September 2023   And, we're off! Well, they do say, 'the early bird…’ Hastings High School have assumed the lead with a flurry of activity! However, ESMS and Benenden are close on their heels.  Although their scores won't count, some teachers are creating excitement and joining in the fun by entering themselves, and creating inter-school competitions.    Come on, pupils, show the teachers! A new trophy awaits the winning school and, let's not forget… the prestige.      To all our other schools who still need to enroll - administrators, simply 'click' the red button on your admin panel to automatically enter your pupils into the tournament.  Once entered, pupil’s ‘click’ the trophy symbol at the top of their sc reen for a one-touch login to the tournament.         KAZ’s 2023/2024 Touch Typing Tournament   So, another school year begins. What will it bring? A new champion?    YOU decide.   Welcome to all our new schools.   Last year's competition had a record number of tests taken. We hope that the spirit of the competition and the commitment and effort put in by teachers has impressed on pupils that learning can be enjoyable!    Some teachers used the competition as an inter-school tournament. They took part themselves and challenged pupils for the top spot.   Imagine the fun of competing against Sir or Miss. The best part is that by entering the competition pupils don't even realise they're improving their skills! It's a win for the teachers and a win for the pupils.    Learning this skill improves productivity and workflow and allows pupils to focus on planning and creative writing.  As of the end of September, several of our schools are already off the mark and pupil determination to win the tournament is clear!   Come on, teachers, don't wait. Get your pupils learning now. The sooner they start, the sooner they can put their new skill to practise. Once automatised, it'll become as easy as their A, B, C's!     Administrators: Simply ‘click’ the red button in your admin panel to automatically enrol your pupils into the tournament!     Once entered, they simply ‘click’ the trophy symbol at the top of their screen for a one-touch login to the tournament.         Last year’s winners, were St. Paul’s Girls’ School. Well done to Alex who claimed first prize, and well done to Giles Bennett , Deputy Head and Director of Innovation for his continual enthusiasm and encouragement to all 800+ pupils in learning the skill of touch typing.     “In about 1997, my late father bought a CD-ROM from a discount bin at Makro. It was KAZ - Learn To Touch Type in 90 Minutes (PC). At that time, I was a teenager who loved everything to do with computers, so I tried it out and sure enough, within 90 minutes I could touch type. I was convinced!     When I became a teacher, I thought I would like to recreate that same enthusiasm for touch typing in my learners, using the same platform if possible. I was delighted to find a web version of KAZ with options such as audio guidance, different fonts and colour schemes to personalise it for neurodiverse students. We have students with a wide range of SEND (from dyslexia to visual impairment), all of whom are fully supported by the KAZ platform, with a wide range of adaptations embedded within the product.     It might seem odd to focus on touch typing with all the newer technologies we have today. As exciting as voice dictation and other such technologies are, they aren't always perfect. Voice recognition isn't particularly good at dealing with regional dialects and accents. It is not practicable in a traditional working environment, in an office or a school classroom because of the background noise. Touch typing will be a core skill for decades: it is one of the building blocks of digital competence.”   Well done to Alex and St. Paul’s Girls’ School.  

IDAD - a Free online event: 2nd October Wiltshire Dyslexia Association a Free in person event: 5th October The Invisible Gift - a Free online event: 5th October Closing the Gap Conference 10-12th October

KAZ are proud to be sponsoring the upcoming webinar, 'Dyslexia - Ultimate Success in the Classroom and Beyond'. It will be hosted by The Invisible Gift, a community dedicated to raising awareness and helping answer questions or concerns you may have on neurodiversity.    For FREE signup to the webinar: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dyslexia-ultimate-success-in-the-classroom-beyond-tickets-714458704217?aff=oddtdtcreator   For free signup and future updates, please join the TIG community.    https://www.theinvisiblegift.com/  

We have been nominated for the Education Today School & Supplier Awards 2023   https://educationtodayawards.co.uk/vote-2023/

41ST ANNUAL CONFERENCE OCTOBER 11-13, 2023 Pre Conference Workshops: Tuesday, October 10 Hilton Minneapolis Hotel Minneapolis, Minnesota   Closing The Gap has earned a reputation for exceptional learning and plan now to join us for Closing The Gap 2023! The Closing The Gap Conference is an annual assistive technology conference that presents an opportunity to deepen your assistive technology (AT) knowledge and strengthen your implementation strategies. The conference week is designed to dig deeper into critical areas that have the power, when implemented strategically, to transform your classroom, your school, your district, your practice. When you start thinking differently about how to reach ALL students, how to infuse technology into learning, how to leverage AT strategies in all areas – then we begin to transform these areas and ultimately increase achievement and independence.  

