A little difficult to see but we got chick number two right after the first chick was hatched. I need to catch up because we have a surprise chick number 3 I need to write about! I love watching these mommas hatch and take care of their chicks. It's been exciting in the chicken yard lately. And sad. We had a loss I will post about later and at the same time found out about chick #3. I also made the decision to add some Black Copper Marans and Silkies to the flock, I have wanted both for a long time now and we finally got them. Will update soon! Do you have chickens? How's your flock doing? I will update soon.
Meet our newest addition in the chicken coop! We are so excited. One of the eggs hatched. I think our fertility rate is next to nill right now so not sure how other eggs under her will do. Plus I found out that some hens had snuck in and laid their eggs with hers at least a week or more after she started sitting. I might put those eggs under the other hen who is still sitting to finish them out once I know no more will hatch now. I'll give it a few days. Be watching for updates.
For about the last 6 weeks we have been working on The Typing Coach Online Typing Program by The Typing Coach. My 7th grader really needed to master keyboarding and this program seemed like the perfect fit. One of the key components in this program is mastery of the keyboard. It is a fairly simple but effective program. It consists of 7 lessons and includes practice tests, before and after snapshot, and 4 typing tests. It is of course an online program (it's in the name) and has links to print the student packet and learning checks (and many other pdf help documents). The 7 lessons include:
Having Good Posture
Home Row
Top Row
Bottom Row
Shift Keys
Typing Practices
Number row
Typing Coach Student Packet
Typing Coach Learning Checks packet
You might think what else is there? Only 7 lessons? Well, as I said, the program is about mastery. You are not allowed to move to the next lesson or step until you have mastered the one you are on. It really is effective for producing very accurate results. It's not just how fast you can type but to do it with absolute accuracy. As you work through the lessons you will have practice tests and one extra feature of this program is the Learning Checks. Learning checks are lessons that involve not looking at the keyboard OR the screen. You listen to the audio and type. This really helps with your accuracy. I am a veteran typer and found these challenging. I found out that I am used to typing fast and correcting my mistakes as I go for the most part. This program is all about not wasting time on your mistakes because you are striving for accuracy and excellency in your typing.
There is also so much more to this program than just the 7 lessons. When you log into your account you will see all kinds of support and instruction videos. There is a video on the Typing Coach Method Explained and a Teacher Resource Center. Within the Resource Center you will find:
Quick Start Instructions
Guidance for Teachers
Playing Audios While Typing
Progress Chart
Explaining the Process (video)
Modeling the Process (video)
Younger Ones
Special Needs/Ed
Just to name a few. There is an entire section of helps on slower paced guidance for those that find the regular pace a little much (younger children, struggling learners, and special needs).
Teacher Resource Center
Slower Paced Lessons
The course is designed to be completed in about 10 weeks if you work through one lesson per week (which would include times for practice tests and typing tests, thus 10 weeks). In one of the videos in your account he states that if you work every day for about 20 minutes a day, you can complete the course in a month.
I worked through some of the program and feel that it is a well rounded program that will not only help you to type but also with a great deal of accuracy. Your speed continues to increase as you continue to practice. It is not a "fun" program per se, but it is effective. My reluctant 7th grader was difficult to get through this program and we are still working on it. If you have a student that really does NOT want to learn typing, this is probably not the program for them as far as encouraging them through and making it fun like some other programs we have tried. That being said, I do recommend this program for someone who really wants to learn how to not only type well but accurately (which is key in typing speed).
