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News Flash: Flash Cards Help Children Learn

Many homeschoolers, educators and parents use flash cards to teach a child to read and write - repetition is ideal when learning something new.

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Many homeschoolers, educators and parents use flash cards to teach a child to read and write – repetition is ideal when learning something new. Flash cards can be used with a small group or with just two people. They also provide the perfect review lesson.

Flash cards are an inexpensive teaching tool that can be quickly assembled – all you need is paper and a marker. Using lower-case letters and a marker, write the letter(s) or word(s), e.g. sight word, synonym, on an index card. To ensure that the words on each card are facing the same direction, cut off the upper left-hand corner.

Flash cards can be used to teach a child

  • Phonics (see our teaching tips,
  • Sight words,
  • Synonyms,
  • Antonyms,
  • Homophones,
  • Sentence Building,
  • Spelling Words, and
  • Vocabulary Words,

Phonics Flash Cards

Flash cards are a great tool when teaching letter-sound relationships. Begin with the easy consonants and short vowels. Using an index card, write the upper- and lower-case letter and ask your child to draw a picture below it, e.g. draw an apple for the letter A. Once your child masters the short vowel sounds, create index cards for CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) word families, e.g. red, bed, mop, top.

Sight Words Flash Cards

Repetition is critical when learning sight words. Many of these words are phonetically irregular, as a result, they are taught as a whole word. Using flash cards to teach sight words is an excellent exercise that can be both educational and entertaining. Begin with those words that are commonly found in print, e.g. the, of, and, a, to. Interestingly, 4 out of the 5 most common words are phonetically irregular – a child should memorize how to read and spell these and over 100 additional high frequency often phonetically irregular words. After a child learns some sight words, incorporate a sight word blitz – quickly say the word on each flash card. Playing sight word games with flash cards make learning sight words fun.

Synonym Flash Cards

Synonyms are words that have similar meanings. The table below contains synonyms that are commonly found in printed material.

all-every go-leave little – small
back-behind great-large look-see
before-in front of have-own might – may
begin-start high-tall near-close by
below-under keep-hold put – place
end-finish large-big seem-look
often-many times leave-go away stop – end

Antonym Flash Cards

Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. The table below contains antonyms that are commonly found in printed material.

above – below go – come get, take – give
after – before great – small new-old
back – front high – low no – yes
bad – good in – out old – young
big – little large – small on-off
black – white last – first over – under
close – open left – right right – wrong
cold – hot more – less start, go – stop
day – night little – big tall – short
end – begin long – short to – from
even – odd more – less toward – away
fast – slow near – far up – down

Homophones Flash Cards

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and often different spellings. The table below contains homophones that are commonly found in printed material.

ate – eight hole – whole our – hour
be – bee I – eye red – read
blew – blue its – it’s right – write
by – buy – bye made – maid see – sea
for – four new – knew sell – cell
here – hear no – know some – sum
hi – high one – won sun – son

Sentence Building Flash Cards

Flash cards can be used to build sentences. For example, introduce the following sight words: I, am, see & a. Write each sight word on an index card. Ask your child to complete the sentences, “I am a _____.” and “I see a ______.” Using a blank index card, draw a picture to complete the sentence, e.g. girl, dog. Line up the flash cards and read the sentence with your child.

Tips When Using Flash Cards

Prior to “flashing” the cards, review them with your child.

  • Select a small number of cards, e.g. begin with five cards.
  • Show the card and slowly say the name and sound of the letter(s) or read the word(s).
  • Ask your child to say the name and sound of the letter(s) or read the word(s).
  • Using your pointer finger, point to each letter as you say the sound or spell/read the word.
  • Ask your child to say the sound or spell/read the word.
  • Using a journal or paper, ask your child to write the letter(s) or word(s).

When ready, mix up the cards and begin “flashing” them. Your child should quickly say the word. If your child struggles with a word or words, patiently provide assistance. Gradually add news words and always review previously taught ones.

Sources:

Fry, E.B., Ph.D. (1999). 1000 Instant Words. Westminster, CA: Teacher Created Materials.

Fry, E.B., Ph.D. & Kress, J.E., Ed.D. (2006). The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists 5th Edition. Sanfransico, CA: Jossey Bass.

Vaugh, S & Linan-Thompson, S (2004). Research-Based Methods of Reading Instruction. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cameron says

    June 16, 2013 at 9:20 pm

    This is a great article! Thanks for providing this information.

    Reply
  2. Thankful Parent says

    May 19, 2014 at 7:42 am

    its an amazing article! 😛

    Reply

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Sight words are high frequency words that should be read fluently and automatically upon sight; they are among the most common English words and many are not spelled phonetically.

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