A Shaler Student Learns to Type Using Keyboard Town PALS

Old idea incorporated into innovative program to learn typing skills

By Kristin Molstre
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, November 19, 2009

Abby Bosack, a second-grader at Jeffery Primary School, is corresponding with some very unusual online pals this year — and learning how to type at the same time… Click here to read the rest of the story

Click to read: PA first to integrate Keyboard Town PALS keyboarding program

Caroline is a Homeschooling Mom in a Military Family who just LOVES Keyboard Town PALS! Read her fabulous review!

“Keyboard Town Pals taught my 9 year old daughter to keyboard in just one hour (really!). Best of all, my 75 year old father did it too. We followed the program as directed and did lesson one on day one and lesson two on day two. We did it again the following day and the rest is history; she has never looked back. My father is now a believer and devotee of the Keyboard Town Pals method. The story is easy to understand, easy to follow, and the methodical nature of the program allowed it to be memorized and immediately put to use. This keyboarding program is a winner!”
- Amy, New York

Click the link for more: http://www.amazon.com/Keyboard-Town-Timed-tests-Techniques-Repetitive/product-reviews/B001XUMK2C/

Click to enlarge!

Available at www.OnlyAnHour.com and www.Amazon.com

Congrats to Keyboard Town PALS! Can’t WAIT to see you featured in the October 2009 issue of ParentGuide!

Keyboard Town Pals Typing

Written by Lori on May 30, 2009 – –

I remember typing class.

It wasn’t fun. It was mundane. It took a looooooooong time to learn.

Recently, I was introduced to Keyboard Town Pals. According to the Keyboard Town Pal website,

Keyboard Town PALS™ presents a new, stand-alone digital product that teaches children of all ages to type on a computer keyboard, using the proper finger technique, in only one hour. Our method is successful in capturing the imagination of all types of learners, ages 7 to adult. Drilling and speed time testing are replaced by memory technique and association, which greatly accelerates the learning process.

One of the most difficult parts of typing is the random placement of the keys on the keyboard. This program introduces the child to a PALS, an acronym for Purposeful Associative Learning System. The student is also introduced to “puppet pals” who will join them on the journey into typing. This helps the child make sense of the keyboard while they associate the keys with puppet pals. The program is innovative and well thought out.

My 9 year old son, Hayden had an opportunity to try the program and he really enjoyed it! He was intrigued by the puppet pals and began identifying the keys with the pals almost immediately. Having tried several typing programs with my children, I liked that there was not a “timed test” at this level. It really was a stress free, fun way to learn typing skills. The program has also seen some promising results in children with special needs.

The program suggests use from children age 7 to adult. The puppet pals will most likely appeal to those children 10 and under.

If you’re looking for a innovative typing program for your child, check this one out! Head on over to their site, Keyboard Town Pals! The program is offered for homeschoolers in a dvd or a download along with other support products at the site.

It just may be a great way to incorporate typing into summertime fun!

Pittsburgh Public School First to Use Cutting Edge Typing Program

Second Grade Students Welcome Keyboard Town PALS to Their Curriculum

The Jeffrey Primary School in Glenshaw, PA will be the first in the Shaler Area School District to integrate Keyboard Town PALS (KTP) into its curriculum. This coming September, the school’s second graders will be introduced to the educational and entertaining program that uses successful association and memory techniques, through stories told by fun and adorable live puppets.

KTP was founded by Rita Herman, CEO and professional educator and Donna Katz, President and former private school administrator. They enlisted the help of several members of the Emmy-Award Winning teams behind Misters Rogers’ Neighborhood, as well as Warner Brothers’ Looney Tunes and Hanna Barbara cartoons.

Currently, Keyboard Town PALS is the only company that offers teaching material for typing by using the Purposeful Associative Learning System (PALS). The company claims that no parent or educator will ever want to return to the mindless drills and endless exercises used by other programs.

“When I first listened to Donna speak about the program and what it could offer our students, I really thought that it would be a perfect fit for the level of technology instruction we have available to us,” says School Principal, Kara Eckert. “I quickly realized that this program could serve as a stepping stone to the other projects and programs that we will be unveiling over the course of the next year.”

KTP has also developed a readiness program called, “Typing for Tots.” Mrs. Eckert intends to implement the program in the Kindergarten curriculum, pending the approval of a new grant opportunity. Jeffery Primary School’s extremely supportive Parent Teacher Organization is happy to cover the cost of implementing both programs in the school next year.

Mrs. Eckert looks forward to beginning the KTP program, “Since beginning as Principal of Jeffery Primary, it has been my goal to continuously provide our students with progressive technology in the classrooms. With these programs we are just taking another step in the right direction!”

On Thursday, June 11^th, The Keyboard Town PALS method will be introduced to the administration and teaching staff of Jeffrey Primary, along with other representatives from the Shaler School District at a unique school in-service given by KTP creators Rita Herman and Donna Katz, using actual puppets featured in the KTP presentation.

Visit www.OnlyAnHour.com

Media contact: Daniel Ferszt at Global Point Public Relations Phone (866) 594-4777 Email dferszt@globalpointpr.com

On June 16th, KTP creators Donna Katz and Rita Herman will join the Cyber Guy in teaching 4th graders to type at Lockwood Elementary School in Los Angeles. The event will be featured on KTLA Channel 5, kicking off a week long media blitz!

The world needs to know.