Office Alternative for KS1

[support-it]

Does anyone know of any word processing sofware that can be used by KS1 children. Currently on MS Office 2010 accoss the whole school but this version of office is too complicated for 5-7 year olds.

[AngryTechnician]

WordPad.

[Mrmichaelhill]

WordPad.

 

+1

 

Its already in the OS and is a massively simple version of word!

:-)

[TechSupp]

Well we have 2010 at two primary sites and have no issues, kids are quite good at picking things up. See no point in getting them used to other software i.e. Textease where they can click anywhere to type and to have to retrain them when they get to KS2. Its usually the teachers who are having issues not the kids. I teach all age ranges and currently doing word with Y2 kids and no issues with actually using word...writing a complete sentance correctly maybe but using word, no. Start them off early and you can do more with them later on.

[AngryTechnician]

Well we have 2010 at two primary sites and have no issues, kids are quite good at picking things up.

I agree, but I remember it was a very tough sell to our teachers to convince them of that. They agreed eventually and now just start them straight onto Word with no real issue, but if you aren't willing to have that fight and just need something to satisfy the demand for something simpler, WordPad is the way to go.

[TechSupp]

Yes, as I said its the adults not the children that are the problem. If its still a problem sure I saw a simple word processor somewhere, I'll have a look but as said Wordpad is a reasonable option, but if they are doing that then word would be no problem. I think if they dont want word tbey are looking for something similar to Textease, point, click and type but none of it from what I remember is anything like standard. The big thing now is transfer of skills and home/school learning...will they have Textease for example at home to practice? No but they will have Wordpad, office or even Notepad.