Should I Teach Typing?
April 17, 2019
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Deborah Wuehler
Hunt and Peck
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Todd Wilson
From a three-finger Pecker
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Lee Binz
Teach Typing to Teens
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Jodi Riddle
Typing with Your Might
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Hunt and Peck
When I first began homeschooling 25 years ago, I didn’t even think to add typing to my children’s education. But when I saw them use an online learning game and watched them “hunt and peck” for letters on the keyboard, I knew it was time.
Today, typing has become a skill that most of our children will need in their future. Even if they don’t use it much in their eventual career, it will probably be necessary in college and elsewhere. So find a good resource, and little by little, have them keep plugging away until they are proficient.
When I first started homeschooling, I felt just like my children as I began to “hunt and peck” for all that I needed to homeschool. I definitely did not feel proficient or qualified, just
very ordinary. Over the years, and several students later, homeschooling became second nature. It will for you also!
If you are feeling like you don’t know what you are doing, take courage. You are among friends. And you have One Who gives Wisdom freely to all who ask. Give yourselves time and grace and it will become less intimidating and actually easier the longer you plug away.
You know your children best: how they learn, how they think, what they know and don’t know, and you can trust your Faithful God. He Who calls you will perform it.
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23,24).
God’s got your kids, and we have your back, as you keep them
Home Where They Belong.
~Deborah
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From a three-finger Pecker
As a typer, I'm a three-finger, hunt and pecker. I took typing in seventh grade. My teacher was older than dirt, and we learned on ancient, non-electric typewriters that had blank keys so we wouldn't rely on them.
Truth is . . . I never really learned it, although I can still hold my hands in the start position when I need to. And yet, I've written countless articles and dozens of books—all with the three-finger hunt and peck method.
My wife, on the other hand . . . knows how to type. Her cute, little fingers fly over the keys, leaving a cacophony of rat-a-tat-tats behind her. Because she knows the proper method and value of being able to type quickly, she has taught all of our children typing (or “keyboarding” as we now call it).
I still get a little thrill when I see my children hold their fingers in the correct start position.
Now the question boils down to this: Should YOU teach keyboarding to your children? My thoughts: if you want to, have the time, and think it's important . . . do it. If, on the other hand, you don't want to, don't have the time, and think it doesn't really matter, then . . . don't do it.
The thing is, as I've said many times, God made you smart enough to figure it out. But I will say this: if you add keyboarding, then take away something else (or shorten another subject). You shouldn't be stretching out your school day just to add it in.
Keep being real,
Todd
PS - Did you know there are some discouraged homeschoolers around you? You should get a pack of our Homeschool Encouragement Cards and WRITE an old-fashioned note of encouragement to some of them. We've done most of the work for you and have even included FREE shipping. So for $10 you get TEN different, hilarious, cartoon cards bursting with encouragement inside.
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Explore historical sites, enjoy outdoor activities, or just relax at the spacious Bradshaw Lodge! It's the perfect get-away for families, churches, or homeschool groups!
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Lee Binz, The HomeScholar
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Teach Typing to Teens
When children are younger, handwriting skills are critical. As they get older, it’s important to transition to typing so children have the skills they need to succeed in college and in life. There are five major considerations.
1. Typing is a life skill.
Everything is online. We all need to navigate websites and e-mail. Typing without looking at your hands is important to working quickly in every computer-based interaction. Accurate and speedy typing is important for all adults.
2. Teens need college survival skills.
Touch-typing with keyboarding skills improves college readiness. In college as in high school, there’s a lot of writing to do, and a lot of work done on a computer. Typing allows students to get spelling and grammar checks that improve the end results of writing.
3. Typing is faster than hunt and peck.
While it’s possible to slowly type one key at a time, it’s extremely s-l-o-w and can interrupt the writer’s train of thought. Typing without looking can allow ideas to flow as quickly as they come to mind, leading to faster and better writing for the future.
4. Notetaking by hand improves learning.
While teaching typing may be important, hand-writing will always have a place. Research has shown that students who take notes by hand, rather than on the computer, actually learn and retain more. Adding typing makes sense, but you don’t want to completely eliminate the use of handwriting.
5. Handwritten essays are everywhere.
Essay tests and hand-written notes require legible handwriting but not elegant cursive. Teens may not like penmanship, and typing is a way to avoid it when possible. At the same time, legible handwriting is the cornerstone of literacy.
Teens need both legible handwriting and touch-type skills. If students learn typing in high school, you can call the class “Keyboarding” or “College Study Skills.” Let me show you how to put classes like this on a homeschool transcript in my free class,
A Homeschool Parent's Guide to Grades, Credits, and Transcripts. This class is the perfect motivation for high school parents who need to finish their transcript for the year.
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Typing with Your Might
When I was in school, typing was a required elective in the 8
th grade. Technology had just advanced from the “manual” typewriter to the “electric” typewriter, and it was an exciting time—you no longer had to push the carriage bar to advance to the next line!
Fast forward 30 years—typing is a part of almost every person’s life because computers are now replacing the pen and pencil. Incidentally, I am still a proponent of teaching cursive and writing, but the reality is that most students are using some form of a keyboard every day.
So, the question is asked, “Should I teach typing?” Learning to use a keyboard properly can save a lot of time when writing papers or doing research. Having a familiarity with the keyboard is a vital part of working efficiently.
Due to the fact that technology has brought us to a place where a keyboard is such an integral part of one’s day, my first thought is “Yes, some sort of typing should be taught.” To what degree it is taught should really be based on your child and the amount of intended use.
Teaching proper hand positions and posture while typing can also be a long-term benefit for the child who uses the keyboard frequently. Speed and accuracy are also other things to consider when teaching typing. Most classes or instruction you find about typing will talk about WPM (words per minute) and accuracy rates. Again, these are all things that you can determine the importance of and set goals that are realistic for your children.
SchoolhouseTeachers.com offers
a keyboarding class that is super for anyone wanting to learn to type or brush up on skills they already have. Ecclesiastes 9:10a says, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Whatever you choose to do, have fun doing it, and encourage your children to work to their potential.
Jodi has been with TOS since April 2016. She serves as a Operations Manager and is also the
Homeschooling with Heart
blog manager. Jodi is a pastor’s wife and has three adult sons. She homeschooled for eighteen years and also taught in the private and public-school settings. Jodi enjoys teaching, playing the piano, scrapbooking, and making cards. Her heart’s desire is to help others learn to enjoy these things as well!
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After such a great response during the 2018 Homeschool Curriculum Show and Share in Huntsville, Alabama, I am excited to share that this year's event will include such presenters as curriculum providers, veteran homeschool moms, and those with special needs experience. We want to thank our generous business sponsors who will be providing activities for children so that more families will be able to attend. This event for parents is hosted by parents, and it is the hope of the creator of the Show and Share that people will have an opportunity to find support and the confidence they need to join the homeschool community.
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Florida Parent Educators Association is hosting the FPEA Annual Florida Homeschool Convention – Wild Florida – Live Free on May 23-25, 2019 at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, FL. Contact
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