Number Tracing Widget
Young learners trace a numeral along its strokes, then write it. Berdee checks that they followed the numeral's path; it doesn't try to read handwriting.
Number tracing teaches writing numerals 0 to 10 the way the curriculum does: as moves, not a picture. A 1 starts at the top and goes straight down. A 4 goes from the top to the middle and across, then you lift and draw a line from the top straight down. A 9 curves all the way around, then goes straight down.
The numeral is drawn large and grey, with a green start dot, an arrow on each stroke and a small number for the order. Learners put a finger on the dot and follow the arrow. A stroke that follows the path stays as a solid line and the next stroke's dot lights up. A stroke that strays fades away and the dot pulses again. There are no red marks and no buzzer.
Select the widget on the canvas and click the floating ⚙ Configure button to set it up. Press Try it as a student to trace in the dialog exactly as a learner will.
Four ways to use it
| Mode | Learners… | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Trace, then write (the default) | trace the numeral one to three times, then write it in an empty box and tap Done | The guide's own sequence: trace with a finger, then write |
| Trace | trace the numeral stroke by stroke | Forming 1–5 and 6–10; Number Race, tracing version |
| Write | write the numeral in an empty box, then tap Done | "Write how many dots," Math Libs, labelling a mystery bag |
| Find and trace | see a small board of numerals, and trace every one that matches (or three in a row) | Number Search and Tic Tac Numbers, made single-player |
Write box shows sets what learners see on Write: a faint numeral to write over, the start dot only, or nothing (for "write how many dots" with no model).
Beside it can show a matching quantity next to the numeral: dots, or a frame (a 5-frame up to 5, a 10-frame for 6–10). Use it when a numeral should always appear with what it means.
How Berdee checks the writing
Berdee always knows which numeral it asked for, so it never has to guess what a scribble "says." It only checks whether the learner's ink lies along that numeral's own path, with a forgiving band.
- Trace checks each stroke as the learner lifts their finger: it must cover most of its path, with little ink outside it.
- Write first scales the writing to the numeral's size, since children write big, small and off to one side, then checks the whole shape.
- Reversals are expected in kindergarten. On Write, a numeral written backwards (a mirror-image 3) counts as right by default, and the attempt page says it was reversed. Under More options → A reversed numeral, choose Try again if you'd rather learners correct it.
- Order and direction. By default, a stroke drawn backwards or out of order still counts on Trace, and you see it noted. Choose Must match under More options → Order and direction to require the taught order and direction. Lines across (the top of 5 and 7, the middle of 4) can go either way, because left-handed children often pull them right to left.
- Path band. Gentle (the default) is wide enough for a five-year-old's finger. Standard and Close are stricter.
Is the writing graded?
Trace is graded: the path is on screen to follow. Write's shape is practice by default. Any writing counts, and you see what each learner wrote on their attempt page. Turn on Check the writing's shape to grade it. On a Write widget with the check off, the widget scores 0 of 0. On Trace, then write, the tracing is graded and learners only need to write something.
We've checked the shape comparison against thousands of computer-drawn wobbly, stretched, slanted and mirrored numerals, but not yet against real children's writing. That's why the shape check starts off. If you turn it on, watch the first few attempts. A fair numeral that fails gets another try, not a red mark.
Grading → Practice only makes the whole widget 0 of 0, like any practice activity. You still see the writing.
Other ways to show the same knowledge
Tracing is a motor task. A child who can't yet control a finger along a path can't show this skill by tracing, so the widget offers other ways and tells you which one was used. At least one must stay on: Tap the dots for tracing, and Tap the dots or Choose instead for writing. Without one, a child using a keyboard or a screen reader couldn't answer, so Berdee won't publish the lesson.
- Tap the dots (on by default): numbered dots appear along each stroke. Tapping them in order draws the stroke. It keeps where to start, which way to go and which stroke comes first, without the fine-motor demand. It counts as right, and the attempt page says "by tapping the dots." It works with the keyboard: Enter taps a dot, and the arrow keys move between dots.
- Choose instead (on Write, on by default): a numeral pad for keyboard and screen-reader users. It checks recognizing the numeral, not writing it, and the attempt page says "chose, didn't write."
- Watch me: a dot moves along each stroke in order so learners see how the numeral is formed before trying. With reduced motion turned on, each stroke appears whole, in order.
- Speak the number: a Hear button says the number. Turn it off when the scene checks whether the learner knows which numeral to write.
Screen readers hear the numeral and how it's formed ("4. Start at the top, go down to the middle, then across. Lift. Start at the top, go straight down."), and each stroke as it's done. Nothing is timed.
Numeral style
Handwriting programs differ. Under More options → Numeral style you can choose a 4 with an open or closed top, a 7 plain or with a crossbar, a 9 with a straight or curved stem, and a 1 as a plain line or with a flag. The paths, arrows and checking all follow your choice.
What you see afterwards
Each learner's attempt page shows a one-line summary and a small picture of what they traced and wrote, drawn from their own strokes:
- "Traced 3 ✓ · wrote 3 (reversed) ✓"
- "Traced 4 · 1 stroke off the path · 1 backwards ✓"
- "Wrote 7 by tapping the dots ✓"
- "Chose 6 (didn't write) ✓"
Attempts count one per stroke on Trace (a perfect 4 is 2), one per Done on Write, and one per numeral on Find and trace. "4" traced twice and then written is 2 + 2 + 1 = 5.
Find and trace
Set the board's numerals (6 to 9 of them) under The board, and pick the numeral to find. The board must include it at least once. Learners trace or tap a numeral. A wrong one gives a gentle shake and stays untraced. With Three in a row, they trace three matching numerals in a line across, down or corner to corner. Berdee warns you if the board has no line of three.
Logic
Number tracing exposes Is correct, Is answered, Strokes done, Strokes that faded, Written reversed and Used Tap the dots for conditions and {{variables}}, and supports Start over, Clear the writing and Watch me. Its events are On Stroke Done, On Traced (the numeral's last stroke is in) and On Written (a Done check). See Widget Properties and Methods.
Tips
- Keep the widget big. Berdee warns you in ⚙ Configure when the numeral would be too small to trace with a finger at student size.
- Step-by-step: Trace a number, then write it builds a "Let's write 4" scene with Watch me, two traces, a written 4 and a five-frame beside it.
- Pair it with a ten frame or a counting collection so the numeral always comes with a quantity.
- Learners' strokes are their own work. They're stored like any answer and never sent to an AI or a handwriting service.