iTrace
A versatile handwriting app
APP DETAILS
Developer – iTrace
Age – 3 to 7 year olds
Subject – Literacy
Special Need – Dyslexia, Fine Motor Difficulties
Score – 84/100
Price – £2.99 / $3.99
App Store Link - http://geni.us/1XPx
Play Store Link – Not Available
Windows Store Link - Not Available
App Review
iTrace is an extremely versatile handwriting app that helps children practice writing letters, numbers and words in a fun and interesting way. There is also a special mode that focuses on practicing the user's name.
There is a detailed tutorial provided with the app which many parents and perhaps even some teachers will be able to use to pick up advice and tips on how to encourage handwriting skills. iTrace suggests that children begin by using their fingers as the ‘writing tool’ because having to focus on holding a stylus properly could be distracting for them. Good advice.
There are four modes of play within the app. The Practice mode is a good place to start. It begins with the easiest letters to write, such as L, I and T. The child is shown exactly where to draw by a realistic hand holding a pencil. Reinforcement is given for correct formations while errors are pointed out and then quickly erased to allow for another attempt. More challenging letters are introduced as the child is ready for them. This is done automatically with the app analysing the input history for the user and then selecting the exercise that is most appropriate.
The other modes of play focus on practicing specific letters, numbers and words. The Words mode contains a number of activities that children will enjoy. It has a My Name module which provides children with the opportunity to practice writing their own name using a range of colour combinations. My Words lets children write out entire words (over 500 of them) and represent each with an image. Finally, the Scene module brings to life successfully written words in a fun interactive animation.
A useful feature of the app is that parents and teachers can add their own words and corresponding images and these will be included in the exercises. Another nice feature is that parents and teachers can print off worksheets from the app itself.
There are lots of customisation options available in the protected Parents Zone area of the app. Here, the letters can be changed from capital to lower case and from print to cursive. There is also a choice in the way letters are formed which is very helpful because different schools follow different handwriting methodologies. iTrace includes the most popular ways of writing the same letter so teachers and parents can choose the most appropriate version for their children. There is even an option for left-handed orientation.
iTrace supports multiple users which is brilliant for schools but will also be helpful in homes where more than one child is using the app. Grown-ups are able to see the entire history of each child’s progress, including the errors they have made. It is possible to search for all the attempts that have been made at a particular letter. This will show images of both successful and unsuccessful entries but if the errors switch is pressed the successful entries are removed from view, allowing the adult to analyse just the errors. This is a great way to try and see error patterns.
iTrace helps in this process by providing its own assessment of where the child is going wrong with labels such as "too shaky," "out of bounds," and "overextended." Statistical data is also available on entries made during the last day, previous 7 days and previous 30 days giving adults another way of measuring the level of progress the child is making.
iTrace is a comprehensive app handwriting that is a great choice for use both in school and at home. There are no adverts, in-app purchases and the external links to the developer’s website are protected behind a parental gate. iTrace is usually £2.99 / $3.99 but is free for a limited time.
Peter
Educational App Advice
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