(Home Row to Full Speed)
Proper Placement of Fingers on Keyboard
The way to sit and learn-this is critical for speed and accuracy:
- Sit tall, back supported
- Feet flat on the floor
- Elbows at 90 degrees
- Wrists straight and slightly raised
- Hands hover over keys
- Shoulders relaxed
- Head up, eyes forward -do NOT look down–looking slows you down
Teaching line to repeat (great for kids)
“Sit tall, feet flat, wrists up, and let your fingers do the work.”
Begin with the home row keys:
Left hand: A S D F G
Right hand: H J K L ; ‘
Practice moving forward and backward across these keys until movement feels natural and consistent. Focus on correct finger placement and returning to the home row after each key.
Once comfortable, begin typing the word series below.
After completing the first three sets of words, introduce capitalization by using the Shift key with the opposite pinky of the letter being typed. This builds correct habits for capital letters.
Next, introduce the period key, using the right ring finger (L finger down to period), and incorporate it into word and sentence practice below.
STEP 1: Home Row Only (a s d f j k l 😉
Focus: finger placement + rhythm
3-letter words
- sad
- lad
- ask
- all
- dad
- fall
- sass
- add
- flask (stretch word)
STEP 2: Add “e” (very high-frequency letter)
3-letter words
- led
- fed
- red
- bed
- see
- eel
4-letter words
- deal
- lead
- seed
- feel
- else
STEP 3: Add “i” and “o”
3-letter words
- did
- kid
- lid
- oil
- old
4-letter words
- soil
- sold
- fold
- told
- idle
5-letter words
- solid
- field
- slide
STEP 4: Add “t” and “n”
3-letter words
- tan
- net
- ten
- tin
4-letter words
- sent
- tent
- lent
- note
- tone
5-letter words
- stone
- notes
- inset
STEP 5: Add “r” and “h”
3-letter words
- her
- hat
- rat
- hit
4-letter words
- rent
- heat
- rate
- tire
5-letter words
- heart
- other
- there
STEP 6: Add “m” and “u”
3-letter words
- hum
- sum
- mud
- run
4-letter words
- drum
- much
- turn
- hunt
5-letter words
- human
- drum
- rumor
STEP 7: Add “c”, “g”, “p”
3-letter words
- cap
- gap
- cup
- pig
4-letter words
- grip
- clip
- camp
- page
5-letter words
- grape
- magic
- price
STEP 8: Add remaining letters (b, v, w, x, y, z, q)
3-letter words
- web
- box
- wax
- yes
4-letter words
- wave
- very
- next
- zone
5-letter words
- zebra
- woven
- extra
- value
6-letter words
- wizard
- vortex
- oxygen
FINAL STEP
Now bring it all together: Practice typing this daily and keep a log of speed and accuracy which is great for an IEP Goal
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
You must build proper muscle memory—speed will follow naturally.
- Start with muscle memory (home row)
- Build using real words, not random letters
- Add letters in logical frequency order
- Increase word length gradually
- Always reinforce accuracy first, then speed
“Speed is a result of accuracy and repetition—not rushing.”
Proper Placement of Fingers on Keyboard
Touch Typing Finger Guide
This image presents a color-coded keyboard and hand diagram designed to teach proper finger placement for touch typing.
ALT Text: At the top of the image is a full keyboard layout. Each key is color-coded to show which finger should be used to press it. The keyboard includes all standard keys such as letters, numbers, punctuation, Shift, Enter, Backspace, Tab, and Space.
The keyboard is divided into sections by color:
- Keys assigned to the left hand appear on the left side of the keyboard.
- Keys assigned to the right hand appear on the right side of the keyboard.
- Each finger is represented by a consistent color across both the keyboard and the hands shown below.
Home Row Position
The home row keys are:
- Left hand: A, S, D, F
- Right hand: J, K, L, and semicolon
These keys are the starting position for all typing. Each finger rests on one key in the home row.
Finger Assignments
Below the keyboard, two hands are shown with each finger color-coded to match the keys above.
Left Hand
- Left pinky (outermost finger)
Controls keys on the far left, including Shift, Caps Lock, Tab, and the letter Q and Z rows. - Left ring finger
Controls keys such as A, S-adjacent keys, and corresponding keys above and below. - Left middle finger
Controls keys such as S and surrounding keys. - Left index finger
Controls keys near the center of the keyboard, including F and G, and keys above and below them. - Left thumb
Presses the Space bar.
Right Hand
- Right index finger
Controls keys near the center, including J and H, and keys above and below. - Right middle finger
Controls keys such as K and surrounding keys. - Right ring finger
Controls keys such as L and nearby keys. - Right pinky (outermost finger)
Controls keys on the far right, including Enter, Backspace, Shift, and punctuation keys. - Right thumb
Presses the Space bar.
Key Concept
Each finger is responsible for a specific group of keys. The fingers return to the home row after each keystroke. This method allows typing without looking at the keyboard.
Purpose of the Diagram
This visual supports learning:
- correct finger placement
- muscle memory
- efficient, accurate typing without visual reliance
Simple Teaching Summary
Each finger has a job.
Start on the home row.
Reach, press, and return.
Videos to Watch of Students in Action with screen reader
Low Vision Students or students with Progressive Vision Loss—Start Early. Build Independence.
Just Begin Now!
Blind 4‑Year‑Old and 2nd Grader Race Using Braille Writing Devices
Watch the Video of learning keyboarding in a week and speed within 2 months
Braille Instruction Starts at Age 3 – Early Blind Education Success Story
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