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Learning where to place your hands on the keyboard to start typing correctly.
Did you know that your keyboard has secret 'treasure markers' that you can feel with your fingertips even if your eyes are closed?
Imagine your keyboard is a giant playground. Every playground needs a 'home base' where you start your games. On a keyboard, this is called the Home Row. It is the middle row of letter keys. Instead of moving your whole hand around like a lost explorer, your fingers stay near the Home Row so they can reach every other key quickly. By keeping your hands here, you can type much faster because your fingers always know exactly where they are starting from. Think of it like a runner standing at the starting line of a race!
Quick Check
What is the name of the middle row where our fingers 'live'?
Answer
The Home Row.
How do expert typists know where to put their hands without looking down? They use their sense of touch! Look closely at your keyboard, or run your index fingers over the keys. Do you feel a tiny raised line or bump on two specific letters? These are on the ** and keys. Your two index fingers** (your 'pointer' fingers) always sit on these bumps. The bump on the left is for your left hand, and the bump on the right is for your right hand. If you can find the bumps, you can find your way home!
Follow these steps to find the bumps: 1. Close your eyes tightly. 2. Use your two pointer fingers to feel the middle row of the keyboard. 3. Slide them left and right until you feel the tiny millimeter raised line. 4. Open your eyes and see if you are on and !
Quick Check
Which two keys have the special bumps on them?
Answer
The and keys.
Now that your index fingers are on the bumps, where do the other fingers go? Think of your fingers as little cars parking in their own garages.
On the Left Hand: - Pinky on **** - Ring finger on **** - Middle finger on **** - Pointer finger on **** (the bump!)
On the Right Hand: - Pointer finger on **** (the bump!) - Middle finger on **** - Ring finger on **** - Pinky on the **** (semicolon) key.
Your thumbs don't get a letter; they both hover over the long Space Bar at the bottom!
Let's practice the 'Left Hand' parking: 1. Place your left pointer finger on . 2. Drop your middle finger on the key right next to it (). 3. Drop your ring finger on the next one (). 4. Finally, let your pinky rest on the last one (). 5. Wiggle them one by one: !
Try this advanced move: 1. Place your hands perfectly on the Home Row ( and ). 2. Use your right pointer finger to reach up and tap the key. 3. Immediately move that finger back to the bump. 4. Did you find the bump again without looking? That is called 'returning home!'
Which finger goes on the key?
You should move your whole hand across the keyboard to reach every letter.
Where do your thumbs rest while typing?
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, see if you can find the and bumps with your eyes closed in less than seconds.
Practice Activity
Open a blank document and practice typing 'asdf' and 'jkl;' five times without looking at your hands!