Hi Reader,

I’ve recently been reading Peak, a book about the science of getting really great at something. One of my takeaways is that getting better takes focus—and it helps to actually want to improve.

Part of my strategy for helping students want to grow as typists is to make their practice meaningful by having them type through the Bible. But a little friendly competition can also help motivate students to keep practicing.

That’s why I’m excited to share a new feature: classroom leaderboards.

Leaderboards are opt-in, so you can decide whether they make sense for your class. When you turn them on, you can choose between two display options:

Podium Mode — Students see the top three and their own position

Full Roster Mode — Students see the entire class leaderboard

The right choice depends on your classroom culture. Competition can be encouraging, but I also know that seeing everyone’s ranking could leave some students feeling ashamed of their typing ability. You know your students best, so choose the option that’s helpful for them—or leave leaderboards off altogether.

To give it a try, open Classroom settings, select Show leaderboard, choose a display style, and hit Save.

Students can see where they rank on recent assignments, including speed assessments, regular assignments, and memory assessments. For memory assessments, rankings are based on how much of the verse students have memorized rather than their typing speed.

I recorded a short video to show you how to set up leaderboards and what they look like from a student’s perspective. You can watch it here:

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If leaderboards make sense for your class, I’d love for you to give them a try and let me know how it goes!

In Christ,
Josh