Writing

# Trace It

Pre-writing and handwriting: tracing lines, shapes, letters, and numbers

A recorded instruction such as “Trace the big B.” The learner traces the guide with a finger or an Apple Pencil, starting at dot 1 and following the arrows, then taps Done. Each trace gets an accuracy score.

 [Open Trace It](https://aba-tools.com/tools/trace-it)

## When

-   Pre-writing strokes in the usual order: down, across, slants, cross, X, then curves.
-   Shapes, then capital letters, small letters, and numbers 0–9.
-   When you want a picture of each trace to look at later, beside its score.

## Why

-   Accuracy is measured the same way every trace: the lower of how much of the guide was traced (Covered) and how much of the ink stayed in the lane (On the lane). A trace passes at 80% or more.
-   The lane on the board is the exact scoring zone, so what the learner sees is what is scored.
-   The learner never sees a score or red ink. A trace that doesn’t pass gets a model and one more try for practice, which isn’t scored.
-   The saved picture keeps the stroke order, so you can replay how the learner traced it.

## How

1.  On the setup screen, choose what to trace:
    
    -   **Lines** — Down, across, slants, cross, X, curve, wave, and zigzag.
    -   **Shapes** — Circle, square, triangle, rectangle, diamond, oval, star, and heart.
    -   **Capital letters** — A to Z on writing lines.
    -   **Small letters** — a to z on writing lines.
    -   **Numbers** — 0 to 9 on writing lines.
    
    Under **Guide**, choose:
    -   **Wide lane** — A wide gray lane shows where the trace counts.
    -   **Thin line** — A dotted line only. The trace must stay closer to it.
2.  Under **Practice these**, everything starts off, and each round picks 5 at random from the whole level. Turn some on to practice only those.
3.  **Save trace pictures** starts on. Turn it off to save only the scores.
4.  Under **Praise**, choose:
    -   **On** — A correct answer also plays a short praise line, such as “Great job!”
    -   **Off** — A correct answer shows the star and moves on, with no spoken praise.Praise starts off. Turning it on or off doesn’t change scoring or start a new phase on the graph.
5.  Tap **Play**. The instruction plays right away; tap the speaker button to hear it again. **Clear** erases the board before Done and saves nothing.
6.  After Done, a trace that passes earns a star. One that doesn’t shows a moving dot that draws the guide, then the learner traces it once more. Your score for each trace is small in the top bar.
7.  Use **Skip**, **Log**, **Hold to reset**, and **End** the same way as in Find It. Rounds are 5 traces. **Next time** in the Log brings that target back in the next round.

**Saved to the dashboard:** The first trace of every target, plus skips. Each target is its own row (for example “Capital B”), with its accuracy, Covered, and On the lane. A trace of 80% or more counts as correct on the graph. With pictures on, the session page shows each trace on its guide, colored where it left the lane, and can replay the strokes. Pictures are removed after 180 days; the scores stay. Pictures are never in the CSV. Changing what to trace or the guide starts a new phase on the graph.

## More learner activities

- **[Flashcards](https://aba-tools.com/guide/flashcards)** (Naming & recognition): Naming pictures (tacts) in discrete trials
- **[Pronouns Practice](https://aba-tools.com/guide/pronouns)** (Language): Pronouns: pick the picture, or find and read the written word
- **[Find It](https://aba-tools.com/guide/find-it)** (Listening): Listener responding: hear a word and tap the picture
- **[Which One?](https://aba-tools.com/guide/which-one)** (Listening): Listener responding by function, feature, and class
- **[Match It](https://aba-tools.com/guide/match-it)** (Matching): Visual matching to sample
- **[Sort It](https://aba-tools.com/guide/sort-it)** (Matching): Sorting pictures by class, function, or feature
- **[Put It](https://aba-tools.com/guide/put-it)** (Listening): Following instructions with in, on, under, next to, and in front of
- **[Feel It](https://aba-tools.com/guide/feel-it)** (Social): Reading feelings in social situations: how a child feels, why, and what to say
- **[Count & Compare](https://aba-tools.com/guide/count)** (Math): Early math: numerals 1–5, counting, matching numbers to amounts, more and less, and size
- **[Word Match](https://aba-tools.com/guide/word-match)** (Reading): Early reading: matching printed words to pictures, and letters
- **[My Way](https://aba-tools.com/guide/my-way)** (Communication): A functional request (mand), for example in FCT
- **[Say It](https://aba-tools.com/guide/say-it)** (Communication): A talker (AAC) for requests and first sentences, with every press counted
- **[Toothbrushing](https://aba-tools.com/guide/toothbrushing)** (Daily routines): A 9-step toothbrushing chain (task analysis)
- **[Tiny Bites](https://aba-tools.com/guide/tiny-bites)** (Daily routines): Bite shaping for food selectivity, with a choice board
- **[Token Board](https://aba-tools.com/guide/tokens)** (Motivation): A token economy: a themed token board or a gem jar, with a picture menu of how to earn

Every tool, learner profiles, and questions are in the guide. [Back to the guide](https://aba-tools.com/guide)

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From https://aba-tools.com/guide/trace-it