New Searsol touch typing centre starting on 20th April 2023 in Bray, Wicklow

Speedskin covers to stop your child from looking down at the keyboard!

New Searsol typing classes starting in Bray, Wicklow on April 2023!

Searsol is starting a new after-school touch-typing class at Presentation College in Bray, Wicklow starting on Thursday 20th of April 2023 at 4.15 or 5.15 pm.

Our new center will be starting on the 20th of April 2023 in Presentation College and will take place each Thursday at 4:15 or 5:15 pm. Searsol is currently offering a free introductory first-session trial at our new center. Our after-school typing classes are suitable for any child who is eight years old or older that may be interested in trying out our typing classes. More information about the new center is available on our website at https://searsol.com/location/bray-co-wicklow/

Our typing classes are specifically designed to develop typing skills for children. Searsol has provided after-school typing courses for children since 2008. We have a high success rate of students that have successfully learned how to touch type. During the course, the student will learn how to touch type correctly assisted by a qualified tutor. We use our own specially designed typing software Typewiz.

This course is suitable for children who want to learn how to type correctly. We work with children with learning differences like Dyslexia or Dyspraxia or children with handwriting problems or who have gained an exemption to use a laptop for exams. To book your free trial place you can contact Searsol on 01-6303384 or book a free trial at our Bray centre by clicking here

New Searsol typing classes starting in Carlow in January 2023!

New Searsol typing classes starting in Carlow in January 2023!

Searsol is starting a new after-school touch-typing class at Bishop Foley Memorial School in Carlow starting on Tuesday the 24th of January 2023 at 3.30 or 4:30 pm.

Our new center will be starting on the 24th of January 2023 in Bishop Foley Memorial School and will take place each Tuesday at either 3.30 or 4:30 pm. Searsol is currently offering a free introductory first session trial at our new center. Our after-school typing classes are suitable for any child who is eight years old or older that may be interested in trying out our typing classes. More information about the new center is available on our website at https://searsol.com/location/carlow-co-carlow/

New Searsol touch typing centre starting in January 11th 2023 in Cork City

New Searsol typing classes starting in Cork City in January 2023!

Searsol is starting a new after-school touch-typing class at Alphamaths in South Mall, Cork City starting on Wednesday the 11th of January 2023 at 6 pm.

Our new center will be starting on the 11th of January 2023 in Alphamaths and will take place each Wednesday at 6 pm. Searsol is currently offering a free introductory first session trial at our new center. Our after-school typing classes are suitable for any child who is eight years old or older that may be interested in trying out our typing classes. More information about the new center is available on our website at https://searsol.com/location/south-mall-cork-city/

New Searsol touch typing centre starting on 19th January 2023 in Drogheda, Louth

New Searsol typing classes starting in Drogheda, Louth on January 2023!

Searsol is starting a new after-school touch-typing class at Drogheda Institute of Further Education in Drogheda Louth starting on Thursday the 19th of January 2023 at 4.15 or 5.15 pm.

Our new center will be starting on the 19th of January 2023 in Drogheda Institute of Further Education and will take place each Thursday at 4:15 or 5:15 pm. Searsol is currently offering a free introductory first session trial at our new center. Our after-school typing classes are suitable for any child who is eight years old or older that may be interested in trying out our typing classes. More information about the new center is available on our website at https://searsol.com/location/drogheda-louth

Dyslexia, DCD and dysgraphia – what do those learning differences mean and how do they affect your child?

Dyslexia, DCD, and dysgraphia – what do those learning differences mean and how do they affect your child?

Dyslexia, DCD, and Dysgraphia are 3 different types of conditions. They are all conditions that are common so there is a chance that your child may have one of these 3. Let’s have a look into each of these learning disorders.

What Is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is best described as an unexpected difficulty with being able to read. Children that have dyslexia may encounter problems when it comes to the recognition and manipulation of sounds with language. Decoding words is something that children with dyslexia will have great difficulty with, which essentially means breaking down these words or phonemes and then sounding out novel words. Dyslexia makes it hard for the child to recognize words, read and write properly, and even spell properly. It’s important to note that a child who has dyslexia does not necessarily lack intelligence. A child with dyslexia may not even be that far behind their other peers in school due to the hard effort they may be putting in to be at the same level as everyone else in their class. However, it must be noted that this is only sustainable for a child with dyslexia for so long. As they start to get older in school they will struggle to keep up with their fellow classmates as the reading, writing, and spelling will, of course, become harder as they grow older. Dyslexia is something that isn’t necessarily an illness but is something that a person will have throughout their entire life.

