Category: Lesson plans

When your child is learning to keyboard, they need 10-15 minutes two to three times a week. Even for kindergartners. Choose a fun software program–whichever will keep their attention when they’re young. I use Type to Learn Jr. in my school until half-way through first grade, but there are other good ones. For the older children, I use Type to Learn. I have great results with it. Students are challenged, intrigued, motivated by the prizes and the levels.

Another option is online typing sites. Typingweb is good. It’s a graduated program that keeps track of your progress. If you’re picking an online program as an alternative to software, it’s important to log in so the software remembers what your child has accomplished.

If you’re going to use online sites as part of an overall typing practice curriculum, here are some other good sites to try: (more…)

I only get my students 45 minutes a week. That’s not enough time to teach computer basics AND necessary keyboard skills. So, I give homework. It’s 45 minutes a week of homework:

If the lesson plans are blurry, click on them for a full size alternative.

(more…)

Before we get into Photoshop, we’ll start with a program your fifth grader is most likely comfortable with: MS Word. For basic image editing, Word does a pretty good job, so we’ll start with a project using Word’s tools:

• Open a blank document in MS Word. Insert a picture with multiple focal points (see sample). (more…)

Are you just starting your child on the computer but aren’t sure which program would be best for the youngest learners? You want more than the clicking around that kids seem to start in the womb. You want a program that teaches a bit about mouse functions, tools and toolbars, maybe even some text?

You’re looking for KidPix. (more…)

Lots of kids think technology is technical, another word for complicated/difficult/math-like. Here are six websites students can visit that will change their minds:

Click on image to enlarge if it’s blurry.

(more…)

Grade Level: 3-5 (more…)

I love summer! Summer should be a complete change from all the academic stuff that has happened all year. Sports, hikes, hobbies. Time to pet the dog. (more…)