sco
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Posts: 2714
Loc: allen,TX USA
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05-17-10 08:43 AM - Post#111162
Does anybody know of any good typing classes for kids offered over the summer? My daughter's handwriting is atrocious and she is an absolutely tortured writer. I'm hoping that if she learns to type well that it will help her get through middle and high school with a little less stress.
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V-Girl
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Posts: 2888
Loc: Allen, TX, US
Reg: 07-12-01
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05-17-10 10:44 AM - Post#111169
In response to sco
I learned from a software program when I was in elementary school (yes, there were some computers back then). I'm shopping around to find something to use for my girls. My oldest took after her father when it comes to handwriting. ;)
Crazy doesn't even begin to cover it. 
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mspam3
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Posts: 2379
Loc: Allen TX
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05-17-10 03:01 PM - Post#111190
In response to sco
There is a software program by Mavis Beacon that is really good. I bought it at Best Buy a couple years ago.
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Levansfour
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Posts: 511
Reg: 05-09-05
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05-17-10 03:46 PM - Post#111196
In response to mspam3
Back in the day it was a required class for all 7th graders. I do not think it is even offered anymore thru AISD.
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mspam3
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Loc: Allen TX
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05-17-10 03:58 PM - Post#111197
In response to Levansfour
That brings back memories! We had typing class and a really mean teacher. If she caught you looking at the keys she would come by with a ruler and slap your hands with it.
Don't they just call it keyboarding now and it's an elective? 
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texmomma
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Posts: 534
Reg: 10-02-06
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05-17-10 10:49 PM - Post#111210
In response to Levansfour
There is a class in middle school now called "Career Portal in Business" that teaches keyboarding, Microsoft Office, and formatting documents like letters, business letters, outlines, etc. My 8th grader took a similar course last year and it has been great for her- she can type pretty well and runs circles around me on Microsoft Office now. It should serve her well, I think. My incoming 7th grader will take this class next year as well.
We also have Mavis Beacon computer software, it's inexpensive and helpful if you just want her to learn at home.
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sco
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Loc: allen,TX USA
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05-18-10 08:07 AM - Post#111218
In response to texmomma
She didn't have time in her schedule to take the career portals class which is why I'm hoping to find something in the summer. She might be able to take it in 8th grade if we wait on taking a foreign language until 9th. I might try the Mavis Beacon. The downside to that is that I have to enforce practice time. If I can find a class I don't have to do the battle. Why is it that preteens listen to their teachers but not their parents? 
Edited by sco on 05-18-10 08:08 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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denisew
Community Expert
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Loc: Allen, TX
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05-19-10 08:30 AM - Post#111275
In response to sco
We bought some typing software (around $20)for our boys and they worked on that over the summer. My oldest did this a couple summers ago and now my middle son will do it this summer. It worked well with my oldest son because he types properly instead of doing the hunt and peck thing. He still has to work on speed, but that will come with more experience.
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Tycho's Mom
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Loc: East Allen
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05-25-10 01:55 PM - Post#111649
In response to mspam3
EXACTLY!!!! I was reading about the computer programs and thinking "softies"- Mrs. Brandenburg was serious about her typing. Plus she went to our church and could give regular reports to my mom.
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rclark
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Loc: Allen, TX
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05-27-10 06:38 PM - Post#111820
In response to sco
I've been very unimpressed with my daughter's ninth grade "BCIS" or whatever they are calling it these days. My older kids avoided it, but they changed the rules on fine arts registration (no theater if you were in band) and it was the only thing that would fit in the schedule slot. It adds an extra 4.0-level half credit into the GPA calculation, if you care about that sort of thing.
At this grade level, it isn't intended to teach keyboarding skills, but it isn't clear what she's supposed to be learning. She has broken 7000 several times in Solitaire. She sure doesn't know much about MS Word.
From my hearsay perspective, it is a total waste of time and resources. She would have been better off as an office aide.
Two plus two equals five, for sufficiently large values of two.
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texmomma
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Posts: 534
Reg: 10-02-06
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05-28-10 06:59 AM - Post#111833
In response to rclark
Hmm. I'm going to do my best to find a way for my daughter to avoid it if it's that bad. She's taken 2 1 semester computer classes at Ford. The first one taught Keyboarding and a few apps (working with Word, Excel, etc). This semester she's been in the second apps class, and she's been doing a lot of projects with Powerpoint, Word, Excel, Photoshop, etc. She's a lot better with those now than I am and she's really enjoyed it. Easy class? Maybe, but she's learned something that she'll need in today's market.
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Levansfour
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Posts: 511
Reg: 05-09-05
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05-01-11 12:07 PM - Post#130411
In response to rclark
rclark- when my older kids took the class it was not much to speak of either. But they did learn all the basic shortcuts on keyboard and some of the extras of powerpoint. But mostly it was time to do homework class. My kids got there papers and such done in that class. They also would email mom and tell me what their plans were for after school.Sigh.
It sounds like that they teach in Middle school is what the class use to be like back 8 plus years ago. lol
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texmomma
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Posts: 534
Reg: 10-02-06
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05-01-11 04:33 PM - Post#130416
In response to Levansfour
They now have changed "BCIS" to "BIM", and it is pretty much required for all kids. I commented earlier about the 2nd tech course my dd took last year in middle school, now we regret it. From what I understand it covered the same stuff as BIM, but she doesn't get the tech credit for it. BIM is a prerequisite for pretty much anything. So now my daughter is taking BIM in summer school to knock it out, so she can take some classes she actually WANTS to take rather than sitting through 2 semesters of a course she has already covered. GRR!
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sco
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Loc: allen,TX USA
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05-02-11 07:53 AM - Post#130448
In response to texmomma
There actually are some other courses that don't have BIM as a prerequisite that count for the tech credit. There is animation and one of the digital art classes, computer science counts as well. My daughter is taking an online course from Texas Tech on Digital Interactive Media (photoshop, website design, etc.) that will count for that credit. I'll let you know how it is after she does it.
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texmomma
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Posts: 534
Reg: 10-02-06
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05-02-11 03:00 PM - Post#130482
In response to sco
My daughter isn't interested in the animation or digital arts classes, and she isn't into programming computers. She loves applications though, and I think the more she's proficient with those types of programs the more she'll be prepared for whatever she ends up doing, we all use those. Actually the class she really wants to take next year (BIM is a prerequisite) is a Digital and Interactive Media course at AHS, it sounded very practical. What is the course your daughter is taking?
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sco
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Loc: allen,TX USA
Reg: 10-26-02
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05-02-11 04:15 PM - Post#130485
In response to texmomma
Mine is taking Digital and Interactive Media online through Texas Tech over the summer. Since she's taking it through Tech and not the high school she didn't need the pre-requisite. Her main purpose in this whole plan was to get out of BIM and free up an elective in her schedule for art. The Tech class is supposed to cover digital photo, video and sound as well as animation and web design. The high school will let them take up to two credits online. I ordered the course but she's not going to start it until after school gets out.
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KCSmiles
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Posts: 79
Reg: 03-02-11
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05-03-11 06:10 AM - Post#130505
In response to sco
I hope you don't mind me asking- how much are the Tech classes?
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sco
enthusiast
Posts: 2714
Loc: allen,TX USA
Reg: 10-26-02
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05-03-11 07:44 AM - Post#130506
In response to KCSmiles
I'm not sure if they are all the same but the one we are doing is $150 per semester plus books if one is required.
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KCSmiles
member
Posts: 79
Reg: 03-02-11
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05-03-11 07:50 AM - Post#130507
In response to sco
The online classes through the high school are over $200 per semester so I've wondered how much the otheres were.
Thanks!
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