Our schools have adopted a set of technology standards for grades K-12.  Included in those standards are a set of indicators for keyboarding, which are based on Kentucky CyberKeys: A P-8 Guide to Keyboarding. Our goal is that students will be able to keyboard at a rate of 20 words per minute by middle school.

In general, our district recommends that the majority of initial keyboarding instruction occur in 3rd grade, with follow-up each year thereafter. Writing requirements increase in 4th grade, so being able to keyboard before 4th grade allows students to write more efficiently and effectively. Some schools choose to introduce keyboarding even earlier than 3rd grade.  

We believe the best approach to introducing keyboarding is through a curriculum called Success With Keyboarding. Each school has been provided one copy of the curriculum and student guide. Technology Resource Teachers are available to assist in the implementation of this curriculum in classrooms. (For more information and pricing on the curriculum, see the Success With Keyboarding website.) 

Instead of using a computer lab for keyboarding instruction, we recommend using AlphaSmart keyboards. The advantage is AlphaSmarts are inexpensive and portable, allowing them to be easily transported from classroom to classroom.  AlphaSmarts may also be used for writing portfolios and a host of other activities when they are not being used for keyboarding. Need ideas? Practical classroom activities can be found here.  

After the initial keyboarding instruction, students must continue to practice using this newly acquired skill or they will lose it! Teachers must intentionally plan opportunities for their students to be on a keyboard frequently. Remember the Practical Classroom Activities page! Students may also get additional keyboarding practice by using UltraKey or some other computer-based keyboarding program.  (All elementary have site licenses for UltraKey.) We recommend using UltraKey to track student progress throughout the entire year. Software called "KeyWords Smart Applet" can be purchased to install on AlphaSmart keyboards. This software walks students through learning letters, numbers and punctuation much like UltraKey does tracking their progress. There are websites that can be used to give additional practice as well.  Example: Dance Mat Typing. Additional websites can be found at Cardinal Valley's Keyboarding page.

Contact your school's technology resource teacher for assistance in addressing keyboarding instruction in your classroom or school.