Picture-word flashcards, where one side has a picture and the other has the word, are often thought of as the "boring" way to teach new words. And they certainly can be. But I would like to show you a few more interesting ways to use them, and still learn.
You can think about flashcard games as a combination of two things:
The idea is that you can combine these two parts in many different ways, and use them to be able to keep practicing the same things while still keeping it fun.
For example if your child is at the stage where they are learning starting sounds, you could start off by playing the Splat! game. Then a few days later practice starting sounds again but this time using Word Hunt.
There's probably an proper educational term for this, but here we are. This is the order I taught my kid:
"Can you find the word that starts with "buh"?
This is great for children that are just starting to learn the sounds associated with letters. I would recommend asking the questions in terms of sounds, not in terms of letters. So ask for "buh" not "bee" when talking about the letter B.
Asking about this gets the kid isolating the starting sounds of words.
It's possible to practice this using both the picture-side and the word-side of the card, but I would recommend using the picture side to start with.
For example, if the flash cards had a cat, a dog and an egg, you would ask "Which one starts with the sounds 'duh'?"
"Which word rhymes with 'hat'?
The next stage after isolating the sound at the start of words is to start listening to how words end. Noticing that "cat" rhymes with "hat".
First, find the largest spatula or wooden spoon you can, the bigger the better. Lay 3 cards out on the floor.
Next, as with all good games, you have to give narrative and motivation, really sell the idea. (I'm only half-joking about this, it really helps get the kid hyped to play)
For example, "Brave knight, I need your help. Take this, your noble splatter, and SPLAT the… word that rhymes with 'AT'"
Put some cards around the room. Make sure they're very visible and in consistent positions (e.g. they're all at the same height, all on the floor). Put each one in a memorable place, for example one propped up against a favourite teddy, another
Then it's time to set the scene. The story could be anything, but here's an idea:
OK detective, we've got a mystery on our hands. Miss Stuffie here said that the word was beginning with "b". Can you solve the case?
By looking at the cards around the room a few times they are getting repetition in seeing the words. By moving their body they're getting more oxygen to their brain. It's science, probably!*
*I'm not a scientist.
June 05, 2023