QwertyTown - a new take on teaching keyboard skills

QwertyTown is the Sumdog of the typing world, and that is meant as a great compliment.  The website aims to teach that all-important skill of typing in a way that is motivating, enjoyable and meaningful for children.

As a teacher, set-up is easy, and a free 30-day trial is available.  Real-time feedback is available when you track your classes, as below, and enables you to see who is doing well and who is struggling, at a glance:

The children are picking up good habits from the beginning - and some will struggle with the notion of using their little finger to type the letter 'a' - but persevere and the benefits will be clear to see.

Another very useful feature is the ability to select your own Achievement Levels for what constitutes a gold, silver, or bronze medal.  This means the site can differentiate effectively between older and younger classes - a gold medal for a Y2 child could be 10 wpm but for Y4 could be 15 wpm, for example.  This means the children can be rewarded appropriately based on what might be expected for their age.  That is for you to decide as a teacher:

The gaming elements stop this site from becoming 'just another typing ' - and will keep your students motivated way beyond the classroom.  Performances in the keyboard drills are rewarded with Qwerty Coins - the more accurate and nimble, the greater the reward.  These are used to customise an avatar with a range of clothing and accessories:

So, give it a go. You'll be working out how to pay for a subscription....!