How to Implement a Keyboarding Club

Children who struggle with handwriting may benefit from accommodations in the classroom including use of the computer and typing to complete written communication.  In this article, I’m sharing strategies and tips on how to implement a keyboarding club to teach keyboarding and computer skills.  A keyboarding club can be used as an accommodation to written work, or a necessary functional skill.

 

Keyboarding Clubs and Handwriting

Handwriting can be a difficult and stressful action for many children.  What happens when no matter what interventions are attempted, the child simply can not function with the details and cohesiveness of completing all of the “parts” of written work?  There can be a point when kids would be better off just typing as an accommodation in school work.  With the use of keyboards and screens available in classrooms, homes, work places, and communities, there is more of a need for independence with keyboarding skills than perhaps in our past generations.  


Children begin computer use when they enter Kindergarten.  Children are using computers in the classroom and at home at a very young age.  So, when the accommodation of using keyboard skills over handwriting is approached, it can be an easy flow into function.


With modern technologies, keyboarding is as common place as handwriting in the development and growth of a child.


One strategy that can help with improving speed and accuracy as a handwriting modification is the use of a Keyboarding Club or group.

It is suggested by researchers that keyboarding instruction with correct finger placement begin in the third grade. Developmentally, this is an effective time for using finger dexterity skills, visual motor integration abilities, attention and focus, and visual perception needed to shift the vision from multiple planes.


Using keyboarding instruction curriculum can be a viable option for kids who struggle with handwriting.  When required to compose thoughts onto paper, underlying handwriting issues may prevent creativity, construction, and fluency of written composition as well as legibility when performing these types of tasks.


A keyboarding program can and should be an intervention to accommodate handwriting needs AND a strategy for development in typical and modern educational needs.  Keyboarding is an effective accommodation for struggles with the fine motor, visual perceptual, or sensory needs of handwriting that can be used in the classroom.


While there are many free keyboarding instruction programs available, it can be difficult for parents and teachers to find time within schedules to try and maintain participation in a keyboarding program.


With after school activities, graded homework, and other factors limiting time, participating in activities like a keyboarding program fall in priority.  A keyboarding club can be the intervention needed to allow kids to learn the skills needed as an accommodation to handwriting as well as learning keyboarding skills needed for classroom tasks.


Using a keyboarding program can be a helpful alternative to written work, allowing for efficient communication, legibility, and composition of thoughts.  Using computer work as an alternative to handwriting may be a necessary intervention in the classroom.

Response to Intervention (RtI) and Keyboarding Skills 

As with other educational and functional skills performed in the classroom, Occupational Therapist practitioners may approach treatment with a Response to Intervention (RtI) approach.


Response to Intervention is an approach that addresses each individual student’s learning needs and adjusts education to meet the needs of the student.

Using RtI in a keyboarding program:

Children can first be identified as potential candidates to participate in a keyboarding program.  These might be students who would benefit from keyboarding as an accommodation to handwriting.  Students should show an interest in participating in a keyboarding program as well.


A keyboarding program using Response to Intervention in the school setting would involve screening, assessment of skills, small group instruction, and progress monitoring.  Following instruction and participation in a keyboarding program for a period of several sessions or weeks, students can be re-assessed to monitor progress.  When progress is limited, there are other keyboarding programs that can be of help.


As with any instructional program, keyboarding can be a novel and fun concept at first.  However, after repeated trials of practice and quizzes, it can become boring for children.  Without a drive to learn to type correctly, kids may quit, give up, or balk at participation.  Keeping that in mind, keyboarding programs should involve creative ways to practice skills such as speed, finger placement, and accuracy.


At the start of a keyboarding program and before beginning instruction, students should be assessed in speed of copying a sentence using handwriting, typing speed, and accuracy on a keyboard writing assignment. It has been found that students whose typing speed equaled or exceeded their
handwriting speed showed greater competence in the content
of narrative writing when using a word processor than
when handwriting.


Related Read: Try these handwriting accommodation strategies to address a variety of handwriting challenges. 

Keyboarding Club Activities

Keyboarding Club Typing Programs