Keyboarding Lesson 2: Type Reach

Estimated time: one 20–30 minute class period.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Keyboarding (Lesson 1).

Lesson sequence

1. Review (5 min). Review typing position (eyes on copy, fingers curved and upright, wrists low, back straight) and have students find the home row: A S D F, J K L ;.
2. Introduce e, h, o (5 min). Show students the three new keys. Have them watch their own fingers the first time: left finger 2 reaches up to e; right finger 1 reaches up to h; right finger 3 reaches up to o.
3. Drill each reach separately (10 min). Practice each new key as its own short drill before combining them, e.g. for h: “h hj hj ha ha had had had”; for e: “e ed ed led led el jell”; for o: reach practice building to real short words. Say each drill aloud together, then let students repeat it faster.
4. Combine and drill from the worksheet (5–10 min). Move to the full practice worksheet, which combines e, h, o with every home-row letter already learned. Cover hands with paper for students ready to type without looking.

Assessment

Watch that students return to the home row after each reach rather than leaving their fingers on the new key.

Extension

Have students write one real short word using only letters learned so far (a, s, d, f, j, k, l, e, h, o) and type it from memory.

This lesson is for educational purposes only. Practice at the pace that works for your class — accuracy first, speed later.