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How to Trace Letters & Words

Learning to trace letters and words is an important skill for beginning readers to master. It furthers the development of letter recognition and fine motor control. Sometimes children learn to trace letters and words quite readily. Others need direct instruction and time to apply their skills. The easiest way to teach your beginning reader to trace letters and words to is to start with something meaningful like the child's name. Learn how in the activity outlined below.

Things You'll Need

  • White Paper
  • Markers
  • Pencil
  • Clipboard
  • Tape
  • Flat Surface
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Instructions

    • 1

      Introduce the words to trace. Use markers to print your child's name in various places on a sheet of white paper. Vary the print with capital and lowercase letters, such as BOB, bob, Bob.

    • 2

      Place a second sheet over the original page to trace. Secure the pages on a flat surface with tape or a clipboard.

    • 3

      Model how to trace the letters. Show the child how to trace each of the letters in the words with your finger first. Ask the child to repeat the trace with his finger.

    • 4

      Practice tracing letters and words. Supply the child with a pencil. Place your hand over the child's hand to help guide the tracing movement. Give verbal instruction as you guide. Say, for example, "To make the letter “O”, start at the top and go down and around."

    • 5

      Evaluate the work. Check the letters and words for accuracy and neatness. Ask your child if the letters she traced match the letters that you wrote. Are the lines straight?

    • 6

      Apply the knowledge. Repeat these steps with writing guides (handwriting paper) or dotted manuscript.

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