Staceyshoe Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 We decided to try learning keyboarding over the summer. This morning I put ds in front of BBC's Dance Mat typing, but it didn't work. He quickly became frustrated by trying to learn the first 8 keys simultaneously. Is there something else that moves slower? I learned by first practicing "f" and "j" and then moving on to other keys after those were mastered. I think something like this would work much better for ds. Do you have any recommendations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Twain Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 You could try Peter's Online Typing course: http://www.typing-lessons.org/preliminaries_1.html This is free, and it goes more slowly than Dance Mat. If you don't care that it is sort of boring, it may work well. My kids also like Alpha Munchies Typing Game from abcya.com if you want to look at that. If it is a game, it may work: http://www.abcya.com/kids_typing_game.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 You could try Peter's Online Typing course:http://www.typing-lessons.org/preliminaries_1.html This is free, and it goes more slowly than Dance Mat. If you don't care that it is sort of boring, it may work well. My kids also like Alpha Munchies Typing Game from abcya.com if you want to look at that. If it is a game, it may work: http://www.abcya.com/kids_typing_game.htm Can you explain how to play the second game? I tried it, but I'm confused. Are you supposed to type the letters on the space ship or the letters under the little characters dropping? I tried both ways. It will let me type the character under the first one that drops, but no others. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Type to Learn is what my son is using. He has fine motor issues and has very poor muscle memory. I have heard a number of people who had children evaluated for dysgraphia say that this is the program that was recommended to them, so I snatched up a used copy on ebay. I don't think my son has dysgraphia, but I knew he would need tons of practice and repetition. I'm letting him move through the program as slowly as he likes and after months, he is on lesson 10, which is fine with me as long as he continues to progress. Homeschool Buyers Coop is also selling this program now. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacefully Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 My son (almost 7) loves Read, Write and Type at talkingfingers.com. It introduces one letter at a time. The letters are presented as phonograms, so it reinforces phonics and spelling. There are phonemic awareness games, sentence dictation, and opportunities to free-write "emails." The characters are all a bit silly, and my ds loves to beat the bad guy, Vexor. After he's done with this program, he wants to do Type to Learn Agents of Information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aconnolley Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Type to Learn is what my son is using. He has fine motor issues and has very poor muscle memory. I have heard a number of people who had children evaluated for dysgraphia say that this is the program that was recommended to them, so I snatched up a used copy on ebay. I don't think my son has dysgraphia, but I knew he would need tons of practice and repetition. I'm letting him move through the program as slowly as he likes and after months, he is on lesson 10, which is fine with me as long as he continues to progress. Homeschool Buyers Coop is also selling this program now. Lisa Do you have Type to Learn 3 or 4? Thanks! Angela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
llindseymomoffour Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I am going to use Type to Learn 4 with my 7 and 8 year olds this year. I think it best matches what I'm looking for and think it will be good for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Twain Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Can you explain how to play the second game? I tried it, but I'm confused. Are you supposed to type the letters on the space ship or the letters under the little characters dropping? I tried both ways. It will let me type the character under the first one that drops, but no others. Thanks! Yes, you just type the letter of the alien that is coming down to try to break through your wall to eat your lunch. As you type each letter on the space ship, they disappear. Once you type all of the letters, then the space ship disappears, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Do you have Type to Learn 3 or 4? Thanks! Angela I bought Type to Learn 3 because that's what was available on e-bay and buying the program new was kind of pricey if I remember correctly. If HBC had their offer available when I was making my purchase, I probably would have bought TTL4. TTL 3 seems a little outdated, but it's still getting the job done. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 we have typing instructor and my son loves it, it is self paced as far as I can tell. I think I was recommended it on this forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 My son (almost 7) loves Read, Write and Type at talkingfingers.com. It introduces one letter at a time. The letters are presented as phonograms, so it reinforces phonics and spelling. There are phonemic awareness games, sentence dictation, and opportunities to free-write "emails." The characters are all a bit silly, and my ds loves to beat the bad guy, Vexor. After he's done with this program, he wants to do Type to Learn Agents of Information. Thank you for this recommendation. Looks like something we will use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Both my boys did the free demo on the site: talkingfingers.com Then I bought it for them. :) But now it seems they have to start all over. It seems that you can't just jump to were you were. Is this true? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 My son (almost 7) loves Read, Write and Type at talkingfingers.com. It introduces one letter at a time. The letters are presented as phonograms, so it reinforces phonics and spelling. There are phonemic awareness games, sentence dictation, and opportunities to free-write "emails." The characters are all a bit silly, and my ds loves to beat the bad guy, Vexor. After he's done with this program, he wants to do Type to Learn Agents of Information. I can't decide it I HATE this program of LOVE it. It is great is all regards. Teaching letter sounds at the same time. Getting the kids to do dictation. But my son learnt/did the first 8 letters for the demo. He then had to redo them when I bought it. It now seems to have not saved his progress and looks like he has to redo them, and that the software has no way WHAT SO EVER to save progress. I emailed the company explaining my problem. But maybe you can help me. HOW? do you save progress? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.