How often do you schedule typing?

[TKDmom]

I'm planning on adding in typing for my 5th grader this year. How many days a week would you put it on the schedule?

[Maverick_Mom]

5 days per week. The frequent practice helps it "stick."

[Sasharowan]

I know 5 days is better, but we are doing good to do 3.

[plain jane]

Every day until they can type about 12 WPM, then I schedule it every other day. Some weeks end up having 3 days and others have 2 days of typing. Works for us. :)

[MamaBear]

My dd types 4 times a week. She did Dance Mat typing for awhile and now she types bible verses or English definitions.

[TeaCookiesBears]

I have my dd do typing 3x weekly and I use Spongebob typing, free Linux typing and Mavis Beacon to switch it up because she likes variety;)

 

Dd has being going typing off and on since 3rd grade while in school so that why 2-3x weekly works for us and beside I figure since she is always typing out her papers that counts as a typing lesson too.

[Mandy in TN]

Never wasn't an option.

 

I don't schedule typing. Keyboarding is something that we do all the time and doesn't need a schedule.

 

Typing programs are not meaningful or motivational. Show a child finger placement and then have him do school work (especially his composition) on the keyboard. Rewrites are so much easier on a computer that I can't imagine a child wanting to go back to hand writing papers. You could also have him type notes on a subject while you read aloud. Then, have him take a couple of open note tests. I guarantee his typing speed will improve.

 

I know I am setting myself up with this next comment. Here it goes. The number 1 thing that increased my sons' typing speeds was MMO gaming. If you want to be a part of the online conversation, you need to type quickly. My mom purchased a one year subscription to Runescape for my middle ds when he was young. This child is by far my fastest typist. My 8yo can out-type my 20yo any day. My 20yo is my child who is least interested in technology/ online anything other than fan fiction and he is also my slowest typist.

 

Trust me I am well aware of gaming addiction and the dangers of spending a lot of time online even with people you know IRL (I have friends that spend insane amounts of time on Facebook and see people that post here like crazy. I have even cut off my middle ds from time to time.), but I also know that the best way to learn to type quickly is to be motivated to want to type quickly. This will not come from a typing program. (Although, I guess you could provide rewards outside the typing program. However, I don't think typing x number of words per minute will get you an ice cream cone is nearly as motivational as participating in conversation.)

 

HTH-

Mandy

[Stellalarella]

We use Mavis Beacon for typing practice. DD8, DD10, DS13 all have typing on their daily checklists--I ask for 15 min. a day. I also substitute Mavis Beacon time with time spent typing up spelling lists, memory work, or for DS13, his history summary.

I think they feel like Mavis Beacon is a nice break from "studying," (latin, math, reading, etc.) :) But I know they are learning and certainly they are studying!

[SnMomof7]

Every day until fluency is built :). Then 2-3x per week to build speed.

[Ali in OR]

I schedule typing 5 days a week, but it gets skipped from time to time when we're busy. They might get it done 3 or 4 days per week. We use Mavis Beacon, both girls are using it, and both look forward to it.