Review of Keyboarding for the Christian School

Keyboarding for the Christian School is a low-tech typing program reminiscent of the typing program you may have used in school.  Therein lies its greatest appeal.  I have no problem with all of the online typing programs out there, but I remember learning to type.  The way I learned seems to produce greater results in a shorter period of time. I sometimes think that all the bells and whistles of edutainment impair real learning.  For that reason, I think this is an awesome typing program.

Keyboarding for the Christian School is available as a pdf download, which means that there are several ways to handle using it.  In our case, my daughter read the pages off of my laptop and then did the lesson on hers. For my other children (who, I don't think, are quite ready for typing yet), I will likely print out the lessons and then comb bind them so that they lay flat.  In my daughter's case, though, the two-screen method was ideal.

This program is a very to-the-point approach to typing.  For example, the homerow review lesson looks like this (sample lesson available on site):

Learning the Homerow Keys

Lesson 6:  Review

A.  Using the F and J Keys:  Type ten sets of fj in groups of two.

fj fj fj fj fj fj fj fj fj fj

B.  Using the D and K Keys:  Type ten sets of dk in groups of two.

dk dk dk dk dk dk dk dk dk dk

C.  Using the S and L Keys:  Type ten sets of sl in groups of two.

sl sl sl sl sl sl sl sl sl sl

D.  Using the A and ; Keys:  Type ten sets of a; in groups of two.

a; a; a; a; a; a; a; a; a; a;

E.  Using the G and H Keys:  Type ten sets of gh in groups of two.

gh gh gh gh gh gh gh gh gh gh

F.  Now it is time to combine the homerow keys:  Type five groups of the left side of the Homerow on the first line, and then the right side on the second line.

asdfg asdfg asdfg asdfg asdfg

hjkl; hjkl; hjkl; hjkl; hjkl;

 G.  Type the following using the homerow keys:

aaa sss ddd fff ggg aaa sss ddd fff ggg aaa sss ddd fff ggg

hhh jjj kkk lll ;;; hhh jjj kkk lll ;;; hhh jjj kkk lll ;;;

H.  Review Drill:  Type the following using the homerow keys:

add add add dad dad dad gag gag gag sag sag sag

fad fad fad gas gas gas lad lad lad had had had 

As I said, this is exactly the way I learned to type and the method was very effective for me.  Because the lessons are short and sweet, your child can learn typing without taking up a huge chunk of the school day.

Although this program is overtly Christian, one doesn't have to be a Christian to derive a great benefit from it.  For example, you can either work with the Psalms provided or find your own substitutes.  The method is what is so wonderful about this curriculum!

Keyboarding for the Christian School, designed for grades 6 and up, is available for $15.95.  Alternatively, you can purchase this version with the Elementary version for $22 - it's a great deal!  Best of all, through 8/29/12, using the coupon code SUMMER2012 will get you 20% off! We have really enjoyed using this program, and I will continue to use it with all of my children.  As always, see the Crew blog for other views.

Disclaimer: I received Keyboarding for the Christian School free in exchange for my honest review.  I have received no other compensation of any kind -- except for the pleasure of using this program!