Jolly Phonics 42 Sounds Flashcards: The Essential Guide To Teaching Reading Faster (With One App That Does The Hard Work For You) – Perfect for busy parents and teachers who want kids to actually *love* phonics practice.
Jolly Phonics 42 sounds flashcards without printing chaos—turn any worksheet, PDF or video into smart app flashcards with spaced repetition built in.
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
Jolly Phonics 42 Sounds Flashcards: Let’s Make Phonics Way Easier
If you’re looking up Jolly Phonics 42 sounds flashcards, you’re probably:
- Trying to help a child learn to read
- Drowning in paper flashcards
- Or thinking, “There has to be an easier way to practice these sounds…”
You’re right. There is.
Instead of printing, laminating, cutting, losing, re-printing… you can put all 42 sounds into a smart flashcard app that actually reminds you (or your students) to review at the right time.
That’s where Flashrecall comes in:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Flashrecall lets you turn any Jolly Phonics material (images, PDFs, screenshots, YouTube videos) into flashcards in seconds, then uses spaced repetition + active recall to help kids remember the sounds for the long term.
Let’s break it down simply.
Quick Refresher: What Are the 42 Jolly Phonics Sounds?
Jolly Phonics teaches kids letter sounds (phonics), not just letter names. There are 42 main sounds, grouped into 7 sets.
You’ll see:
- Single sounds: s, a, t, i, p, n, etc.
- Digraphs (two letters, one sound): sh, ch, th, ai, ee, etc.
- Tricky ones like /igh/ and /oi/
Flashcards are perfect for this because kids need lots of repetition in small chunks.
Instead of just holding up a card and saying “What sound is this?”, you can turn it into a quick, fun digital routine that actually tracks what they remember.
Why Flashcards Work So Well For Jolly Phonics
Jolly Phonics is all about:
- Repetition
- Sound recognition
- Blending sounds into words
Flashcards fit perfectly because they help kids:
- See the grapheme (the letters)
- Say the sound
- Practice blending (e.g., s-a-t → “sat”)
But traditional flashcards have problems:
- You lose them
- You forget which ones to review
- Kids get bored flipping the same pile
- It’s hard to track which sounds they actually know
This is where Flashrecall levels things up.
How Flashrecall Makes Jolly Phonics Practice So Much Easier
Flashrecall is a fast, modern flashcard app (iPhone & iPad) that’s perfect for phonics practice.
Download it here:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Here’s why it works so well with the 42 Jolly Phonics sounds:
1. You Can Turn Any Jolly Phonics Resource Into Flashcards Instantly
You don’t have to type everything.
With Flashrecall, you can make flashcards from:
- Images – Take a photo of your Jolly Phonics sound chart or workbook pages and turn each sound into a card.
- PDFs – Got a Jolly Phonics PDF? Import it and generate cards from it.
- Text – Just type the sound (like “sh”) and example words.
- YouTube links – Use phonics videos and pull key content into flashcards.
- Audio – Record yourself saying the sound and let kids listen & repeat.
- Typed prompts – Type “Create flashcards for the 42 Jolly Phonics sounds” and build from there.
You can still create cards manually if you want full control, but the point is: no more endless formatting and cutting.
2. Built-In Active Recall: “What Sound Is This?”
Active recall just means: you try to remember before you see the answer.
With Flashrecall, each card can show:
- Front: The letters (e.g., “sh”) or a picture that uses that sound
- Back:
- The sound (you can write “/sh/ as in ship”)
- Example words
- A little image, if you like
- Even audio of you or the child saying the sound
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
So the child sees “sh”, tries to say the sound, then taps to check.
That simple “think first, then check” is exactly what builds strong phonics memory.
3. Spaced Repetition: The App Knows When to Review Each Sound
Kids don’t forget everything at once. They forget some sounds faster than others.
Flashrecall uses spaced repetition to:
- Show tricky sounds more often
- Show easy sounds less often
- Automatically schedule reviews so you don’t have to track anything
After each card, you or the child can tap how easy it was:
- “Got it” → It’ll come back later
- “Still hard” → It’ll come back sooner
The app handles the timing. You just open it and review.
Plus, there are study reminders, so you get a gentle nudge to do a quick 5–10 minute phonics session instead of forgetting for a week.
4. Perfect For Parents And Teachers
Flashrecall works great whether you’re:
- A parent helping your child at home
- A teacher running phonics groups
- A tutor supporting early readers
- A homeschooler building your own phonics system
Some ideas:
- Make one deck per sound set (Set 1, Set 2, etc.)
- Add picture cards with words that use the sound
- Use audio so kids can hear and copy the sound
- Let kids flip through on their own as a center activity
And yes, it works offline, so kids can practice in the car, on a plane, or anywhere without Wi‑Fi.
5. “Chat With the Flashcard” When You’re Unsure
This is a fun one.
If you or the child isn’t sure about a sound or example word, Flashrecall lets you chat with the flashcard.
