In response to the New York State Board of Regents Action Plan relating to computer keyboarding skills, this guide is designed to help elementary school staff understand aspects of keyboarding and develop this important basic skill in their students. The three-part presentation begins with a discussion of the benefits of using computers in English language arts, differences between keyboarding and typewriting, outcomes of keyboard instruction, and general guidelines for achieving those outcomes. The second section addresses issues pertinent to planning for keyboarding instruction, including planning considerations, research on students and keyboarding, planning for teacher awareness and training, instruction, reviewing instructional equipment and materials, and evaluation. The final section, focusing on implementing keyboarding instruction, discusses (1) choosing an approach, (2) suggested instructional sequence for one lesson, (3) ideas for preparing lessons, (4) suggestions for enhancing instruction, (5) initial keyboarding, (6) procedures for initial introduction to keyboarding, (7) presenting the numeric keyboard, (8) suggested skill development activities, (9) some language arts development strategies, and (10) activities for releasing tension. Five appendixes provide a glossary, suggested readings, a conventional keyboard chart, a discussion of issues regarding handicapped students, and a sampling of software. (JD)