I personally think that 7th grade is way too late for keyboarding.  My 3rd
grade students begin formal keyboard training.  Their standard is 5 words
per minute at 90% accuracy.  The standard increases by 5 words per minute
each year with 8th graders typing 30 words per minute at 90% accuracy.  Kids
use computers every day at home, school, the library, etc.  If we wait until
7th grade to teach formal keyboarding they have already learned a lot of bad
habits and it is difficult to unlearn the bad habits and learn to keyboard
correctly.  Most of my 8th grade students can type 40 - 50 words per minute.
Our students have computer technology on a rotating basis.  Each grade has a
40 minute block of instruction for one marking period.  The other classes
that are offered at this time are Fine Arts, Health and Social Skills.  I
hope this helps.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil Hyjek" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 12:25 PM
Subject: Fwd: Undeliverable: ages & stages of keyboarding


> >
> >>Hello all-- At So. Royalton School we are in the process of hiring a new
> >>business/info tech educator.... a discussion within the school is
> >>keyboarding---ages and stages and mechanisms of instruction.
> >>
> >>I checked archives and didn't get a good feel on this issue.  Currently
> >>all
> >>7th graders take keyboarding in a 10 week rotation between other
> >>subjects.
> >>What are you doing out there?  Any pointers, oppinions, suggestions,
> >>etc.??
> >>
> >>Thanks, Mary F. Waterman
> >>    Community Based Learning and Grant Coordinator
> >>    So. Royalton School  802/763-8844 (ext 247)
> >>
> >
> >