Typing Coach Review
I earn a commission from products purchased through links in this post.
Typing is an important skill in today’s world, so I want my children to have strong typing skills. I was grateful for the opportunity to review a new-to-me typing program, The Typing Coach Online Typing Course created by The Typing Coach.
The Typing Coach Online Typing Course reminds me a bit of my high school typing class. I learned to type by looking at the instructional book, not a screen, and this program follows that format. The main difference between my class and Hannah’s experience with this program is that I learned on a typewriter and Hannah is learning on a laptop computer.
The Typing Coach Online Typing Course is a mastery program. Students remain on the same lesson until they have completely mastered a typing lesson, no matter how long it takes. I completely agree with needing to develop the muscle memory to be a truly proficient typist, but some personalities will find this approach difficult and frustrating. Hannah is a bit of a perfectionist (wonder where she gets that from, hmm…) so not being able to move to the next lesson due to a single mistake was hard. This is providing an opportunity to manage frustration while working towards a goal.
Setting up The Typing Coach
You will have access to the typing course soon after you sign up for the program. There is a small bit of prep work to do before your children are ready to type. First, print out the student packet (easily found on the website). I hole-punched the papers and organized them in a binder. That made it easy for Hannah to find exactly the page she needed for a lesson. Every lesson is included in this packet, so it is helpful to keep it organized. Next, print out the learning check packet. The learning check packet contains the typing tests that are used to ensure mastery. I don’t want Hannah to get a sneak peek at test material, so I store the learning check packet separately.
You will need some way to cover the computer screen. If your student is using a desktop computer, you can simply turn off the screen. Hannah used a laptop, so we just covered the screen with a kitchen towel.
How We Use The Typing Coach
Hannah has mastered cursive penmanship, so now she is spending her ‘handwriting’ time learning to type properly. She practices four times a week. She is working diligently towards mastering each lesson, but usually starts to get frustrated after 20 minutes or so. At that point, she stops for the day. Once she is thoroughly frustrated, she makes more mistakes, so we don’t push her beyond that point.
When she sits down at the computer to type, Hannah pulls up the lesson she is currently working on and opens a blank Google document. She plugs in her headphones and presses play on the audio file. Now she covers the computer screen with a kitchen towel, so she has to rely on the book, not the screen, to type. The typing coach verbally guides her through the lesson, providing stretching breaks and encouragement periodically.
The Typing Coach Online Typing Course is not necessarily a fun or flashy program. It will get results though, so the dryness can be overlooked. I do think this course is best suited for high school students. Hannah is 11, a bit younger than the recommended age, so she is progressing a bit slower and may need a refresher course in the future in order to keep up her skills. The website does provide suggestions on adapting the program for younger students.
I am glad Hannah is learning the correct way to type before she develops bad habits.
Keep reading . . .
