Westmorland Primary School

Touch Typing Progression and Skills

Rationale 

Although some children enter school very knowledgeable about different aspects of technology, typing skills are poor. To be digitally literate, children need to focus on presenting information and making choices, not concentrating solely on entering the content.

Expectations The expectation for Key Stage 1 is that children will be able to type 10 words per minute. In Key Stage 2, this would increase to 20 words per minute. Learning Support expect a 12 wpm average to consider supporting via technology. Most people manage 30 wpm.

Know your level

http://www.typeonline.co.uk/typingspeed_alpha_numeric.php

http://typing-speed-test.aoeu.eu/         http://www.englishtype.com/typingTest.php

All these sites test your skills and give you a WPM score. They are child friendly.

Teaching Touch Typing

When to teach it?

Autumn 1 – 3-4 week block of sessions

Autumn2 & Spring 1 – 5-10 minutes at the start of every computing session.

Spring 2 and Summer – 5 minutes at the start of every computing session.

How to teach it?

Look at the advice by 2 simple on screen position and seating position.

Work through so children can see hands and fingers but encourage them not to look. When worked through, repeat with hands covered eg by tea towel.