Week of September 28th

This week it's time for a little housekeeping. Here are some things to know about Custom Typing:

1. The link for students to access Custom Typing has been moved just a bit. It can still be found on the D97 home page, but now it is farther down the page under a subheading called Students. If you can't quite find this link, click to view a snapshot.
2. If you need a student account, please click on the button to Request an Account. It is located on this blog and also right on the page students go to when logging in to Custom Typing.
3. Don't forget to check student practice records this week and provide them with positive feedback if they've been practicing.  If you have found a really great way to provide that positive feedback, please share in the comments section below.
   

Week of September 21st

If you haven't already introduced Custom Typing to your students, you might want to use a document I created to help guide teachers through the key points. It is meant to be projected to the screen when you are working with students and there are even links to graphics. This Custom Typing Kickoff Lesson can be found right on the  Custom Typing Login Page

If you have kicked off Custom Typing, it's time to find out whether or not students will practice at home. Try this:

1. Choose a night and actually assign keyboarding homework. 
2. Ask students to complete one lesson at home, or send them to do it in the school if they don't have a computer. (10 minutes)
3. Have their parents or a sibling check technique to set the tone.
4. Spend some time working with the report to see if you can easily get a record of home practice, then let them know you've checked the practice record. (see directions in sidebar)
5. Remind students that they need to practice regularly at home, about 3 x's per week. Hold a discussion about this. Is it reasonable? Will they remember? What will motivate them?

If you and your students come up with some good ideas. Please share the in the comments section. Next week... good ideas to motivate students to practice at home.

Week of September 14th

This week everyone is most-likely at a different places in the introduction of Custom Typing, so please choose the section below that describes where you are now:

Choice 1: I need to introduce Custom Typing to students

Please prepare for your introduction lesson in order to have an easier experience.

1. Sign up for the lab, allow 30-40 minutes.
2. Check the list of usernames availalble in the Custom Typing administrator section. Learn to use a great report.
3. If a student is missing from your group, request a student account
   
4. Locate the link to Custom Typing on the D97 website.
5. Preview techniques, listed on the D7 Custom Typing Login Page.
6. Be prepared to walk students through the first few pages of the tutorial. 
   
7. Locate or print a fingering chart. Talk about Home Row
8. Key Point:
   Be prepared to discuss the need to practice often, by doing drills. Compare keyboarding practice to practicing a musical instrument or practice sports. They need to build muscle-memory.
   

The comments section is available below to quickly request more information or ask a question. Use it,  you'll get a quick response.

Choice 2: I have already introduced Custom Typing to students

Since Custom Typing is fresh in their minds, all you need to do this week is refer to the list above, then fill in the gaps. Encourage home practice. Try this:

1. If a student is missing from your group, request a student account
2. Print a Custom Typing report (see sidebar)
3. Check the report to see if any of your students practiced.
4. Remember to compliment students for practicing at home. Do this in front of their peers, when others are listening. (in line, during transition, by the drinking fountain)
5. Why not pull a quiet student aside and give him or her a head's up reason to practice, then be sure to check and catch this student being good!

The comments section is available below to quickly request more information or ask a question.  Use it,  you'll get a quick response.

Welcome to the D97 Custom Typing Blog

The purpose of this blog is to provide teachers with quick and useful tips in order to help students develop good keyboarding habits. The key is to encourage students to engage in short, frequent practice sessions. This will help them develop the muscle memory they need to build fluency. The motto is an old familiar one Catch them being good.

The underlying message here is simple. As teachers, you might want to focus on the following things:

1. Sending students a clear and consistent message about the importance of developing good keyboarding habits. 
2. Monitoring technique and providing students with feedback every time you put them on a computer. 
3. Encouraging home practice. You can regularly check up on them through a quick and simple report available in Custom Typing. (See handout in the sidebar.)
4. Involving parents by asking them to encourage home practice and monitoring those 5-10 minute sessions at home. 

Hopefully, you can recognize that it is not necessary, nor is it recommended, to bring students to the lab and ask them to practice keyboarding for the entire lab session. That isn't good for them, not to mention the fact that it is tedious, frustrating and bound to backfire.

It really doesn't take too long to get students on their way to developing good keyboarding skills through  short, frequent practice sessions. After that, you can all enjoy the benefits of their learning as they begin to be able to think and type at the same time!