About the Class ...

What will my child learn in 6th grade computer class?

Sixth grade students learn/improve their touch keyboarding skills. Touch keyboarding means the students key without looking at their hands and without using the backspace keys. The emphasis of the keyboarding is accurate keying of words. Sixth grade students should be able to start three units. The goals for sixth grade students are:

• Speed = 15 to 20 words per minute by the end of the quarter
• Errors = Less than two per minute of keying

My child keyboards very slowly. How will this impact his/her grade?

Your child's accuracy, or lack of errors, is the most important of the two goals. In fact, accuracy is graded on every assignment. Speed is only graded on one assignment in every unit. Your child's speed will naturally improve as your child grows.

How many units should be completed during the quarter?

Two units should be completed during the quarter with the third one started. Whatever assignments are not finished in the third unit will be completed during the following school year.

My child has an IEP. Will he/she be required to start three units also?

If the IEP that indicates shortened assignments are needed, then he/she should start two units during the quarter.

Can more than three units be started during the quarter?

Absolutely! How quickly the units are completed depends upon the student's keying speed and accuracy. The students who key quickly will probably finish more than three units.

Can units be skipped?

Units cannot be skipped; however, a student can choose to complete the test assignments without doing the homework. If a student chooses this option, he/she must get permission first. If the test writing grades average 90% or higher, the student advances to the next unit. If the test writing grades average less than 90%, the student completes all of the homework assignments then takes the test writings again.

Can homework assignments be completed at home?

All assignments must be completed in the computer lab at Dunlap Middle School. Students can practice keyboarding at home by using Take Home Review Worksheet. Copies of the worksheet are available in the Worksheet box on the Homework Table in the computer lab.

My child needs more time for keyboarding practice. What can he/she do?

Do not purchase keyboarding software. The best keyboarding practice is keying anything that has words in any word processing program. If you do not have a word processing program but your computer uses Windows (any version), you already have two built-in word processing programs. Both Notepad and Wordpad are opened by choosing Start - All Programs - Accessories.

For extra practice, the students should:

• Practice 10 to 15 minutes each night at home using the Take Home Review Worksheet
• Practice by keying notes, vocabulary terms, or assignments from other classes

Are there any Extra Credit assignments?

Each unit has one extra credit assignment. A review assignment is provided before the three keyboarding test assignments. The accuracy of the review assignment determines how many extra credit points are earned.

My child has missed several days of school. How long do they have to make up their missed assignments?

Since the assignments for each unit are completed at the student's speed, your child just returns to whatever assignment he/she was working on when they were in class last. No due dates are needed for make up work.

What is the best way to contact you?

The best way to contact me is through email. My email user name is ksjoyce followed by dunlapcusd.net. If you need to call, I am available before school, after school, or between 1:15 to 1:45 pm.