Why kids in Primary Schools should learn to touch type.
It is widely accepted that touch-typing (for many) is an essential life skill and it seems that Primary Schools are teaching more children how to learn before they get to Secondary School. Here are my top three reasons why this skill is essential to learn.
I was really pleased to hear about the excellent work being done to support pupils with dyslexia at Lyndhurst Primary School in Camberwell, London.
What I hadn’t appreciated was that they have a ‘Touch Typing Club’ which they share details about in the video below:
Click to download this resource on spellings.
In the video, the pupils share the progress they have made using the KAZ-Type software and how pleased they are at learning this essential skill.
So why is touch typing important?
I have written about this topic a lot over the past year especially as so much learning has been delivered online and so requires the use of a keyboard to access the content but there are three major reasons that come to my mind as to why a child in Primary School should learn to touch-type, especially if dyslexic.
Confidence in learning.
At the very least, this is a valuable skill that is easily learnt at a young age and could help boost self-esteem.
A good skill to learn before getting to Secondary School.
With the emphasis on using a keyboard in Secondary education and beyond, it makes sense to learn this skill. When children transition to Secondary education and onwards to University the levels of work required increase as well as the need to use modern IT programs such as Microsoft’s Office 365. So, it makes sense to learn this skill sooner rather than in the middle of the transition of increased work.
Imagine not needing to learn touch typing and just getting on with studying with a skill that simply helps with that process?
Provides better access to technology that helps with study skills.
Assistive Technology is more easily accessible once at University. Mostly this technology requires the use of a keyboard and so touch-typing makes the utilisation of this technology easier and boosts productivity.
Can your child learn touch typing in 90 minutes?
In the video, Lyndhurst Primary School talk about KAZ-Type, touch-typing software that claims to the skill in 90 minutes as well as help with learning spellings. Is your child up for a challenge to learn a skill quickly that will serve them well in the future?