>I would love to have lots of ideas on this issue. Is 1st grade too young
>to emphasize only keyboarding and word processing?
I staff the computer lab at a K-8 school. I started introducing typing to K
and 1st graders in a systematic manner last year. I don't expect them to
really accomplish measureable skill/speed levels, but the idea is to
introduce the CONCEPT of TYPING letter characters, as they are LEARNING the
letters. It's all of a piece, conceptually, how we use letter symbols to
communicate. While kids are learning what the upper and lower case
characters look like, how to write them, what sounds they make, how they
combine to make words and sentences, they should also learn where they
"live" on the keyboard, and what fingers are used to strike them. It all
should be introduced at the SAME TIME.
To help with this, I have printed out a graphic of the keyboard with R and
L hands drawn below. Our kids color in the "letter of the week" and the
fingernail of the proper stroking finger, and then draw a line to connect
them. They practice the motion with their own fingers right on the paper.
Then they go to the computers and use a simple word proc program to fill a
page with the letter. I have them do it different ways--holding the key
down to get many of the letter, putting spaces between each letter,
alternating upper and lower case versions. I really watch to see that
they use the proper finger for the letter, and for the spacebar and shift
keys. During the course of last year, I introduced the idea of selection,
and had them make lines in different sizes, fonts, styles. They delight in
this. They then proudly type in their name at the bottom, and print out the
page to take home. I have gotten quite a bit of feedback from parents
about this, all positive. This year, I am going to (somehow) make large
banner size keyboard displays for our teachers to refer to in their
classrooms when they discuss the letters, as they do not (yet) have
computers for use there.
My hope is that when these kids do have the motor skills to begin
touch-typing, they'll have an easier time with it, already being familiar
with the keyboard layout. I also find that even K and 1st like to learn and
use the keyboard shortcuts for "quit" and common editing commands, so I
introduce that way of controlling their software programs very early on.
Makes them feel powerful, like knowing a secret password.
Now back to Jackie's query,
"Is 1st grade too young to emphasize only keyboarding and word processing?"
Yes decidedly, ANY grade is too young to emphasize ONLY keyboarding and
word processing. These are important skills, but I feel strongly about
introducing early the many varied uses of these wonderful machines. In
addition to curriculum-specific software, and problem-solving programs, K
and I should enjoy sound recording and graphics programs too.
Gay Wiseman
Alta-Dutch Flat School Computer Lab
rustybel@foothill.net