However, by taking the appropriate measures towards understanding the difficulties and challenges are that come with having dyslexia it can then be made much easier to live with. When really delving into dyslexia and its impact it will have on a person, it is something that is a brain-based issue with language. That is why kids will have issues with being able to work with the sounds of language. It’s important to remember that reading issues may still exist for children with dyslexia even after they have been able to learn and read properly. The ability for a child to read that has dyslexia is more so a mechanical one. This is why children which have dyslexia will best be able to learn with reading programs that are systematic and take an explicit multisensory approach to. By doing this it will enhance the likelihood of a child being able to successfully identify words.

What is DCD?

DCD an abbreviation for developmental coordination disorder is a condition that is lifelong for a human being which makes it difficult for the person to learn motor skills and will also have issues with their coordination. DCD unlike Dyslexia is not known as a learning disorder, but it will have the ability to have an impact on their learning. Instead of being labeled as a learning disorder, it is seen as a neurodevelopment disorder. ADHD which you may be aware of is also a neurodevelopment disorder. Things like physical tasks and activities in school will be what the child with DCD will tend to struggle with. When looking at how many kids are living with this condition, it lands in and around the 5 percent mark. It is important to note, however, that DCD is something that is more common with boys than with girls. There is no way for a child to grow out of having this condition but applying the necessary steps, will go a long way to improving the child’s motor skills. Many things which a child will need to learn when in school will prove to be difficult for them due to them having DCD, examples of this being writing and organisation. It’s not only in school where DCD will be an issue for a child, it’s also outside of the classroom. For instance, their motor skills will be affected when it comes to them brushing their teeth and putting on clothes also. Earlier lessons that kids would have learned will be affected as they will not necessarily remember what they were first thought. If they were told to put a knife in their right hand and a fork in their left, they may not remember this and end up doing the opposite and not learning from their wrongdoings. The key to overcome DCD is to understand as early as possible the difficulties your child is facing and to take the necessary steps to overcome them.

What is Dysgraphia?

Dysgraphia is a disability that affects a person’s ability to write. Not only does it affect ones writing ability it will also cause a person to have issues with their motor skills. Spelling, word spacing, and sizing are things which are aspects that a person with dysgraphia will have. Let’s take a look at some of the symptoms that come from having dysgraphia.

Painfully gripping a pen or pencil by holding too firm.
The sentence structure is off what it should be.
Writing down the thoughts you may have in your head onto the paper.

These symptoms are able to change over time, as usual, it’s the mechanics of writing which young people will tend to have whereas it’d be more so grammar and comprehension difficulties for adults.

So, what causes a person to have dysgraphia? Scientists are not sure as to why it happens to children. When an adult is diagnosed with it, it can be related to a brain injury such as a stroke. Like other disorders which have been previously discussed, there is no cure for Dysgraphia. Things you can try in order to help your child may range from using grips on pencils for comfort to letting them use a computer as an alternative to writing and teach the person typing skills as early as possible.

Does your child have poor handwriting speed? How can typing help?

As children growing up, one of the first skills we are thought to do when in school is being able to write properly. It usually begins with kids being taught how to write letters or shapes individually and teaching the child what the correct form to use when they are writing. Some children pick up this skill quickly at a young age, whereas others may tend to struggle greatly with this and begin to fall behind people their age. This tends to pose the question to parents about how they go about rectifying this issue that they are having with their child’s handwriting issues. This is where the ability to have your child learn how to type at a young age will give endless benefits to them which we will go further into below.

Learning to touch type – you may be wondering what touch-typing means. What’s the difference between regular typing and touch typing? Well, touch typing is where one types but without looking at the keyboard. By doing this you will constantly be staring at your screen so that if you keep making mistakes you will be able to notice them quicker than say if you were constantly looking down at your keyboard. The benefits of being able to touch-type properly are endless.

– Touch typing, if learnt as young as possible, will be of massive benefit to an individual as it will become a long-term skill, whether at home, school, college, or even in the work environment.