It's official. We have a new touch typing tournament winner.   Well done, St Paul's Girls' School! (More details will follow in August)   Thank you to all our schools for making this year's tournament so special.         May Update     Into the final month, we go, and with exam season upon us, we wish all pupils the best of success.     Megan has reclaimed her crown, but 'friends' are in hot pursuit!    Well done, Megan!     With previous trophy winners entering their pupils at the last minute, it promises to be a thrilling ride to the finish line.        To schools waiting in the wings, this is the last month and chance to enter the tournament… it's free!       April Update     With just two months remaining, keyboards around the world are getting warmer. There's a lot of practising going on!   Ethan has retained his crown, but Megan is right behind him.    Congratulations, Ethan!   Even as we enter exam season, the engagement remains high, with new schools joining the tournament even at this late stage. It will be an exciting run to the finish line - so thank you to all, and the best of luck in your exams.      To all our schools waiting in the wings - entering the tournament is a great way to encourage learning the skill, and… it's free!     Remember, it’s not about winning but taking part.            March Update   With only three months left, we have six different schools in the top 10 positions!   Ethan has just pipped Megan to wear the crown!    A round of applause to Ethan, but the question is…can he keep it?   I am going to break with tradition and display the top 10 leaderboard. However, leaders, keep looking up, as many schools not listed are climbing the ladder!    Well done to all the teachers for entering their pupils in to the tournament. With almost 15000 entries, it’s proving a huge success! Please enter. You never know your pupil may just win!           February Update There has been a lot of activity in the tournament amongst our schools this February, with St. Paul Girls School entering the leaderboard!   However, Meghan has extended her lead!  Q. How is this possible?  A. It’s simple, really… practice! Exceptional, Meghan I would also like to make a special mention to Parmiter’s School. Their student progress has been exceptional these past few months. I have been fortunate to work with Mrs Mullen and have followed her students’ progress from the initial learning to entering the tournament.  Credit to all students in all our schools participating in the tournament. This is the most exciting year ever with the most amount of entries.   Administrators: ‘Click’ the button in your admin panel to automatically enrol your pupils into the tournament!   Once entered, pupil’s ‘click’ the trophy symbol at the top of their screen for a one-touch login to the tournament.           January Update Well…well…well…    We have now reached the halfway point of the tournament. Meghan has extended her lead and is seemingly leaving everyone else behind. Are we going to let Meghan run away with the title? She’s certainly not taking the leader’s position lightly, as her practice and result chart shows.  Wow, Meghan - Well done. Our champions are naturally guarding their trophy well, and we are pleased to note that we have already exceeded the total number of tests taken last year.  So, with students engaging and more schools entering, it looks like it’s going to be an exciting last five months.       December Update     Wow - what a December!  If only we had a 'live' leaderboard (maybe next year?) The crown has changed ownership five times in just one month (has this ever happened in KAZ history?). This competition is simply gripping and tearing participants' emotions to shreds! Felix has GONE, and Meghan is our New Year/Hogmanay leader.  Will she share her crown in 2023, or will she guard it closely? Very well done, Meghan. Is anyone going to challenge her?   Happy New Year to everyone, and our best wishes for 2023!     Administrators: ‘Click’ the red button in your admin panel to automatically enroll your pupils into the tournament.   Once entered, pupil’s ‘click’ the trophy symbol at the top of their screen for a one-touch login to the tournament.       November Update Although many more schools are entering their students into the tournament, ESMS are still leading the way!  With little emotion :(  Just pure ruthlessness :)  Meghan and Charlotte has been knocked off their perch! Our Christmas leader is:  Felix Well done to Felix, but the question is, will he still be celebrating at Hogmanay? Teachers - get your students ready for exams and FE/HE.  Entering the tournament is a great way to encourage learning this skill and… it's free!   Administrators: ‘Click’ the red button in your admin panel to automatically enroll your pupils into the tournament.   Once entered, pupil’s ‘click’ the trophy symbol at the top of their screen for a one-touch login to the tournament.     <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9IoqZ0ltCdc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>   Hear what our current champion Andreea has to say.   October 2022       Well, they do say, 'the early bird... '. ESMS started the way they left last year. They were the first to start then, and they ended up winning!    Meghan and Charlotte have stormed into the lead, and although their scores won't count, we can see some teachers are creating excitement by joining in!     Come on, pupils at ESMS show the teachers!   To all our other schools who have already enrolled, it’s not too early to take the test.     Administrators: ‘Click’ the button in your admin panel to automatically enroll your pupils into the tournament! Once entered, pupil’s ‘click’ the trophy symbol at the top of their screen for a one-touch login to the tournament.         September 2022     KAZ’s 2022/2023 touch typing tournament has now begun!     This year's tournament is going to be the biggest one yet. Please don't forget to 'click' the red button on your dashboard to participate. A new trophy will be waiting for the winning school and, let's not forget… the prestige.     Last year's competition had an incredible number of tests taken. We hope that the spirit of the competition and the commitment and effort put in by teachers has impressed pupils that studying can be enjoyable!    Some teachers are also using the competition as a school tournament. They are taking part themselves and challenging pupils for the top spot.   Imagine the fun of competing against Sir or Miss. The best part is that pupils don't even realise they're improving their skills by entering the competition! It's a win for the teachers and a win for the pupils.    We hope learning this skill will improve productivity and allow pupils to focus on planning and creative writing.    Hear what our current champion says about touch typing and what it means to her. Well done, Andreea.     <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9IoqZ0ltCdc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>            Administrators: ‘Click’ the button in your admin panel to automatically enrol your students into the tournament!             Once entered, students ‘click’ the trophy symbol at the top of their screen for a one-touch login to the tournament.       Administrators: ‘Click’ the red button in your admin panel to automatically enroll your pupils into the tournament.   Once entered, pupil’s ‘click’ the trophy symbol at the top of their screen for a one-touch login to the tournament.    

