Typing Practice

After seeing one of the example writing questions for the Smarter Balanced Assessments and knowing about the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, I am convinced that students need to start practicing typing before third grade.  I have found that the last few years I have taught more lessons and provided more practice time for typing rather than writing cursive.  Cursive is great, students need to try it and learn how to read it. However, in my opinion typing is more important and is a skill all students will be using in the future no matter what career path they choose.  There are two typing programs I like that are free and fun.  One is Dance Mat Typing provided by the British Broadcasting Corporation.  It is very entertaining and the kids love it.  You need to pass levels of difficulty through practice.  Some of the accents the characters use can be a little hard to understand though.  The second is an app provided through Google Chrome's Elementary Education Pack called Typing Club.  After practicing, the app will rate you with 1-3 stars depending on how you perform.  It also tells you the words per minute you can type, your accuracy percentage and the time it took you to finish the task.  It also gives a lesson before practice begins and shows a picture of hands with the finger needed highlighted on the screen.  My students have become fast typers especially with the amount of exposure to technology this year.  I would like all Brighton students to have that same advantage.