Keyboard Spiral 

Keyboarding K-5

Kindergarten:  Introduction to computers including logins, mouse skills and use of the letters on the keyboard.

• Time frame:  These skills will be introduced and instructed throughout the year.  (minimum of 10 exposures)
• Learning Objectives—Students will:

1. Learn the basics on the keyboard, monitor, and mouse.
2. Learn to turn the computer on and off properly.
3. Learn to care for and appreciate the computer through simple applications.
4. Be able to use the escape key to return to the main menu.
5. Use the keyboard to interact with programmed software.

1^st grade (end of year goal—5-10 wpm):  Introduction to the keyboard’s layout and the homerow.

• Time frame:  30 minutes per day for the month of April; reinforcement for the remainder of the year through integration of keyboarding into lessons (minimum 30 minutes per week)
• Learning Objectives—Students will:

1. Use right and left hands for correct home row key placement.
2. Use the space bar, return, escape, arrow keys and shift.
3. Be introduced to the idea of CPU, disk drive, cursor and backspace.
4. Learn and use the correct keyboarding posture.
5. Be able to left click, right click and double-click the mouse.
6. Be exposed to a variety of experiences using the computer.
7. Continue to develop respect for computers and related materials.

• Required assessments:  pre-test during the first lesson, post-test during the final lesson, and end of year test to be administered prior to May 31^st using the DEFAULT test under tutorials on the Learning the Home Row website; teachers should record the students’ result in a Google spreadsheet for sharing as necessary. Typingtest.com can also be used for a pre-test and post-test.

2^nd grade (end of year goal—10-15 wpm):  Learn the keyboard letters at a basic level and develop basic computer skills.

• Time frame:  30 minutes per day for the month of October; reinforcement for the remainder of the year through integration of keyboarding into lessons (minimum 60 minutes per week)
• Learning Objectives—Students will:

1. Continue their understanding and application of home row placement.
2. Use the computer to reinforce writing skills with assistance from their classroom teacher and to produce small samples of written work.
3. Be introduced to the computer terms of edit, word processor, hardware, software, CD/DVD ROM, file, save and delete.

• Required assessments:  pre-test during the first lesson, post-test during the final lesson, and end of year test to be administered prior to May 31^st using the DEFAULT test under tutorials on the Learning the Home Row website; teachers should record the students’ result in a Google spreadsheet for sharing as necessary

3^rd grade (end of year goal—15-20 wpm):  Further develop keyboarding and writing skills using the computer.

• Time frame:  30 minutes per day for the month of October; reinforcement for the remainder of the year through integration of keyboarding into lessons (minimum 90 minutes per week)
• Learning Objectives—Students will:

1. Write, edit, proofread, spell, save and publish using a word processing program.
2. Increase keyboarding skills through the use of keyboarding software.
3. Use home row key touch typing skills.
4. Begin to utilize electronic sources of information.

• Required assessments:  pre-test during the first lesson, post-test during the final lesson, and end of year test to be administered prior to May 31^st using the test within Typingweb.com; or typingtest.com, teachers should record the students’ result in a Google spreadsheet for sharing as necessary

4^th grade (end of year goal—20-25 wpm):  Continue to develop keyboarding, word processing and research skills.

• Time frame:  30 minutes per day for the month of October; reinforcement for the remainder of the year through integration of keyboarding into lessons (minimum 120 minutes per week)
• Learning Objectives—Students will:

1. Continue the development of writing, editing, proofreading and spelling using the word processing program.
2. Create, edit and publish a specific assignment using a word processing program.
3. Continue developing keyboarding skills with an emphasis on additional key locations.
4. Research topics using print material and online resources to make a project.

• Required assessments:  pre-test during the first lesson, post-test during the final lesson, and end of year test to be administered prior to May 31^st using the test within Typingweb.com; or using typingtest.com, teachers should record the students’ result in a Google spreadsheet for sharing as necessary

5^th grade (end of year goal—25-30 wpm):  Learn to organize and create information with technology.

• Time frame:  30 minutes per day for the month of October; reinforcement for the remainder of the year through integration of keyboarding into lessons (minimum 150 minutes per week)
• Learning Objectives—Students will:

1. Continue 4^th grade objectives on research and writing.
2. Create a simple spreadsheet as part of math or science learning activities.
3. Correctly use the touch typing skills for the alphabet, numbers, and symbols.
4. Emphasize the proper technique on a daily basis.

• Required assessments:  pre-test during the first lesson, post-test during the final lesson, and end of year test to be administered prior to May 31^st using the test within Typingweb.com; teachers should record the students’ result in a Google spreadsheet for sharing as necessary

6^th grade (end of year goal—30-35 wpm):  Learn to increase their skills using the computer and master their ability to touch-type. 

• Time frame:  reinforcement of skills learned previously through the integration of keyboarding into lessons (as much as possible)
• Learning Objectives—Students will:

1. Demonstrate the correct usage of storage and retrieval on a computer.
2. Show improvement in speed; increase in words per minute throughout the year.
3. Demonstrate proper format of report writing, business block letters, memos and tables.
4. Relate computer terminology to daily lessons.

• Required assessments:  pre-test during the first week of class and end of year test to be administered prior to May 31^st using the test within Typingweb.com; teachers should record the students’ result in a Google spreadsheet for sharing as necessary