Keyboard Tag contains a series of lesson plans and materials designed to teach children how to keyboard well enough to use computers for writing and other purposes. The problem with using computers in classrooms with a single computer and/or with limited computer lab access, is that most children don't learn to type fast enough to make much writing with computers practical. Research has shown that three or four sessions can be enough to substantially improve student's keyboarding ability. Note that statement doesn't mean gaining full keyboarding skills. Rather students will substantially improve their overall speed at finding letters, numbers and special keys.
Introductory sessions are conducted with the entire class before going to the classroom computer. When those sessions are complete, teachers can cycle their classes through as few or as many follow-up lessons as they wish. In those lessons, students work singly or in pairs. Depending on how many students work at the computer in a day, the entire class can do lessons in two days to a week.
Lessons are aimed at kindergarten through third grade classes, but could be adapted for older children. Note also that some beginning activities will be to simple for third grade students and many of the later activites will be too difficult for kindergarten. But the foundation will be set!
We've developed a set of thirty task cards which provide direction and classroom management assistance once students are ready to go to the computer. Print your own or purchase a set printed in color on heavy cover stock. Suggestions and tips are included. Keyboard Tag includes samples and suggestions in case you want to create your own!
Download a sample of Keyboard Tag's contents.
(For Macs. A Windows version will be available soon.)
Keyboard Tag is available in paper or on Macintosh or Windows 95 compatible disks.
Windows Disk Version ........................................................8.95
Book Version ....................................................................14.95
Book version plus any one disk ...........................................18.95
Both disks (Mac at home and Windows 95 at school?)......................12.95
30 Task Cards - On disk: print your own.......................................5.95
Note: Disk versions contain several formats so the text can be accessessed in a variety of ways. In addition to other formats, Acrobat Reader(.pdf) files areon both disks. Acrobat Reader is commonly available online. See our "Tools" page for a download site..