Well, it's the last week of the term already!  As one of the final assignments of the term, I am asking students to send me an email.  The only requirements of the email are that they don't use IM abbreviations (ttyl, lol, etc.) and that they include their full name and class.

 

We've already covered business letters in class, but it is just as important for students to learn how write and send an appropriate email.  It is listed as one of the Massachusetts Technology Standards upon district discretion. 

 

I asked students to email me from home if they could.  Certainly, if a student is not able to do so, they will not be penalized.  We will cover the topic this week in class. 

 

 

 

Recently I showed the students a way that they can practice keyboarding at home while keeping them from looking down at the keys.  It may seem crazy, but it works!

 

Place a pair of shorts over the keyboard so that the waistband is away from you and the legs are closest to you.  Place your hands up through the legs and onto the keys--you can feel the raised dots for the "F" and "J" keys.  You're ready to type!

 

Some of the students prefer this method because their fingers are actually on the keys, rather than on top of a keyboard cover that sometimes slips.  It may be quirky, but if it gets students to practice typing without looking at the keys, it's worth it!

 

Why don't you give it a try!