Is grade school too early to start teaching kids keyboarding skills?
85720
I think it's a great idea.  Especially with the pervasiveness of computers in today's society.
1184025
You might consider going to a school district and offering to get alternative certification to teach at the elementary level (I wouldn't wish middle or high school teaching off on even a rabid dog that had bit me!), say 4th or 5th grade.  In those two grades teachers sometimes partner and switch classes back and forth (that is one will teach math and science while the other teaches social studies and English).  You'd be a real asset as an elementary teacher with those special writing skills.
233252
Every child learns in a different way. Some kids are visual learners, some are auditory learners, and others are Kinesthetic learners. Your son sounds as if he may be a kinesthetic learner and likes to do hands on activites rather than boring old paper work. Talk to your child's teacher about how she presents the material. See if he or she can find a way to present written work in a different way that he will not only enjoy but he will also learn from. Good Luck!
1174166
my brother is in home schooling at first he didn't like it but now it has grown on him. He is in this program where everything is done over the computer and Internet. He can do his school work at his convenience there is no set time ,also he get to keep the laptop and the all in one (printer, fax, scanner, and copier) I guess it just depends on what program your in and the kid.
621379
i had a friend with dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyspraxia... the only thing that worked for him to learn was repeated hands on teaching, he also had to be very very interested in what he was learning, because then he would try his hardest to actually comprehend the information given to him. this is a very difficult situation because most children at the age of 10-15 do not enjoy 90% of what is being taught to them.  My recommendation is to have a teacher that he/she  likes.  Someone who is willing to sit down and teach them 1 on 1 and have a lot of patience.  This person also should be very creative with the way he or she teaches due to the backwards mindset of these disorders. The ADD will make it harder to concentrate, but it shouldn't be as much of an issue if the teacher is animated as well.  I know what you are thinking... where can I find someone like that, and as for that i don't know. The one teacher's attention divided among 23 students, i think will not work
216969
If you are intentionally trying to teach him information (like ABC's, sight words, and numbers)... make it a game... and keep your teaching "sessions" short and simple.  Don't worry if he isn't interested... he will learn when he goes to school... teachers have amazing ways to get them to learn without them even knowing it.
1008433
Your daughter is not ready. Writing comes at a very specific point of development, and your daughter is completely unique from your son. This is nothing to do with the will to do it. It's to do with fine motor skills, comprehension, abstract and symbolic thinking, etc. Just continue to expose her...play games like restaurant where she gets to write the orders using squiggles. This is 'pre-writing' and is a step towards understanding print concepts. \n\nMost children start making actual letters around 4+. It doesn't matter how many other children make them at 3 or whatever. This is 100% a readiness issue.
439193
YES! as a teacher I completely agree with you, although i must say I am guilty of doing it myself when using the internet. I abbreviate most words when typing on the net because it is easier, but unlike children I know the correct way of typing as well. There are many examples I have seen at school where the internet has caused a decline in grammar and spelling ability! Text messaging on phones does the same thing. Often I will mark stories that include words such as 'da, cos, ya,' and so on.  I was reading the kids a book the other day, it said "....the cheetah laughed out loud" one of the kids put their hands up and said "that's LOL" I questioned them and then realised what they meant. On the internet typing LOL means laugh out loud. It is a real worry. I see kids who can't spell or write properly but can chat on the internet using perfect 'net language'!!
308748
For learning her ABC's, you can use any computer really. I would recommend including a Touch Screen, and a one-button mouse with your purchase, to make interaction with the computer much easier for her. You must be VERY patient with her regarding her learning to interact with the computer, and with her learning the content of the programs. \n\nWhat country are you in? If you are in the United States, then even if your daughter is on a "Life Skills" certficiate track at school, she should have goals relating to learning reading (actually, goals relating to each of the core academic subjects). Talk with your daughter's special education teacher about which goals tie in to the reading/language arts state standards and benchmarks. No Child Left Behind and the new reauthorization of IDEA requires that she have academic goals in the five core areas (Reading, Writing, Math, Science/Social Studies). However, your daughter may still be working on pre-reading and pre-writing goals that lead up to the regular standards. Ask about what activities they have been doing with her for the eventual acquisition of print recognition and writing. The school probably also has had your daughter on a computer already, for at least once per week (in the school computer lab or on a classroom computer).\n\nFrom your saying that you wish to "open up communication," I take it your daughter does NOT speak?  If she is not talking, then there are touch-board communication devices that greatly assist with basic communication. They range from 2 panels up to dozens of panels.  Once again, IF you are in the United States, your IEP committee should be looking at how to help her express herself in social communication. What does your Speech Pathologist say? Has your committee done an assistive technology assessment?\n\nFor your home computer, I would recommend the Reader Rabbit series, starting with their Infant, and then Pre-School programs, so that your daughter can learn how the computer works. Also, try the activities at these links (not all may interest her, but they are worth a try):\n\ngood training for computer interactivity and basic vocabulary skills at...\nhttp://www.pctots.com/infant-development.htm\n\nthen add...\nhttp://www.learningcompany.com/\nhttp://www.getreadytoread.org/content/view/101/317/\nhttp://www.sesameworkshop.org/sesamestreet/?scrollerId=games\nhttp://www.4thekidstoystore.com/edso.html
426615
I teach middle school spec. ed. and I have seen many home-schooled kids and talked to alot of parents who home-schooled both regular and special ed.   Kindergarden is not the time to home school.  At this age they really need to be around other kiddos for socialization.  If you really want to home school your child (and I know of several kids who totally excelled when home schooled) wait until 2nd or 3rd grade and then still make arrangements with the school to let your child attend art, music, p.e. etc. so they can be with other kids and learn how to deal with the complexities of human relationships.
