My Name Tracing — First Writing Attempt
- Duration
- 25 minutes
- Preparation Time
- 10 minutes (preparing individual name cards)
- Group Size
- Small group
Learning Objective
Child traces over their own name written in large dotted capitals — building letter formation awareness and name ownership
Materials Required
- Individual name tracing cards — each child's name in large dotted capitals
- Fat crayons or thick pencils
- Finger tracing first, then crayon
Teaching Steps
- 1
Trace with your finger first — follow the dots!
- 2
Start at the top — dots show you where to go!
- 3
Now with your crayon — follow the same path your finger made!
- 4
This is YOUR name — these letters belong to you!
- 5
Which letter in your name is your favourite to trace?
Questions to Ask
- Trace with your finger first — follow the dots!
- Start at the top — dots show you where to go!
- Now with your crayon — follow the same path your finger made!
- This is YOUR name — these letters belong to you!
- Which letter in your name is your favourite to trace?
Teacher Notes
Observe left-to-right direction, starting at the top of each letter, and pencil grip. Any tracing attempt is celebrated — accuracy develops with practice.
Extension / Enrichment
Support: SLOT PACK — Core (10–12 min): finger-trace own name, then crayon over dots. Practice (6–8 min): second pass with less support. Extension (5–7 min): attempt one free letter from the name. Close (2 min): celebrate the attempt — not neatness. Extend: Trace without looking at the dots when ready.
Assessment
Observe left-to-right direction, starting at the top of each letter, and pencil grip. Any tracing attempt is celebrated — accuracy develops with practice.
Home Connection
Write your child's name in large letters. Ask them to trace it with their finger, then a crayon. Their name is the most motivating thing they will ever learn to write.