keyboarding 6

This course is designed to introduce middle school students to the basics of computers, keyboarding skills, and potential careers. Students will develop and enhance touch skills for entering information using a keyboard to compose and produce personal, educational, and professional documents. 

My goal is for each 6th grader to become proficient in touch-typing.  This does not necessarily mean that you will type fast right away; that depends on how much effort you put into it. I can promise you that if you follow my instruction, you will be typing better at the end of the nine weeks than you are now. By the end of 8th grade, with correct practice and consistency, you should be much more proficient. 

Each student is expected to complete the TypeTastic course within the nine weeks during class time by doing the lessons when assigned, a little at a time. It takes time to acquire fine motor skills, so we spread this out over the whole nine weeks. If you are absent for more than a day, simply email me and I will let you know which lesson(s) you need to complete to stay caught up with the class by doing TypeTastic lessons, which are online and therefore can be done at home.  If at all possible, please attach a standard keyboard to your Chromebook for optimal typing practice with the correct technique.

Please refer to Google Classroom for more specifics on daily assignments.  We typically do a Dictation and Drills lesson together as a class on one day, then on the following day, we do individual practice and a Lesson Exam in TypeTastic.

Keyboarding 6 FAQ
How long is the course?

The term is 9 weeks. You will report to me every day for half of the 2nd block, either the first half (A) or second half (B). Not everyone will have Keyboarding as their first 9 weeks exploratory course; some will have art, Spanish, Technology, or General Music. It takes us the full nine weeks to get through our program, but we also learn about digital literacy and responsibility during this time. 

How much is the fee?

There is no fee for Keyboarding. 

Do I need materials?

No, just a willingness to learn! Optionally you may choose to use your own earbuds when we are doing a lesson that requires audio.  You do not need to bring your Chromebook to my class. 

I don’t know anything about typing and I’m REALLY slow.

That’s why you need me! I promise you that if you give it your best effort, you will be typing significantly better by the end of the nine weeks; in fact, you will surprise yourself within ONE week!

But I’m nervous about it…

Remember these two things and believe them: 1) All things are difficult before they are easy; and 2) If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you. Plus, touch-typing will be new to every 6th grader.

I type pretty well already. Do I still need this class?

Even if you have developed your own touch-typing method, you can still benefit greatly from touch-typing instruction and build your speed. This class is required for all 6th grade students.

Do we have homework?

No required homework, however - I do strongly encourage you to practice with your correct technique at home whenever possible. It makes a big difference. 

How do you grade Keyboarding?

You earn your accuracy % grade for the Lesson Exam of each lesson after you have had ample time to practice and pass each section of the lesson.  You may retake it as many times as needed to pass. You are set up to succeed!

Top Ten Things to Know About Keyboarding

1. “Touch typing” means pressing the right keys at the right time…without looking at your fingers.

2. Like playing a sport or a musical instrument, keyboarding is not easy at first. It takes time and patience to develop skill.

3. Many people quit trying to learn how to keyboard well before they have given it a real chance, and then they never know how well they could have done. Be tough!

4. Using the home keys really does work. It gives you a “home base” to bring your fingers back to and it’s a shortcut for your brain. Only 8 positions! Be determined to always put your fingers in this position whenever you touch a keyboard.

5. When practicing your typing, make sure you type the letters with the correct fingers, even if it slows you down. You’ll be training yourself correctly.

6. Using the wrong fingers is the same as UNTRAINING yourself!

7. Do not worry about speed. The more you practice, the more it will improve. Speed is the result of accurate typing practice--it sneaks up on you!

8. By practicing the right way, you get used to feeling for the keys in the right places and before you know it, you’re typing faster without even really trying!

9. When you aren’t sure which finger to use, you are welcome to use one of the color charts. If you’re working in TypeTastic, the software will guide you also.

10. If you are tough enough to stick with it and learn to type without looking at your fingers, you will have gained a skill that you will use the rest of your life. It will open up opportunities for you by helping you with school work, college, and especially in your future job. It is very difficult to think of a single job nowadays in which a person would never use a computer.

These 22 skills and the student competency checklist will be the overarching theme of the three years of Computer Solutions instruction at Chilhowie Middle School.