Review Overview
A. Instruction - 5.5
B. Design - 7.3
C. Engagement - 8
6.9
Alphabet Tracing: An App for Handwriting
Summary : Need Help Practicing Your Letter Writing?
Alphabet Tracing provides users with practice writing letters and numbers. After launching the app, users must tap the “Start” button, which immediately presents them with the letter “A” to trace. Alphabet Tracing then models how to write the letter and pronounces it. The app also provides users with an image that starts with the letter being practiced that users can tap to hear. Next, users can practice writing the letter by following the pattern and example provided. Users can access the next letter by using the “right” and “left” arrow buttons. If users want to change from upper- to lowercase letters or if they want to practice writing numbers, they can tap the corresponding option on the top of the page. Lastly, users can tap the “Fox” on the top of the screen to access a menu that allows them to change the color of their tracings, disable the sound, or access a blank page.
Please note: Users can create their own letter-tracing worksheet from this menu, but they must make an in-app purchase.
Instructional Ideas
- Teachers can have students practice tracing letters independently. As students trace, teachers can make sweeps of the room to monitor. Lastly, if students trace a letter perfectly, teachers can have them take a screen shot of their work so it can be shared with parents.
- After students become proficient tracing letters using this app, teachers can transfer them to paper-and-pencil writing practice using worksheets or guided practice. To do so, teachers can show students a letter by writing it on the board and have students replicate it on their paper.
- Teachers can have students practice tracing a letter using this app. Next, they can tap on the image that starts with the letter being traced. Students can then practice their spelling by writing the word by the image. For example, “Airplane” accompanies the letter “A” in this app. So, after tracing the letter “A,” students can tap the image of the airplane and attempt to write it on the screen.
- After students trace a letter and explore the image that accompanies the letter, students can brainstorm another word that starts with that letter.
A1. Rigor | |
A2. 21st Century Skills | |
A3. Conn. to Future Learning | |
A4. Value of Errors | |
A5. Feedback to Teacher | |
A6. Level of Material | |
A7. Cooperative Learning | |
A8. Accom. of Individual Diff. |
B1. Ability to Save Progress | |
B2. Platform Integration | |
B3. Screen Design | |
B4. Ease of Use | |
B5. Navigation | |
B6. Goal Orientation | |
B7. Information Presentation | |
B8. Media Integration | |
B9. Cultural Sensitivity |
C1. Learner Control | |
C2. Interactivity | |
C3. Pace | |
C4. Flexibility | |
C5. Interest | |
C6. Aesthetics | |
C7. Utility |