Krazy Keyboarding for Kids
	GAMMA KEYS
Home	Teaching Guide	Curriculum	Lessons	Web Activities	Worksheets	Resources

The Basic Keyboarding Curriculum should consist of the following knowledge and skills:

Students' ability to use data input skills appropriate for their grade levels as related to the tasks listed below .

* ability to use a variey of input devices such as mouse, keyboard, disk drive, scanner, digital video and CD-Rom

*ability to use a printer to acquire a hard copy

* use proper keyboarding techniques such as correct hand and body positions and smooth and rhythmic keystroke patterns

*demonstrate touch keyboarding techniques for operation the alphabetic, numeric, puctuation and symbol keys

*demonstrate an appropriate speed on short timed exercises

Sequence of Emphasis

Focus of instruction should first deal with the fundamental techniques of keyboarding. This includes finger placement and posture.

*The main emphasis on keyboarding should be on HOW the student keyboards rather than how much the student produces.

Early emphasis on accuracy will generally result in the increase of anxiety and stress in the students. As the student is provided with a multitude of keyboarding opportunities the errors thereby improving accuracy.

The keyboard curriculum should allow for a method of recording each students' progress.

Once keyboard skills are learned, teachers should then give them a variety of opportunities to maintain and reinforce the learning. Students must be constantly reminded to use the proper skills (posture & technique) they have been taught so they won't lose them. It is extremely important in this curriculum that the student is made aware of how he/she is using the keyboard whenever the student sits in front of a computer. Proper keyboarding techniques should be used every time a student sits down in front of the computer.

Curriculum Development

Grade 5-6

Keyboarding skills are cumulative and each grade level should build upon skills taught at the previous level.

*Keyboard at 12-15 wpm (15-20) at 6th grade with correct fingering positions on alphabet keys

*Continue to retain, refine and apply proper fingering with emphasis on special function keys, increasing accuracy, while increasing wpm.

*Use special function keys

*Use correct body position

*Use proper keyboarding skills

*Copying of words from books or handouts while being timed.

*Respond to or create noels, poems, short stories, plays and nonfiction/factual materials.

*Create vocabulary lists.

*Keyboard research information.

*Keyboarding skills should be integrated within the curriculum and deal with authenic assignments whenever possible.

Grade 7-8

*Continue to retain, refine and apply proper fingering with emphasis on special function keys, increasing accuracy, while increasing wpm.

*Keyboard at 20-25 wpm on a three-minute timing with correct fingering positions on all keys using touch skills 80% of the time

*Teachers must still be consistent in reuiring proper fingering and posture.

*Teachers must still provide students with continued guided practice time.

*Students should now be keyboarding all appropriate assignments.