Lesson 1: Home Row Keys: ASDF JKL; (Semicolon)

Score: 10 points
Directions: Follow the steps listed below along with the teacher's instructions.
Notice: The text that you are instructed to type is displayed in a Lucinda Sans Typewriter font.

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LEARN

• Locate the keys on your Keyboard
• Place your left index finger on the F, your middle finger on D, your ring finger on S, and your little finger on A
• Repeat placement with your right hand: index finger on J, middle finger on K, ring finger on L, and little finger on ;
• Rest the sides of your thumbs on the spacebar.
• Practice your finger strokes:
• Hold your hands in the air in front of your face with your palms facing out.
• Say the name of each character.
• As you say the name, push that finger forward as if you are striking an invisible keyboard in front of you.
• Practice striking the Home Row Keys.
  • Start with A, then try S and so on.
  • Now start with ; then L, and so on.
  • Now type the following phrase in the air:

  fdsa jkl; fjdksla; fjdksla; ;alskdjf ;alskdjf jfkdls;a

• Return your hands to the keyboard.
  • Be sure that your fingers are resting on the appropriate keys.
  • Remember to rest your fingers lightly on the keys.
    • If you press you fingers down, the key will type.
    • If you hold the key down, it is continue to repeat the character.
  • Your fingers should be curved above the keys and your wrists should arch above the keyboard.
    • Allowing your wrists to rest on the keyboard will harm your ability to type quickly and accurately.
    • The positioning of your wrists on the keyboard can also lead to muscle disorders such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
• Open Windows Notepad (Start Menu -- Programs -- Accessories -- Notepad)
  • If you cannot find Notepad on your computer, please ask your instructor for assistance.
• Maximize your window (Choose the Middle Button in the Upper Right Hand Corner of the Notepad Window)
  • This will cause your Notepad window to fill the whole screen.
• Go to File -- Save
  • Go to your Keyboarding Folder: Z:\\Keyboarding\
  • Name your file "Lesson01"
  Type your Name and the Date at the top of the document.
  • Press Enter 4 Times
• Type the following line.
  • Remember to key sharply and not to hold down the key.
  • Use your thumb to strike the spacebar

    ffffffffffjjjjjjjjjj fj fj fj fj fj fj f j f j f j f j

• Save your file: File -- Save
• Extend the right little finger out to reach the Enter Key (This will move the cursor down to the next line).
  • Keep the remainder of your fingers on their home keys.
  • Quickly return your little finger to its home key.
  • Remember to do this quickly to keep from interupting your keyboarding flow.
• Key the following line five times:

  fff jjj fff jjj fff jjj fff jjj fff jjj fff jjj fj

PRACTICE

• Save your file: File -- Save
• Type the following lines exactly. Double-Space (hit Enter twice) after each 2-line group:

  fff jjj fff jjj fff jjj fff jjj fff jjj fff jjj fj
  fff jjj fff jjj fff jjj fff jjj fff jjj fff jjj fj

  ddd kkk ddd kkk ddd kkk ddd kkk ddd kkk ddd kkk dk
  ddd kkk ddd kkk ddd kkk ddd kkk ddd kkk ddd kkk dk

  sss lll sss lll sss lll sss lll sss lll sss lll sl
  sss lll sss lll sss lll sss lll sss lll sss lll sl

  aaa ;;; aaa ;;; aaa ;;; aaa ;;; aaa ;;; aaa ;;; a;
  aaa ;;; aaa ;;; aaa ;;; aaa ;;; aaa ;;; aaa ;;; a;

STRETCH BREAK

• Take a minute to stretch out
  • Stand up
  • Bend down and touch your toes
  • Stretch your arms above your head
  • Stretch your arms out to your sides
  • Flex your fingers

TEST

• Save your file: File -- Save
• Type the following lines exactly. Double-Space (hit Enter twice) after each 2-line group:

 

fff aaa ddd fad fad fad; jjj aaa lll jal jal jal;
fff aaa ddd fad fad fad; jjj aaa lll jal jal jal;

aaa lll aaa lll all all; ddd aaa ddd dad dad dad;
aaa lll aaa lll all all; ddd aaa ddd dad dad dad;

sss aaa ddd sad sad sad; aaa sss kkk ask ask ask;
sss aaa ddd sad sad sad; aaa sss kkk ask ask ask;

a fad; ask dad; ask a lad; jak asks; a lad falls;
a dad; ask dad; ask a lad; jal asks; a lad falls;

all fads; alda asks; a sad lass; jal asks a lass;
all fads; alda asks; a sad lass; jal asks a lass;

STRETCH BREAK

• Take a minute to stretch out
  • Stand up
  • Bend down and touch your toes
  • Stretch your arms above your head
  • Stretch your arms out to your sides
  • Flex your fingers

EXTRA PRACTICE

1. Save your file: File -- Save
2. If you have extra time after completing the assigned task:
   1. Enter twice after the end of the text in your current document
   2. Type the heading EXTRA PRACTICE in all Capital letters
   3. Enter twice more after typing the heading
   4. Repeat the lines from the current lesson
   5. Repeat step 4 if necessary
3. Use your imagination to develop 10 lines of text using the keys that you have learned up to this point.

FINISH UP

1. Double-check that your name and the date is at the top of the page
2. Save your file: File -- Save
3. Print to Lab Printer
   1. DO NOT go to printer to pick it up.Your instructor will pick up all pages at once.

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by: Casey Jo Burrus | Last Updated: December 28, 2013
NOTE: The lessons on this site were compiled using the resources listed on the Resources page.
This lesson derived from from Typing & Keyboarding for Everyone.