little more information on the newer version at Christianbook.com.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Martha
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thanks!
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Martha
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Paula in MN
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I've got three.....Dance Mat Typing (English accents!), Free typing games, and Touch typing.
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Paula
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Kristen in TN
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This is not a computer program, but Sue Patrick, who does the workbox stuff, also has a typing program (not computer program). We ordered it ($15 I think) and found 2 older typewriters at yardsales (first for $8 and second for $5). The children all enjoy it. They stay set up and they all practice every day. It is a binder with large type. Then she has a color coded chart for finger placement. When the children want to find out where their fingers go, they don't look at the keys on the typewriter, they look at the color coded chart. You can find it .here
God bless,
Kristen in TN
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ALmom
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We've used Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing and it has worked quite well for all of ours.
Janet
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 7:19pm | IP Logged
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Yes, I was wondering whether Mavis Beacon was still out there. That's what we've used also and it's been just fine.
Peace,
Nancy
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melanie
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My daughter also loved Dance Mat Typing, free here...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/
We had tried other programs and she wasn't enthused and I wasn't motivated enough to push it, but she's dyslexic and really needed to learn to type. She loved this program it's fun...that, and getting her an email account when she finished it cemented the skills. 
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Melanie
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ALmom
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Nancy, I don't know if Mavis Beacon is still out there. We got our CD ages ago and it never occured to me that it might not be available any longer. Hopefully it is, it is a great program.
Janet
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Martha
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| Posted: Oct 15 2009 at 10:31pm | IP Logged
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Thanks ladies!
I'm going to order Mavis from amazon.
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Martha
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Martha
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| Posted: Oct 30 2009 at 11:01am | IP Logged
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well I just received the mavis beacon
you have to choose a keyboard style and there is no laptop option.
I really didn't think that woudl be a problem given the number of people leaving desktops for laptops.
yet they have thet ergo style as an option which is rarely in regular use and I certainly wouldn't train on it.
argh!
the techie in me is highly annoyed. 
I'm going to give it a try since I'm stuck with it, guess we'll see how it goes.
just thought I'd update because I'm pretty such many parents aren't buying desktops for their students. Esp as most colleges and even many high schools require laptops. 
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Martha
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ALmom
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OH, Martha, I feel so badly. We do still only have desktop computers (they are lots cheaper). I will remember in the future to remind everyone that our computers (our 1 home one and dd college one - both desk tops) are old and so our choices may or may not work for other folks.
Janet
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Martha
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Nothing to be sorry for!
I didn't mean it that way just a bummer wasn't ready for that kind of thing. :)
for us the only reason we have laptops is bc they were cheaper and so often having a portable system is a great feature. 
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Martha
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Oremus
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We have used the AVKO keyboarding book for ~years~ It is a book, so you can use it with any type of computer, with or without a printer; I prefer to have a printer available so my student can print his page to prove he did the work :)
It is plain, with no frills, but it really works efficiently. In my house, game-based drills don't reinforce proper hand position and distract my students into wasting too much time.
http://www.avko.org/400.html
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teachingmyown
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Martha, what is the difference, learning-wise, between a program that teaches for a laptop or one that teaches for a desktop, ergo style? My ds11 needs a typing program, too. He uses the desktop, but we do have a laptop, too. Just wondering if it is more advantageous to teach on one or the other.
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Molly
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mariB
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ultra key
for ages 8-16 and...no games. Learning through typing sentences. Runs about 45-50 dollars for homeschoolers.
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marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: typing lessons recs please?
