Third graders in Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District (HEB ISD) are honing their keyboarding skills through a dedicated 10-minute digital lesson each day. This initiative, which is now in its third year, aims to improve typing accuracy and prepare students for the online format of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). District leaders reported these early results during an October meeting with trustees.
Holly Norgaard, the executive director of curriculum and instruction, shared data from the web-based platform Typing Club, indicating that the program is adapting students to the demands of modern education. The introduction of the keyboarding program followed the issuance of personal devices to all students in 2023, coinciding with significant changes to the STAAR assessments, which now include written-response questions for grades three through eight. Norgaard emphasized that typing instruction has become integral to student learning.
By third and fourth grade, students are ready for more structured lessons that include proper finger placement, home keys, and brief practice drills. Norgaard recounted her own experiences, asking trustees, “How many of you remember from your typing class A, S, D, F, J?”
The Typing Club lessons are embedded into the English language arts curriculum, with a focus on reading and writing. The lessons incorporate short videos, skill drills, and games prioritizing accuracy over speed. Additionally, students can access Typing Club at home through ClassLink, an online portal that connects them to district programs.
Despite the increasing use of Typing Club, the district is still striving to reach its target of 25 hours annually for each student. In the first year of the program, third graders averaged approximately 4 hours and 50 minutes, which increased to 7 hours and 10 minutes during the previous academic year. Importantly, students have met district benchmarks, averaging 13 words per minute with over 90% accuracy. Norgaard stated, “Two years’ worth of data tells us we’re moving in the right direction. We’re within our targets, but we need to find that balance between the number of minutes they spend in the program and the outcomes we are seeing.”
The district adheres to national research guidelines for keyboard instruction. Targets set forth recommend that third graders achieve typing speeds of 10 to 15 words per minute, with fourth graders reaching 20 to 25 words per minute, and fifth graders exceeding 30 words per minute — all while maintaining an accuracy rate of at least 90%. These objectives align with state learning standards that require students to demonstrate proper touch keyboarding techniques by third grade.
During the meeting, trustee Chris Brown inquired about the potential expansion of the Typing Club program beyond third grade. Norgaard responded that while additional software licenses may be necessary, the district is considering alternative methods to measure fluency without incurring additional costs. She noted that teachers in higher grades can already assess students’ comfort with keyboards through regular class activities and online testing.
Trustees also emphasized the need for improved communication with families regarding home access to Typing Club. Norgaard admitted that outreach efforts at the campus level had been inconsistent. For the time being, district administrators maintain that progress in keyboarding skills comes one keystroke at a time.
As HEB ISD continues to refine its keyboarding program, the emphasis remains on equipping students with essential skills for their academic futures. The district’s commitment to adapting to digital learning environments reflects a broader trend in education that prioritizes technological proficiency among young learners.
