A simple homeschool typing curriculum
Typing doesn't need a big binder. It needs a sensible order, short regular practice, and a clear sign of when to move on. Below is the sequence we use in Home Row Mojo, written out so you can follow it with any tool, or with paper and a keyboard.
The order that works
Each step builds on the one before. The idea is to learn a few keys at a time, from the home row outward, so the fingers always have a place to come back to.
| Step | Skill | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Home row | A S D F and J K L ; plus thumbs on Space. Find the bumps on F and J |
| 2 | G and H | The index fingers reach one key toward the middle |
| 3 | Top row | Q W E R T, then Y U I O P |
| 4 | Bottom row | Z X C V B, then N M , . / |
| 5 | Fixing mistakes | Backspace, and the habit of "spot it, erase it, type it right" |
| 6 | Full keyboard | All the letters together in words and sentences |
| 7 | Number row | 1 to 0 across the top |
| 8 | Punctuation and Shift | Capital letters, ? ! ' : and quotes |
| 9 | Speed | Same skills, a little faster, without losing accuracy |
| 10 | Number pad | 4 5 6 home keys, decimals, Enter |
| 11 | Number pad math | + - * / and = |
| 12 | Keyboard tour | Tab, arrows, Esc, function keys, shortcuts, and Mac vs PC differences |
Steps 10 to 12 are optional extras for younger kids and very useful for older ones. The number pad in particular is skipped by a lot of programs, and it's a real skill for spreadsheets, money, and science.
How long and how often
Short and frequent beats long and rare. For example, the "Keyboarding Skills" advice sheet from Oxford Health NHS Children's Integrated Therapies suggests practising touch typing for 10 to 15 minutes each day for the first six weeks (checked October 23, 2026). Several short sessions build more skill than one long one.
A simple weekly rhythm:
- Monday to Thursday: 10 minutes. A quick warm-up on the home row, then the current step.
- Friday: a game, or a "show me" day where your child types a short note to a grandparent.
When to move on
Move on when the current keys feel easy, not when the calendar says so. Two signs:
- Accuracy is high. In Home Row Mojo, a drill level counts as passed at 90% accuracy, and that's a sensible bar for home practice too.
- Eyes stay up. Your child can type the practice lines without looking down at their hands.
Speed comes later. If you want benchmarks, our typing speed by age page collects published targets, with sources.
What to keep for your records
If you keep a portfolio or report to an umbrella school, a simple record is enough: date, what step, minutes, and an accuracy number now and then. A printable keyboard finger chart is a nice thing to include from the first week.
What to look for in a typing program
These questions help you compare options:
- Does it cover the whole keyboard? Letters, numbers, punctuation, and ideally the number pad.
- Does it check accuracy, not just speed?
- Can each child have their own progress without sharing personal details?
- Is the cost clear? One price, a subscription, or free with ads. All are valid choices; just know which one you're getting.
- Will your kids actually want to come back? Games help a lot here.
How Home Row Mojo maps to this
Home Row Mojo follows the sequence above. It has 9 guided lessons (Home Row, Top Row, Bottom Row, Fixing Mistakes, Number Row, Punctuation + Shift, Number Pad, Number Pad Math, and Keyboard Tour) and 14 drill levels, including two number pad levels, that open one at a time, from the home row to a Speed Challenge. There are 12 games to keep practice fun. The two number pad lessons need a keyboard with a number pad. If your keyboard doesn't have one, an inexpensive plug-in USB number pad works. Each child gets their own typist profile using a first name or nickname, and progress reports are printable for your records.
You can try Home Row Mojo free as a guest, no account and no credit card. If it fits your family, it's $29 once for everyone in the household, with no subscription.