– Touch typing helps your child to type faster as well as more accurately, without having to look at the keyboard every now and then.

– Once your child is touch typing, this will become an unconscious action to them, which will then allow them to become more creative.

– Learning how to type at a young age will increase the likelihood of the child developing less bad habits, than if we were to start learning this at an older age.

– Touch typing helps children that have dyslexia, as some children who are dyslexic will find it easier to touch type rather than handwrite. This is due to the tactile element of pressing the keyboard is able to help with being able to manage difficult words.

– Drafting and editing can be made easier for children by touch typing as you can play around with your work by being able to move paragraphs, delete parts of the text that are no longer needed which is something that one does not have the luxury of doing if they are handwriting.

– By being able to successfully touch-type, will then allow for the person to really focus on their content. While touch typing will greatly enhance the ability for a child to be able to type at a fast pace it will also improve the quality of their work too. And because of this, they will be able to put their main focus into the quality of the content which they are producing.

Searsol – Searsol was formed back in 2007 and has been teaching children how to be able to touch type properly. Previously we really delved into what are the benefits of a child being able to touch type, and one should look no further than Typewiz if they want to get their child learning how to perfect this skill in a fun and interactive way. Typewiz touch typing lessons are designed in a way to be short and encourage the child to complete their next lesson by achieving rewards and moving up leaderboards. Below is a little deeper insight into why you should get your child started with Typewiz.

– Typing games: Typewiz has fun and interactive games for your child to enjoy. Typewiz allows your child to compete with kids in their age range and they can try improving by moving up leaderboards. A virtual coin is used for each game and will measure your child’s performance of how they’re getting on in the course, which will then motivate them to complete exercises as fast and efficiently as possible.

– Avatar rewards: Typewiz allows your child to earn an avatar as they complete each lesson, and these include many cool looking avatars that will motivate the child to focus and do the best they can in order to achieve their desired avatar.

– Modular design: the modular design which Typewiz provides is something that is easy on the eye for children and really creates an amazing environment for children to learn how to touch type.

– Reporting: This is of huge benefit to parents of the children, as Typewiz offers a report showing how your child is getting on and progressing along throughout the duration of the course. The report will give you key information such as exercises your child has completed, average accuracy, highest score and much, much more. This information can be shown weekly, over the last 6 months, the past year or all the time. Typewiz will show you both accuracy and words per minute graphs in the report, so it can easily be available to view and print off either.

Overall you can see that there are endless benefits when it comes to a child being able to learn how to be able to type at a young age if they are struggling with their handwriting. The aim of this blog was really to give you an insight into not only all of the benefits that come along with your child being able to type properly but also the fun that can be had along the way in their learning process and we see this through games like Typewiz. Typing is something which is a vital skill for all ages nowadays and as time goes on the importance of being able to type will not become less vital.

What can you do to overcome your child’s poor handwriting?

Poor handwriting

What can you do to overcome your child’s poor handwriting?

Does your child have poor handwriting and is struggling to complete their homework? Does your child take a long time for them to do their homework? Is the quality of the handwriting produced by your child legible? What can you do to improve this situation for your child? Do you want a life that is free from the stress and anxiety of trying to get them to complete their homework?

Definition of poor handwriting:

First off let’s define what poor handwriting is. According to Chivers (1999) – poor handwriting is a deficiency in the ability to write, primarily handwriting, but also coherence. Poor handwriting is a transcription disability, meaning that it is a writing disorder associated with impaired handwriting, orthographic coding (orthography, the storing process of written words and processing the letters in those words), and finger sequencing (the movement of muscles required to write).

Causes of poor handwriting

The main two causes of poor handwriting are deficiencies in balance sense or body awareness.

Balance sense

The balance sense is located in our inner ear. Children who have experienced any of the following are more likely to have difficulties with their balance sense:

chronic ear infections
premature birth
neglect and trauma in infancy
other neurological conditions such as autism

When this sense is not developed properly, children are likely to have difficulty with balance, jumping, hopping, skipping, sitting still, concentration, managing fear or anxiety and learning to read or poor handwriting skills.

Body Awareness

body awareness

This sense is located in the muscles and joints all over our body and is often called the body awareness sense as it tells our brain where our body is in relation to itself and other things.

