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I teach Keyboarding starting in 1st grade. For grades 1-4, this is for 30-45 min. twice a month or so. In 5th grade, we have a mandatory semester elective (graded). I use Type to Learn3 as my keyboarding software. To break up the monotony of software use, I have them play games such as: 1. Silly story - list some sillly topics (many they recommend) on the board, and have them include these in a Word document. Time them for 2 minutes, then holler "Switch." They run to the next computer and type onto that person's story. This continues for 20 minutes or so. This is their favorite game. 2. Keyboard chess-Use masking tape to draw a LARGE keyboard on the floor (12 inch vinyl tiles make this easy to do on my floor). Put numbers, not the real letters, on each key, then give a team or individual a sentence to type (jump on). Esp. fun when capitalizing (like Twister). The team or individual must remember where the keys are (I put the "bumps" on J and F tiles so they have that as well as a longer spacebar and enter key to reference from). The kids get giggly as they make typing mistakes (I write what they "type" on my board so all can see). Fun! 3. CD dictation - have them bring in SEVERAL music CDS and try to type the lyrics (you need several because many record companies are now protecting the music from being listened to on a computer). I then pick a song from all the CDs and play it on speakers and see if we all can type that song (they love seeing me make mistakes: I type fast but I don't know the lyrics!!). I do make sure all lyrics and CDs are school-appropriate. 4. Find Internet games - RoboRaid at cartoonnetwork.com, SlamDunk typing, Typing Master,and more are free (in demo mode at least). One I really like is RoniMusic's Sweet Little Piano. It's a MIDI program tied into the keyboard. Kids write music (whether a song they make up or an existing one) and then pass their composition to someone else to play. A score might look like "DFF GIGI" instead of "CDD EGEG". Requires a knowledge of the keyboard as well as some problem-solving and logic skills. Make sense?? Good luck!! Lorrie Jackson, K-8 Technology www.lausanneschool.com ljackson@lausanneschool.com --- Edtech Archives, posting guidelines and other information are at: http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~edweb Please include your name, email address, and school or professional affiliation in each posting. To unsubscribe send the following command to: LISTSERV@H-NET.MSU.EDU SIGNOFF EDTECH
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