135789
This is a pet peeve of mine as well.  I don't know how much of it is poor education and how much just not being able to type.\n\nWith computer use exploding, I would think that a typing/keyboarding class in school could be a core requirement.  It would surely reduce the amount of completely ridiculous text I'm forced to decode daily.
889471
I am homeschooling my kindergartner...although I feel that we have  been since birth.  My dd also was talking well under a year.  I got a kit for baby sign language and started that with her at 7 months she started signing 2 weeks later. She was speaking clear sentences at about 12 months. It finally dawned on me to video her saying her alphabet @ 18 months (she started much earlier).  I have the baby Einstein videos, books various flash cards, etc.  When she was under 2 I started getting her preschool workbooks that she loved.  Basically I always got her educational materials that were advanced for her and let her play with them.  Some things were to difficult to grasp right away but I was always amazed that there was so much that she knew or learned very quickly.  We make everything a game and when she's done playing that game we/she does something else.  We also never talked baby talk. We never dumbed it down for her either...just like a foreign language they will pick it up and understand if spoken to them.  I have recently discovered the Waldorf method and although I am not sure about some of it other parts are speaking to me.  Playing is very important to a child's  development.  Here is some things you could check into...  There are several homeschooling chat groups that would be of benefit to you.  I understand that she is young but you would be able to reap the benefits from those that have lots of experience homeschooling.  There are also gifted homeschooling yahoo groups that can help with advanced children and the difficulties that can arise.  You can also find a local homeschool group and join up with them.  (even though your daughter is young  many people have babies as well as school aged children)
61194
think back to when you first started learning to write... 1st and 2nd grade. Start with the alphabet, work your way up to cursive... good luck.
969796
sure could have; kids do it all the time, unknowingly of course.\n\nis it only in Word?  check Tools-Options in there.\n\nhave you restarted the machine?  that should reset it.  if that doesn't work, go into Control Panel--check Accessibility options and the Keyboard options.
281700
I homeschooled 3 boys from K to Grade 9 but I have no experience with girls. I think though girls can be started earlier as they have better motor skills than boys.\n\nPersonally I think it is not productive to start too early. Try incorporating learning into every activity, e.g helping measuring for cookies etc.  Why do we wash our hands. What is soap made of. \n\nLearn to see the teachable moment. In other words if he/she is interested in dinosaurs and you wanted to do plants, choose dinosaurs because you won't get too far otherwise, but get round to talking about the sort of plants the dinosaur might eat.\n\nYou know your child best, and in the early years less structure and more investigation I think is better. My kids liked nature walks, watching bugs, checking out how flowers were made etc. as you go on you might want to get a workbook to guide you along. \n\nThe most important thing is teach them to learn and find information for themselves. You know your child best so don't listen to a lot of experts who are going by preconceived ideas. Relax and have fun.\n\nI loved homeschooling and my boys all grown now are planning to do the same for their kids.  They all are good guys, love their family, don't do drugs, etc etc and work for a living which in todays world I consider an achievement.
156106
i teach piano, we start as early as preschool, depending on the comprehention and attention span of the child. look at alfred prep series, or the pre-reader those are good books for very yung children.
739618
I'm a first grade teacher and have 2 autistic children in my class. Handwriting is almost always an issue in first grade but these two have an especially hard time and find it 'easier' and less time consuming to write large and messy.  I literally have to erase their work, sit by their side and tell them to write small and take their time.  I continue erasing if necessary.  Most of my boys actually have bad handwriting.  I have to do the same, erase or throw away their papers and make them do it again.  Mostly I see laziness because it takes 'too much' time and concentration to write neat!  There are websites you can go to to print out handwriting worksheets (can't think of an address at this moment!).  I would make this a part of his homework routine.  Print out a couple of sheets and sit by his side letting him know you will not accept work that he did not take his time to do.  Know that it may still be messy, but accept any improvement and PRAISE him for his hard work.  Good luck.