Children with poor body awareness often present with the following conditions:

appear clumsy
are rough
break things
bump into things
unable to sit still for long periods of time
poor concentration.
difficulty with reading
Poor handwriting skills

These two senses (balance and body) are the building blocks for all other skills. It doesn’t matter how much we practice with our child on handwriting skills, it won’t improve because of deficiency in their balance and body senses.

Your child may have a good pencil grasp and lovely letter formation but if they don’t have a functioning balance sense then their writing is likely to be much slower, messy, difficult to read than other children.

How do you improve your child’s poor handwriting skills?

You can improve your child with poor handwriting skills by trying the following:

Strengthen Fine Motor Skills

Increasing hand strength and finger dexterity can help your child get more control over the pen and improve their handwriting. Encourage your child on tasks like cutting with scissors, using a screwdriver, sewing or knitting.

Pencil Grip

A good grip could help reduce fatigue and prevent muscle cramps, which may help to improve handwriting.

Upper Body strength

Encourage your child to build upper body strength through sports, swimming and gym weights. These will help strengthen and stabilise the shoulder muscles to free up the hand muscles for handwriting.

Frequent Breaks

If your child tires easily or becomes distracted, then let them have a quick break as opposed to continuing on and their handwriting deteriorates.

Pick your battles

Decide which subjects require good handwriting and which subjects you can get away with poor handwriting.

Typing skills

Instead of writing out all their homework. Why not get them to type it out using a laptop or tablet? By typing out their homework, it helps not only to be able to read the text they produce but also allows you to review the document and make changes if required. By learning how to type correctly, your child overcomes poor handwriting and uses assistive technology to their advantage.

If you want your child to learn how to type at one of our centres, you can book a free trial assessment at https://searsol.com/find-centers/

How long does it take to learn to type?

Touch typing is a valuable skill that allows individuals to type without looking at the keyboard, relying on muscle memory to locate keys. This technique, often involving placing fingers on the home row keys, can significantly improve typing speed and accuracy.

Definition of Touch Typing:

Touch typing is the ability to type without looking at the keyboard. This skill relies on muscle memory to locate keys and involves placing the eight fingers on the middle row of the keyboard, known as the home keys. The correct technique involves positioning the left hand with the little finger on the “A” key and the index finger on the “F” key, while the right hand’s index finger rests on the “J” key and the little finger on the semicolon key.

Factors Influencing Learning Time

The time it takes to learn touch typing varies widely based on several factors:

Concentration: Students with higher concentration levels will learn faster, as touch typing requires focus and persistence.
Motivation: A motivated student is more likely to practice regularly and see the benefits of touch typing, leading to quicker mastery.
Age: Younger students may take longer due to smaller hand sizes and shorter attention spans. Typically, starting at age eight is recommended.
Learning Differences: Students with learning difficulties such as dyslexia or dyspraxia may require more time and a tailored learning approach.

Estimated Learning Time

For an average student without learning differences, the time to learn touch typing can be broken down into stages based on words per minute (WPM) achieved:

Bronze Standard (15 WPM): Approximately 10 hours of practice.
Silver Standard (25 WPM): Around 30 hours of practice.

Gold Standard (40 WPM): About 70 hours of practice, allowing the student to type faster than handwriting.

Benefits of Touch Typing

Touch typing offers numerous benefits, including:

Improved Productivity: Faster and more accurate typing increases work efficiency.
Reduced Risk of Injury: Proper technique minimizes repetitive strain injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Versatility: Easily adapt to typing on various devices without looking at the keyboard.
Increased Accuracy: Less reliance on visual cues reduces typing errors.
Enhanced Cognitive Skills: Memorizing key locations boosts memory and cognitive abilities.
Support for Learning Differences: Helps students with dyslexia and other challenges type more accurately and efficiently.

Tips and Strategies for Learning Touch Typing

To master touch typing, consider the following tips:

Start with the Home Row: Practice the letters on the home row until you can type them without looking.
Use Typing Games and Exercises: These can make practice fun and help improve speed and accuracy.
Position Your Hands Correctly: Ensure your fingers are on the home keys, thumbs on the space bar, and index fingers on “F” and “J”.
Take Breaks: Regular breaks prevent strain and fatigue.
Use a Typing Tutor: Software programs like Typewiz provide structured lessons and exercises.
Practice Regularly: Consistent practice, even a few minutes daily, will improve your typing skills over time.

