Learn to type how to#

The hunt-and-peck method can be so frustrating that it not only puts the writer off but makes it difficult for him or her to keep an idea in mind.Īs discussed, the reinforcement of sound-letter mapping supports phonics, but it also impacts positively on spelling. Typing is a lot easier if you don’t have to search for every key individually. We think much faster than we write and touch typing helps support the translating of ideas into language via the muscles and movements of our hands.

Learn to type how to#

This is crucial for youngsters who are just learning how to express themselves in writing. Writing on a computer helps writers organize ideas, work in draft form and revise and edit their work. Learn more Honed Writing and Spelling Skills The modules can be repeated as many times as is necessary and many of the words come from the Dolch List, vocabulary that makes up 50-75% of all text used in elementary school materials. TTRS’s course uses modules in which kids learn groups of words at a time. The more they see a word, the easier it will be for them to recognize it the next time. This means they can save the decoding for harder vocabulary.

This helps support phonics work and make sounding out words easier.Īs children progress as readers, they begin to recognize high frequency words by sight. In a multi-sensory typing course such as Touch-type Read and Spell (TTRS), in the very early stages, children hear a letter read out loud, see it on the screen and then type the corresponding key(s).

One of the first skills kids master when they are learning how to read is mapping sounds to letters. To understand how learning typing supports literacy you need to consider the way reading works. The benefits of learning to type Stronger Reading Skills

This also coincides with a period in which they are learning to read and write at school, and practicing their English spelling skills. It’s generally considered appropriate for kids to learn to type when their hands are big enough to fit comfortably on a standard keyboard, typically around 6 or 7 years of age. They are also less at risk for developing bad typing habits that are hard to unlearn, such as the hunt-and-peck method. While typing is a skill that can be mastered at any age, the younger the better, as they will have more opportunities to refine and strengthen their skills. When should children learn to type?Ĭhildren today are exposed to keyboards from a very early age from family laptops to the keyboard screens of their parents’ tablets and smartphones. Typing can help hone writing skills, make peer-editing and revision tasks easier and is also a great way for kids who struggle with dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyspraxia to complete written assignments and avoid the challenges of handwriting their school work. This is a much more direct way of translating ideas into language, as thoughts flow freely through the fingertips and onto the screen. When kids practice touch typing, they are using muscle memory to manipulate the keyboard. It prepares children for later grades, when assignments must be completed using a computer, and reinforces familiarity with Sight Words and other high frequency vocabulary. Learning to type using a multi-sensory approach also strengthens reading, writing and spelling skills by emphasizing phonics. That's because in order to use a computer, play educational games, and even search the web, it helps to have learned touch typing.īeing able to type without looking at the keyboard means kids can focus on the task in front of them, instead of getting distracted hunting for letters. For example, programs that teach keyboarding skills. Educational technology can help children strengthen literacy skills, deal more easily with the challenges of learning difficulties, and enhance their performance across the elementary and high school curriculum.Īnd while apps typically make headlines for their big-data algorithms and adaptive lesson plans, one of the best Ed Tech ideas for children may be a more back-to-basics approach.