Chrysalis Academy Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 We are 0 for 2 here. She used Type2Learn 3 in ps and hated it. She didn't like the female voice that "yelled" at her when she pressed the wrong key. Apparently it was an annoying high-pitched female voice. And it was timed, and she hates stuff that is timed, she just wigs out under the pressure. Right now she is using Word Wacker, but she doesn't like it either. It beeps when she makes a mistake, which flusters her. I told her to turn off the sound. She said "But then how will I know when I made a mistake?" How indeed, dear :glare:. So, any ideas for a kid who really needs to learn to type, but doesn't like being a)timed or b)yelled or beeped at? Or really just anything your kid has liked for typing instruction? I know, not everything is fun, and that is my current line - typing is something you just have to learn how to do, and it takes work and practice, and work and practice aren't always fun. That is the party line, and I am sticking to it! But I'm also willing to do a little research to see if there is something out there she might find a bit more pleasant. Or at least less obnoxious. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maus Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 We are 0 for 2 here. She used Type2Learn 3 in ps and hated it. She didn't like the female voice that "yelled" at her when she pressed the wrong key. Apparently it was an annoying high-pitched female voice. And it was timed, and she hates stuff that is timed, she just wigs out under the pressure. Right now she is using Word Wacker, but she doesn't like it either. It beeps when she makes a mistake, which flusters her. I told her to turn off the sound. She said "But then how will I know when I made a mistake?" How indeed, dear :glare:. So, any ideas for a kid who really needs to learn to type, but doesn't like being a)timed or b)yelled or beeped at? Or really just anything your kid has liked for typing instruction? I know, not everything is fun, and that is my current line - typing is something you just have to learn how to do, and it takes work and practice, and work and practice aren't always fun. That is the party line, and I am sticking to it! But I'm also willing to do a little research to see if there is something out there she might find a bit more pleasant. Or at least less obnoxious. Thanks! :bigear: I'm considering trying the old-fashioned book approach. I have an old typing manual from the 1950's that I picked up cheap at a thrift store. I supposed we'd just open a word type document and have at it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 We have 2: http://www.amazon.com/Mavis-Beacon-Teaches-Typing-Deluxe/sim/B003MU9CPY/2 http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dsoftware&field-keywords=typer+island Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandamom Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Free powertyping.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlylocks Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Does timing bother her if it's part of a game? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 (edited) Typing Instructor for Kids was a huge hit here. I just bought it, installed it, and they played it on their own for fun and all learned to type very well with no nagging or scheduling time for it even. I had them do the free BBC Dance Mat Typing first, which is where they learned the basics (no speed drills there), then switched to TIfK when they needed to increase speed (speed drills are all in the form of fun games). Edited October 30, 2012 by matroyshka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HecticMama Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 We started with Timone and Pumba's typing tutor, they like to play the games on it. Then we got Typing Instructor for kids, which had a lot MORE games. And it allows you to set how "hard" the typing is by setting a goal, which the kids liked. Some games are more fun than others, but there are boy and girl games. The only thing I don't like with TI for kids is that you can't go back to get more practice on a particular set of letters without beginning the whole thing over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 Does timing bother her if it's part of a game? Yeah, she really doesn't enjoy computer games with a timed component - so Timez Attack and other math quiz games have never been a hit. She can sit and do a page of problems quickly, but if the timer is on the pressure messes her up. It seems to be the same kind of thing with the timed typing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 I was going to recommend TuxTyping, but there is timing involved, so that probably wouldn't work. (The penguin tries to eat the fish as they float down the screen.) ETA: There might be lessons/games with the program that aren't timed--I'm not sure. My dh and dd used the program a few years ago, so I'm not overly familiar with it. In case anyone else is interested, here's a link: http://tux4kids.alioth.debian.org/tuxtype/index.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeeves Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Typing Instructor is a huge favorite here, too. It's not timed and you can set the WPM for as high or low as you want (my kids started out at 5 WPM). Then the games after the lessons are based on how fast your WPM goal is and what keys you've learned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeeves Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 The only thing I don't like with TI for kids is that you can't go back to get more practice on a particular set of letters without beginning the whole thing over. If you go to Explorer Isle (on the left side of the Island screen), they can play games that only use the keys they've learned. So you can have them play as many games as they want until they're good at those keys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kebo Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 These were the ones that worked the best for us: http://www.amazon.com/Individual-Software-Inc-2224562-Typing/dp/B000TME1JU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351637618&sr=8-1&keywords=quick+and+easy+typing And (if you're okay with Spongebob): http://www.amazon.com/Nickelodeon-10583-SpongeBob-Squarepants-Typing/dp/B000GKPDWY/ref=sr_1_1?s=software&ie=UTF8&qid=1351637670&sr=1-1&keywords=spongebob+typing Oh, I almost forgot.....Typingweb.com is good, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 Thanks, guys. I knew y'all would have some good suggestions. I'm going to make her try out some different free programs for awhile before plunking down $$ for a new program . . . She loved the BBC Dance Mat Typing thing! For whatever reason, little voices saying "type on me" doesn't bother her the way beeps do. And the British goat was a hit. I know this won't get us too far, but at least it might make typing fun for awhile, rather than a dreaded chore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmilyinND Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 I was going to recommend TuxTyping, but there is timing involved, so that probably wouldn't work. (The penguin tries to eat the fish as they float down the screen.) ETA: There might be lessons/games with the program that aren't timed--I'm not sure. My dh and dd used the program a few years ago, so I'm not overly familiar with it. In case anyone else is interested, here's a link: http://tux4kids.alioth.debian.org/tuxtype/index.php Oh, no, I'm afraid that being solely responsible for the starvation of the penguin would be wayyyyyyyyyy too much pressure! ;) Seriously, thanks - I'll check it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto4kings Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 All my kids have loved Typing Instructor Deluxe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Not sure if anyone has suggested this one: http://www.typingweb.com/ Free and not timed. Ruth in NZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie in CA Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 I do think that the 'noises' most computer based programs make aren't necessary. You could point out to your daughter that most of us learned how to type without any beeping when mistakes where made. You just checked at the end. And we do know how to type, right. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah CB Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Thanks, guys. I knew y'all would have some good suggestions. I'm going to make her try out some different free programs for awhile before plunking down $$ for a new program . . . She loved the BBC Dance Mat Typing thing! For whatever reason, little voices saying "type on me" doesn't bother her the way beeps do. And the British goat was a hit. I know this won't get us too far, but at least it might make typing fun for awhile, rather than a dreaded chore. Are you on a Mac? All three of my boys love Typing Tournament. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted October 31, 2012 Author Share Posted October 31, 2012 Are you on a Mac? All three of my boys love Typing Tournament. No, I'm on a pc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 We were old-fashioned and just used a "learn to type book". I think this is the newer edition of the one we used. Slow and steady, we did about 1/2 to 1 page a day, throwing in the occasional repeat day as needed. Took about 10 minutes a day at most. Pretty painless, DSs didn't really complain. Only took about 3-4 months, and that was going at a slow pace through the book. BEST of luck! Warmly, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nansk Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I also thought of Diana Hanbury King's book when I read your OP. She teaches typing in the order of a, b, c,... Another low-tech option is called Krazy Keyboarding for Kids. But if Dance Mat Typing is working, then that is great, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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