Typewiz: An Innovative Way to Learn Touch Typing

Typewiz is an engaging online typing tutor designed for kids, offering a fun and interactive learning experience. Features include:

Avatars and Games: Students earn coins to play games as they progress.
Performance Badges: Bronze, Silver, and Gold badges motivate students by marking their progress.
Visual Guides: Realistic hands and green fingers show the correct keys to press.
Progress Tracking: Students can view their scores and WPM statistics.

Typewiz is self-paced and can be used at home or in a classroom, with professional tutors available in Searsol centers in Ireland or online. A free seven-day trial is available for those interested.

For more information, visit www.typewiz.com.

Typewiz.com – a new innovative way to learn how to touch type!

Now that you have been awarded a laptop exemption to type out your Junior or Leaving cert – what do you do next?

Searsol after school touch typing classes

Now that you have been awarded a laptop exemption to type out your Junior or Leaving Cert – what next?

Having to sit through State exams answering questions with pen and paper for hours at a time is all very well for those for whom writing poses no problems, but what about students who struggle to form letters and words?

Thankfully the Irish State Examinations Commission registers the fact that many students today have difficulty with writing. In recognition of this and the fact that typing is now the accepted professional version of writing, exemptions are now readily available for those seeking to type rather than write their exam responses.

If you or your child has already been awarded an exemption to use a laptop/word processor for your Junior/Leaving Cert due to a handwriting impairment, here at Searsol we extend our congratulations.

For those still in the process of applying for the exemption, please note that the Department of Education will be looking for proof that your child can, or is in the process of learning how to type. At the end of the day, the exemption will be granted on the basis that your child’s typing skills are better than their handwriting skills.

Searsol touch-typing courses

In order to ensure your child masters correct touch-typing skills, Searsol runs a series of after-school touch-typing classes for children and young adults that are designed to help each individual learn correct touch-typing practice at their own pace.

Searsol provides touch typing courses nationwide. Our classes are delivered in a classroom setting. We use our own touch typing tutor Typewiz which consists of a series of lessons to help students advance from beginner to proficient touch typist. Tutors work individually and collectively with students to help them progress through the course in order to gain proficiency. They are monitored by trained tutors who check that they are doing the correct finger placement.

Students can revise over previously completed exercises at home using their own login details.

Please feel free to get in touch with your nearest Searsol provider – course details are available here on our website.

Typewiz is also available to access from the home. You can sign up to Typewiz by going to Typewiz.com

Exemption guidelines

According to the guidelines for State exams, as set out by the State Examinations Commission, the use of mechanical aid, such as a word processor, is appropriate where it can be established that a candidate’s ability to produce a legible script is compromised.

There are two separate categories under which a student may be deemed eligible for this exemption from handwriting, as follows:

Illegible handwriting – which renders a script unintelligible due to the frequency of spelling/grammar/punctuation errors.
Slow writing – where the rate of writing is so slow that it renders a student unable to complete exams.

In order to apply for an exemption from writing, students must submit a completed Junior Certificate/Leaving Certificate reasonable accommodations application form, outlining the particular difficulty, and this must be signed by the school principal.

The Commission accepts the school’s confirmation on the application as sufficient evidence to permit an exemption.

Once you have been awarded your exemption to use a word processor, you will also be exempt from having your exam answer assessed in regard to spelling, punctuation, or grammar. This applies specifically to exams in any language subject (Irish, English, French, Spanish, etc). However, students granted the use of a word processor must ensure spell-check and autocorrect are turned off.

Further info on Reasonable Accommodations for Junior and Leaving Certificate Examinations can be found on www.examinations.ie

What typing speed do you need for state exams?

There is no official guidance from the department of education on the exact typing speed your child should be at. Searsol recommends that your child have a typing speed of 25 word per minute or greater. This would be our silver grade on typing classes.

State Examinations Commission

The State Examinations Commission now approves exemptions for Junior Cert students can also be carried through at Leaving Certificate.

The Commission also agreed that exemptions can be granted in cases where dyslexia has not been formally diagnosed. Welcoming this progress, the Dyslexia Association of Ireland issued a statement, as follows:

The accommodations are intended to limit the impact of the candidate’s disability on their exam performance, while not giving the candidate an unfair advantage.

