Full-blown touch typing is a necessary skill in this day and age, and many middle schools teach aspects of typing to students as young as sixth grade. By helping students build confidence through typing tests and quality typing programs, students can acquire and apply this important skill throughout their middle school years and beyond.
Here are twenty great resources to help your middle schoolers thrive while they learn this extremely important skill for students.
Tools for Teaching Students How to Type
1. Introductory Typing Test
This typing test is a great place to start since it gives you a sense of your student’s skill level and basic typing skills before they even start any typing exercises. You can use it as a pre-test and post-test at the beginning and end of the semester to track your students’ typing progress.
Learn More: Calculator Cat
2. Online Typing Training Course
This program includes all of the lessons and activities to help students acquire the skills of touch typing and typing fluency. There are several modules that start from the very basics and continue until mastery of this important skill for students.
Learn More: Typing Test
3. Typing Paragraphs for Speed
This online activity is designed to help students speed up their practice of typing. The goal is to type all the sentences and/or paragraphs as quickly as possible; guidance for accuracy is also provided.
Learn More: Education
4. Typing Paragraphs for Accuracy
Accuracy is the main focus of these online typing lessons. The main goal is to offer keyboard typing practice that emphasizes the importance of hitting the right keys every time. The focus is removed from speed and centered on accuracy.
Learn More: Education
5. Online Touch Typing Courses
With this resource, kids can get individualized online typing tutorials for their touch typing skills. The program and tutors recognize that touch typing is an extremely important skill for students, so they are committed to helping kids learn to type with top speeds and accuracy.
Learn More: Touch Type It
6. Keybr
This online school typing tutor takes students from the very beginning levels of typing all the way through advanced typing tests. The approach features interactive typing exercises and immediate feedback to help your students learn quickly and effectively.
Learn More: Keybr
7. Inspiration and Educational Explanation
This article is a great jumping-off point that explores the importance and related developmental skills associated with teaching kids how to touch type. It’s a complete learning typing file that also offers some helpful resources.
Learn More: The Purposeful Nest
8. Theoretical Background
This article explores the importance of teaching children how to type. You’ll learn how and why it extends far beyond the basic keyboarding skill, and how these skills can positively impact other areas of your students’ lives!
Learn More: Education World
Printable Typing Activities
9. Top Row Coloring Sheet
This printable features a friendly alien who helps students remember all of the letters along the top row of a keyboard.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
10. Keyboarding Practice Worksheet
This is a handy paper where students can take notes and practice resting their fingers in the proper position on the keyboard. It’s also great for practicing outside the typing center or computer lab.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
11. Keyboard Shortcuts Poster
This poster is a great way to teach and reinforce the shortcuts that make touch typing even easier. It’s also a useful resource for students to refer to while they’re in the middle of typing class, or while they’re completing assignments with word processing software.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
12. Parts of a Keyboard Display
This resource can help you teach and remind students about the different parts of the computer keyboard. It’s a useful tool for introducing and reinforcing the vocabulary related to keyboarding and touch typing.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
13. Handy Tips for Better Speed and Accuracy
This handout covers the top tips to help students improve their speed and accuracy while typing. The suggestions also apply to advanced-level typists, so you might be able to benefit from the advice, too!
Learn More: Course Lounge
Online Typing Games and Activities for Students
14. Alphabetic Rain
This is one of the most familiar typing games, where you have to type the correct letter before it crashes to the ground. This is a great way to drill and solidify patterns needed for strong keyboard skills, plus it’s a fun way for students to practice typing exercises.
Learn More: Power Typing
15. Mavis Typing Tomb Adventure
This game for students is really exciting. It combines an engaging adventure with activities to drill typing abilities. Students can have fun while they improve their touch typing skills!
Learn More: Typing Games
16. Save the Sailboats
This game features different difficulty levels that allow the teacher and/or the students to customize how fast the game goes. It’s perfect for primary students because it is easy to play and the context is very familiar.
Learn More: Free Typing Game
17. Games from KidzType
Most of the games on this site correspond directly to a specific row or lesson, so learners can progress through the different games and levels as their skills continue to improve. There are fun games for all interests and levels.
Learn More: Kidz Type
18. Typing with Race Cars
This game features a high-speed race that is meant to help students improve both speed and accuracy as they type. It’s also a great way to encourage a bit of friendly competition in the typing classroom.
Learn More: Typing Games
19. QWERTY Town
This series of integrated tutorials and games take students from beginner level to advanced level while also promoting fun! It’s a comprehensive approach that incorporates gamification to keep students engaged throughout each lesson.
Learn More: Bits and Bytes
20. Outer Space Fleet Commander
This game is a callback to classic arcade games like “Space Invaders.” Students have to quickly type the correct letters and words so that they can protect the planet. It’s an exciting time!
Learn More: Free Typing Game
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