Level 1, Module 1
The course starts simply with students learning to touch-type, read and spell the vowels a, e , i , o , u. An audio track accompanies the letters as they appear on screen, helping to reinforce sound-letter correspondence, a crucial skill for sounding out words in reading.
The student then receives their first score – and success!
Level 1, Module 2
The student is introduced to words grouped by onset, vowel-blend, and final consonant. For example - fed, wed, led. This teaches phonics in context, and at the same time, the student is learning how to touch-type. With repetition, these words move from short-term to long-term memory. Repetition also reinforces touch-typing and, in the case of TTRS - the spelling of words.
Every 5th Module (Dictation module)
Every 5th module is a dictation module that removes the visual element and encourages students to listen to the words and then type out what they hear. This reinforces the new words learned from the previous four modules.
Tip: On a dictation module, press number 2 on the keyboard to repeat a word or number 5 to show the word temporarily on the screen.
Modules 6 and 7
Encourage students to take their time on these modules as they contain letters that can be tricky to type. Accuracy is more important than speed!
Level 1, Module 8 – Capital Letters
Halfway through this module, two fingers will be highlighted on the moving hands as capital letters are introduced using the shift keys. Students need to listen carefully to the instructions provided as this can be a challenging exercise.
Level 1, Module 10
By the end of the second dictation module, the student can already touch-type, read, and spell their first sentence with a capital letter and full stop. Sam hid the rod.
Teacher Tips for Level 1
Focus on accuracy, not speed. Aim for a score of at least 80% in each module
Listen to the instructions provided in the first ten modules, which reinforce the correct touch-typing technique
Repeat a module if necessary
Understand the 3 bars of progress on the screen
These tips should help your students with level 1. Next, read more about the course structure.