How does Touch-type Read and Spell work?
TTRS comes with separate student and admin accounts.The main course is modular in design and contains 24 levels with 31 modules in each level. A module typically takes a few minutes to complete. Student success is encouraged by immediate feedback and positive reinforcement. This feedback includes a score that is based on completion rates and accuracy, not speed or time taken. Learners can earn points toward trophies and certificates.
The course starts with learning to touch-type, read and spell the vowels – a , e , i , o , u. The audio track accompanies the letters as they appear on screen, reinforcing sound-letter correspondence, which is a crucial skill for sounding out words in reading. The student then receives their first score – and success!
In the second level, 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 learns the position of the keys using the on-screen hand guides. With repetition, words move from short-term to long-term memory and the skill of typing begins to feel more comfortable.
Every 5th module is a dictation module that removes the visual element encouraging the student to listen to the words and then type out what they hear. This develops spelling by testing sound-letter mapping skills.
Some students with dyslexia have problems with their short-term memory. Repetition is a way of over-learningwhich can help with these problems. TTRS uses a multi-sensory approach to repetition learning. Through the multi-sensory approach, students hear the words spoken through headphones or speakers, see the words printed on the screen, and are prompted as to which fingers to press via the on-screen keyboard. Finally, through the sense of touch, they type out the words and learn to spell with their fingers.
A TTRS subscription also includes access to English, mathematics, and science typing modules and admins can create custom subjects and add spelling lists too!