nasen is the National Association for Special Educational Needs – a charitable membership organisation that exists to support and champion those working with, and for, children and young people with SEND and learning differences.   nasen LIVE 2023 is suitable for all education professionals, and anyone interested in exploring 'SEND and Beyond' across early years, schools, post-16, and specialist settings, including parents / carers and people with a lived experience of SEND.   Come and learn about KAZ and find out how our courses are helping. Stand 54

June 25-28, 2023  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The ISTELive 23 Expo opens Monday, June 26, 2023, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia... https://conference.iste.org/2023/exhibitors/floorplan.php   KAZ Type’s inclusive and award-winning touch typing software offers a one-for-all solution for the whole class. Its research-based specialised features cater for mainstream, neuro-divergent, hearing and visually impaired learners – allowing the entire class to work together.  The program uses an innovative and proven ‘Accelerated Learning’ teaching method and can be taught in short structured modules to fit in and around busy school schedules or taught throughout the school year, following a structured lesson plan.  It is suitable for K–12 and allows the upload of grade vocabulary so students can simultaneously learn to type and spell.  KAZ is compatible with Windows, Mac, Chromebooks, iPad and Android.  With KAZ, no child is left behind.   KAZ Type Limited Booth(s): 1142    

Stand 24 Come and find out what KAZ can offer your school and college. From inclusive learn-to-type software to Ofqual qualifications. Visit us on stand 24 at the National Education show in Venue Cymru on the 16th June. For further information: https://lnkd.in/e3M7zmZG #education #software #typing #inclusion#inclusionanddiversity

Please join us for this free session and find out about our neurodiverse touch-typing software and how to help pupils beat the 'summer slide'!   The CENMAC 30-min online training sessions are back for summer and we're first up! Find out how @KazType teaches touch typing skills easily & effectively & how it helps positively impact the writing process.   Book your spot: https://bit.ly/3mvqLk4