Tiny typists get familiar with keyboards early

JACKSON, Mo. -- When it came to writing papers for class, some students used to hunt and peck their way across the keys of typewriters or computers until they learned the proper techniques in high school keyboarding classes.

But because of the increase in technology over the past several years, elementary schools in Cape Girardeau and Jackson are preparing to add those classes to their curriculums for students as young as 5.

In Cape Girardeau, kindergarten students at Franklin Elementary School spend 20 to 40 minutes a week in the computer lab getting to know the various parts and functions of computers.

In Jackson, with the help of laptop-like computers called AlphaSmart, third-grade students practice typing words and creating sentences.

The AlphaSmarts were first introduced to the students in October, and so far, the kids and the teachers have had no complaints.

"It was hard to remember where everything was at first, but I got used to it and now it's fun and easy," said Taylor Hastings, 9, a student in Shauna Criddle's third-grade class at Orchard Elementary School. "I never get bored."

The idea for elementary keyboarding began during the summer of 2000 when Becky Riney, a keyboarding teacher at Jackson High School, met with West Lane Elementary School librarian Diane Gregg and assistant superintendent Rita Fisher to discuss changing technologies.

"We saw what the technology trends were and realized we needed to do more," Fisher said.

The group developed the keyboarding curriculum now in place for the third-grade students.

Two keys a lesson

The AlphaSmart computers contain tutorial software programs that guide the students through lessons. Each lesson teaches the students two new keys.

Thursday's lesson was learning Q and U.

Criddle opened the cart where the AlphaSmart computers are kept and said, "Before we get our computers let's go over the rules. Who can tell me one of them?"

As she spoke, kids threw up their arms.

They waived their hands and bounced around in their seats trying to get Criddle's attention as she called on them one by one.

"Carry it with two hands," one answered.

"Don't turn it on until you tell us to," said another.

As the students finished reciting the rules, Criddle excused each row to the cart to get the devices.

When the students began the lesson, the only sound in the room was the pitter-patter of the children's fingers striking the keys.

After typing the letters Q and U about 10 times each, the students moved on to the second part of the lesson: Typing words using Q and U and all of the letters they have learned since the beginning of the fall.

After the word challenge, they took speed and accuracy tests to determine how many words per minute they could type.

"My goal was eight words per minute," Taylor said. "I'm doing pretty good."

For high school students to get an A in the regular keyboarding class, they have to be able to type 35 words a minute.

Some of Criddle's students already type as many as 14 or 15 words a minute, which she finds amazing.

"I learned to type my sophomore year in high school," she said. "I wasn't too excited when I found out I would be teaching it this year, but when I saw how easy it was and how much the children enjoy it, it made it all worthwhile. They're doing really well."

Criddle said the AlphaSmarts program not only teaches the students how to use the proper hand positions, but to spell and space their words correctly. "If they make a mistake or misspell a word, the program won't let them move on," she said.

Speed for fun

Criddle said the accuracy and speed tests are for fun, and the students are not given a class grade for any work done on the computers.

"It's a work in progress," Criddle said. "It's just to get them more familiar with the keyboard."

Criddle's students say they like using the keyboard because it is easier than writing.

"I like it a lot better than writing because when I write my hand kind of aches," Lydia Meece said. "I don't like it when that happens."

Chelsi Sitzes agrees and said typing is easier than writing in cursive, too.

The AlphaSmart computers are used at Orchard, Millersville and Gordonville elementary schools because there are no computer labs. At North and South Elementary, where there are computer labs, the students use Internet software with lessons similar to the AlphaSmarts.

Next year the program will be extended to kindergarten and fourth grades. Another two grades will be added each year until 2007, when all grades will have the keyboarding curriculum.

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

335-6611 extension 128