A short time ago, I was a freshman in high school.
Okay, it was last century, in 1989. Anyway, all those years ago, I took a beginning keyboarding class, intended to teach me touch typing. We click-clacked away on ancient brown electric typewriters while an even more ancient Mr. Something-or-Other (who always wore brown pants) walked around calling out, “Remember students, don’t look at your fingers!”
I cheated.
To this day, I still look, though not all the time. In fact, I just typed that whole last sentence without peeking. S-l-o-w-l-y…
The one thing that really stuck was developing the habit of always typing two spaces after a period.
That was a tough habit to break. Dangit.
Newt has expressed an interest in wanting to learn to type as fast as me (ha). I wanted to find a typing program that was online, free and kid-friendly. Dance Mat Typing from BBC Schools fits the bill nicely.
Here is more information from their website:
Dance Mat Typing [is] an introduction to touch typing for children aged 7 – 11 years.
Each of the 4 levels are divided into 3 stages. Begin at Level 1 and build up your skills gradually through to Level 4.
Stage 1 introduces the home row, and stages 2 – 12 will:
- Recap the previous lesson
- Introduce new letters typed with the left and right hands
- Practise all previously learnt letters
- Reward the typist with a mini song and dance
Newt really enjoys the characters (and their British accents). None of the stages are timed, so she does not feel pressured or stressed; she is able to move at whatever pace is comfortable for her. Best of all, she really is learning to type.
Without cheating.
I may want to give it a try myself…
This was an unsolicited and uncompensated review. I just like the product and thought you may too.
Might try this out for my son. Typing Tutor isn’t cutting it.
On the whole 2 spaces after the period-who really has the time to even consider that, let alone research and write about such an inane topic?! I will continue to type 2 spaces-rebel that I am!
I am both a rule follower and a rebel. It’s a conflicting sort of existence… Hee!
This reminds me of my typing class. I was awful at it. The teacher would put those annoying cardboard covers over our hands so we couldn’t look. I always got caught slouching down, taking a peek. I got a c- because my speed and errors were not impressive. About a month after I finished the class, it clicked! I was excited that I could type super fast but I was extremely frustrated that it took so long to catch on. Oh well…..
I just found your blog using Stumble and I’m following via Google Reader. Thanks for the link to the website, I’ll have to try it with my son. I also suffered through those dumb cardboard covers. You know what taught me to type finally? Actually typing. Hello AOL messenger
. My husband double spaces after periods, it drives me absolutely crazy.