This is an interactive FLEX course. This 8-week course will bring the learners from beginner thru advanced typing skills. The first 5 weeks will be devoted to learning the keyboard (the various function of the keys), as well as letter-drills, word-drills, and sentence drills as they begin to memorize where the keys are located and which finger should strike each key/letter. (Please note that I have this course in a more basic version available for ages 5-9, as well, in a separate listing.)

Each Monday you will receive a message from me which will contain links to that week's material. This will include a pre-recorded video, a set of interactive slides containing drills and games (through nearpod.com), additional drills and games, and an assignment to be uploaded each week. In my videos, I will demonstrate letter-drills by moving my webcam so that the learners can see my hands and keyboard. It is important that they know how to match up the correct finger with each letter so that bad habits do not develop at the start. The drills will be broken up with various activities such as memory games, virtual field trips and jokes on the nearpod slides. This gives their brains a break between learning each set of keys so the letters do not run together in their minds. 

This class will require some practice (perhaps beyond what I assign). The more practice...the faster learners improve! I will give homework each week which will consist of either playing a fun typing game online, typing a sentence, typing a paragraph, sending me a short video of their fingers typing (so I can monitor correct finger placement), or sending me a message through Outschool using their new typing skills! 

Here is a breakdown of the curriculum, week-by-week:

Week 1: 
1. Color a typing chart (if you do not have a colored printer)
2. Discuss proper arm, finger placement, and timing (with use of metronome).
3. Learn home row keys (ASDFGHJKL:") through letter- and word- drills and games.
4. Learn how to use the "Space bar".
Assignment: upload a picture of your color chart

Week 2:
1. Learn how to use the "Shift" key.
2. Learn letters (ENUTROCI) using letter- and word- drills and games.
3. Review home row keys. 
Assignment: upload a video of you typing the homerow keys and space bar

Week 3:
1. Learn how to use the  "Enter/Return"  and "Down arrow" keys.
2. Learn how to use the "Caps lock" key.
3. Learn how to use the "Backspace" and "Back arrow" keys.
4. Learn letters (PVWMBYGH) using letter- and word- drills and games.
5. Review home row letters, ASDFGHJKL;, and letters ENUTROCI.
Assignment: upload a screenshot of your game score

Week 4:
1. Learn how to use the "Delete" and "Insert" keys.
2. Learn letters and characters (ZQX ! . , ' ") using letter- and word- drills and games.
3. Play bingo as a class (review of key functions)
4. Speed typing test (3 minute speed test).
Assignment: Play typing game two more times

Week 5:
1. Tab Key
2. Numbers: 1234567890
3. Characters: ; : - _ ( ) +=* & $ % @ # / ? <>
4. Sentence drills
Assignment: upload a video of you typing a sentence (using shift key and space bar properly, plus proper punctuation).

Week 6:
1. Warm-up: type sentences with characters.
2. Sentence drill: more sophisticated sentences.
3. Type sentences about objects I hold up on the video (watch out for a "special guest"!)
4. Number keypad lesson and drills (the numbers to the right of the keyboard, don't worry if you don't have this keypad).
Homework: practice number keypad on a separate website

Week 7:
1. Type sentences from dictation (I talk, you type!).
2. Personal paragraph (copy a paragraph, filling in the blanks)
3. Paragraph drill.
Assignment: practice the carnival typing game again.

Weeks 8:
1. Type a paragraph, practicing all skills and many characters.
2. Type a paragraph from dictation (I talk, you type!)
3. Create your own paragraph (tell me a story).
4. How to type a business letter.
5. Final typing test!
Assignment: send me a business letter in outschool classroom, under the week 8 post.