The options students with dyslexia can apply for if they meet the criteria are:
• Access to a Reader
• Use of a Recording Device or Word Processor/Laptop
• Access to a Scribe
• Waiver from the assessment of spelling, grammar, and punctuation in the language subjects

Accommodations at Third Level

Many third-level colleges and examination bodies make provision for dyslexic students taking written exams. These provisions can include being given extra time, being allowed to use a word processor/computer, having the specific difficulty is taken into account when marking the exam paper, etc.

Students should consult with the Disability Officer in their college, their Tutor, or Course Director, to find out precisely what provisions may be available.

Please contact your nearest Searsol after school typing centre for details on our touch-typing classes to ensure your child has the chance to perform at their best in State exams. Your child can also access Typewiz.com from the comfort of your home. Go to Typewiz.com for more details.

Why touch typing is beneficial for children with dyspraxia (DCD)?

Dyspraxia (DCD) is a difficulty with thinking out, planning, and carrying out sensory/motor tasks. A recent study of nearly 7,000 seven and eight-year-olds in the UK found that just under two children in every 100 may have dyspraxia. This study used strict criteria for diagnosing the condition, which may explain why other sources suggest that six or eight people in every 100 may have dyspraxia.

Dyspraxia is more common in boys and sometimes runs in families. It may also occur alongside other conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD.

Dyspraxia can make the process of writing laborious and even painful. This is why touch typing (keyboarding) is so frequently recommended for those with dyspraxia. Becoming more familiar with the keyboard or learning to touch type (being able to type with multiple fingers without looking at the keyboard) can be very helpful for children.

Once students are able to touch type successfully with accuracy and speed. This can help students unlock their potential and transfer easily their ideas onto electronic format without the frustration experienced when handwriting. Creativity is unlocked and the student’s self-esteem greatly enhanced.

The keyboard has many important advantages:

It increases legibility and clarity of presentation
Increased speed of the input
Spelling – learning physical letter patterns on the keyboard can be helpful with the spelling of some words
Reduces the physical pressure and concentration of handwriting- pressing a key can be much easier than manipulating a pen or pencil
Editing work is easier
Confidence. The keyboard may allow the child to record work more independently and to produce the required work in the time allowed.

At Searsol, we have worked with children with dyspraxia to teach them how to learn to touch type. Children with dyspraxia need careful guidance and help so they can master the skills of touch typing. Searsol offers touch typing courses in our typing centres

Searsol – who we are and what we do

Searsol provides after-school touch typing classes to students for students with learning differences such as dyspraxia, dyspraxia (DCD), and dysgraphia. We have centres in Ireland that allow Parents to bring their child up to trained up on how to touch type. More details about your nearest centre are available on https://searsol.com/find-centers/

Typewiz – typing tutor for kids

Typewiz – be a wiz a typing

Typewiz.com is our new typing tutor for children who want to learn how to touch type at home. Typewiz is a fun and innovative way for children to learn how to touch type. Typewiz can be accessed at home. More details are available on Typewiz.com

Typewiz offers the following benefits:

It is a fun and interactive way to learn to touch type.
Children get to select different avatars as they progress up the lessons.
Kids can earn coins based on their performance on the course.
Coins can then be used in our games arcade where each coin spent allows the student to access one game.
Children can earn different word per minute badges (Bronze, Silver or Gold) as they become faster at typing.
Kids can earn lesson badges as they progress up the lessons.
Realistic hands with a green finger which shows the user what keyboard button to press.
Graphs of all previous percentage scores with Words Per Minute(WPM) are available to access for the student at all times.
Typewiz is a self-paced course which allows kids to work at their own pace at home

Searsol Computer Camps

Searsol provides Easter and Summer computer camps for children each year. These computer camps are were very popular and if you are interested in finding more about the course please go to our dedicated website which has more details about the camps www.searsolcomputercamps.com

Searsol franchise opportunity

Searsol also has its own franchise opportunity. The franchise opportunity allows individuals to set up the Searsol after school touch typing classes and camps in their own area. Full training and support are provided. To find out more about this go to our dedicated website www.searsolfranchise.com

If you have any other requests about Searsol, please contact us through the feedback form or call us on +353-1-6303384. We are on Facebook and Twitter and our contact details are on the website.