Author: Administrator

How common are keyboarding classes in American schools?

That’s a difficult question to answer, as there don’t seem to be any surveys or other research looking into the question—and many schools fold typing instruction into other classes such as computer science, digital literacy, or business. And yet, more and more children are expected to know how to type. The Common Core State Standards, for example, require that students in 4th grade be able “to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting.” By 6th grade, that requirement increases to three pages in a sitting.

Continue reading 4 Tips for Incorporating Keyboarding into Any Classroom

By Helen Xiong

In a 1:1 computing district, it’s important to make sure students begin developing solid computing skills, from the nuts and bolts of typing to the more abstract concepts of digital safety, from the time they start their educational careers. One of my favorite ways to keep my students engaged and motivated is by incorporating games and creativity into the classroom whenever and wherever I can.

Continue reading Teaching Early Elementary Tech with Games and Creativity

By Dr. Wendy Thompson

In many classrooms, typing instruction is an opportunity for students to practice and improve an important skill. In my classroom, it’s part crucial component in helping my students communicate and part assistive technology.

Continue reading When Typing Is an Essential Communication Skill

By Kelsey Irizarry

According to a report from Institute for the Future, 85% of the jobs our current students will have in 2030 don’t exist yet. How are we, as teachers, supposed to prepare students for jobs that don’t exist yet? I address this question as a K–5 Media Specialist by focusing on four skills that prepare my students not just for middle school, but for their future careers.

Continue reading 4 Skills that K–5 Students Need for the Careers of the Future

The latest TypeTastic School Edition update is now out with a significant change in the study material. Based on your feedback we have made it easier to understand which units you should assign for each grade level. We added more than 280 new activities for middle & high schools and students will now be taken to a specific theme based on the grade level.

Continue reading TypeTastic School Edition Spring Update Is Packed With 280+ New Activities

By Rebecca Steck and Jennifer Vespucci

Last year, Saint Patrick’s School received a grant to revamp our computer lab. Before we spent a cent, though, we made certain to connect every purchase with two important goals of our pre-K–8 Catholic school: improving each individual child’s academic and career prospects, and improving our students’ scores on state assessments, which are critical to whether we’re succeeding or failing as a school. To that end, here are four essential skills that we strive to teach all of our students by the time they finish middle school. Continue reading Why Keyboarding Is One of 4 Skills Every Middle-Schooler Needs

By Jan Smith

As a tech integrator, I teach 320 students in grades K­­–5. In addition to pushing into each home room for Tech class, I see the special-ed population as a separate and supplemental class of nine. This class includes students with autism as well as those in Life Skills in grades 3–5.

Typing can be a challenge with these students. As a function of their disability, some of my special-ed kids have difficulty remembering where the letters are on the keyboard, even from moment to moment. Continue reading For Special Education Students, TypeTastic Leads to Keyboarding Success!

In June 2016, we introduced TypeTastic, a brand-new way for K–3 kids to learn keyboarding by playing games. Since then, more than 2,000,000 of you have played our games. And now, based on your fantastic feedback and requests, we’re expanding TypeTastic to include games for all grade levels! Continue reading TypeTastic School Edition Brings Joy of Typing to All Grade Levels!

By Michelle Eckstein

To help my K-5 students take advantage of the latest educational technology and to set them up for success in their lives after school, one of the fundamental skills I teach is typing. Earlier this year, I was looking for activities that would help my youngest students practice mouse skills and develop familiarity with the keyboard. That’s when I discovered TypeTastic, which has a scope and sequence that aligned well with what I wanted to teach my K–2 students. Continue reading Typing is the Key that Unlocks Educational Technology