You can ask things like:
- “Give me 5 simple words that use the ‘ai’ sound.”
- “Explain the difference between ‘th’ in ‘this’ and ‘th’ in ‘thumb’.”
- “Make a simple sentence using the /sh/ sound.”
This is super helpful if you’re not a phonics expert but still want to give clear explanations and extra practice.
Example: A Simple Jolly Phonics Deck in Flashrecall
Let’s say you’re working on Set 1: s, a, t, i, p, n.
Here’s how you might set up your deck:
Card 1 – Sound “s”
- Front: s
- Back:
- “/s/ as in sun, snake, sand”
- Audio: you saying “ssssss”
- Maybe a picture of a snake
Card 2 – Sound “a”
- Front: a
- Back:
- “/a/ as in ant, apple, astronaut”
- Audio: short /a/ sound
- Picture of an ant
Card 3 – Blending “sat”
- Front: sat
- Back:
- “Blend: s-a-t → sat”
- Audio of you slowly blending then saying the whole word
You can keep adding more:
- Individual sounds
- Blends (sat, pin, tap, nap, etc.)
- Tricky digraphs later (sh, ch, th, ai, ee…)
Over time, the deck grows with your child’s reading level, and Flashrecall keeps track of what they know well and what needs more review.
Why Use Flashrecall Instead of Just Paper Jolly Phonics Cards?
Paper flashcards are great, but:
- They get lost
- You can’t easily add audio
- You can’t track what’s hard vs easy
- Kids sometimes see them as “work”
Flashrecall fixes all of that:
- Fast & modern – Super simple interface, even kids can tap through.
- Free to start – Try it without committing to anything.
- On iPhone & iPad – Use it at home, in class, or on the go.
- Works offline – No internet needed once your cards are made.
- Customizable – You can build decks for:
- Jolly Phonics sounds
- Sight words
- Spelling lists
- Later school subjects (math, science, languages, exams…)
You’re not stuck in a “phonics-only” app. As the child grows, Flashrecall grows with them.
Beyond Jolly Phonics: Use Flashrecall for Everything Else Too
Once your 42 sounds are solid, you can reuse Flashrecall for:
- Early readers – Simple sentences and story vocabulary
- Spelling – Tricky words like “because”, “said”, “they”
- Languages – French, Spanish, etc. (it’s great for vocabulary)
- School subjects – History dates, science terms, geography
- Exams later on – High school, university, medicine, business… whatever comes next
You don’t have to jump between different apps. One app, all learning.
How to Get Started in 5 Minutes
1. Download Flashrecall
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
2. Create a new deck called “Jolly Phonics Set 1” (or “42 Sounds”).
3. Add your first few sounds:
- s, a, t, i, p, n
- Add audio and example words if you like.
4. Do a short 5–10 minute session with your child or students:
- Show the sound
- Let them say it
- Flip to check
- Rate how well they knew it
5. Come back tomorrow
Flashrecall will automatically bring back the sounds that need review, right when they’re about to be forgotten.
Tiny daily sessions beat long, painful cram sessions every time—especially for young kids.
Final Thoughts
If you’re using Jolly Phonics 42 sounds flashcards, you’re already on the right track. Phonics + repetition is exactly how kids learn to read confidently.
Flashrecall just makes that process:
- Easier for you
- More fun for them
- Smarter in the way it schedules reviews
You don’t need a million resources. You just need one good system that actually gets used.
Try turning your Jolly Phonics sounds into a smart flashcard deck and let spaced repetition do the heavy lifting:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Set it up once, and let the app help your kids remember all 42 sounds without the constant “Wait, where did I put that card?” drama.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the fastest way to create flashcards?
Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.
Is there a free flashcard app?
Yes. Flashrecall is free and lets you create flashcards from images, text, prompts, audio, PDFs, and YouTube videos.
How do I start spaced repetition?
You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.
Related Articles
- Phonics Flashcards Printable: 7 Powerful Ways To Teach Reading Faster (Plus a Smarter Alternative) – Discover how to use printables and a free app combo to help kids actually remember sounds.
- Phonics Flashcards Printable Free: 7 Powerful Hacks To Teach Reading Faster (Without Spending Hours Cutting Paper) – Discover how to go from messy printouts to smart, auto-review flashcards your kid will actually use.
- Jolly Phonics Flashcards PowerPoint: A Smarter, Faster Way To Teach Sounds (Most Teachers Don’t Know This Trick) – Turn your old PPT slides into interactive, smart flashcards that kids actually remember.
Research References
The information in this article is based on peer-reviewed research and established studies in cognitive psychology and learning science.
Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380
Meta-analysis showing spaced repetition significantly improves long-term retention compared to massed practice
Carpenter, S. K., Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using spacing to enhance diverse forms of learning: Review of recent research and implications for instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24(3), 369-378
Review showing spacing effects work across different types of learning materials and contexts
Kang, S. H. (2016). Spaced repetition promotes efficient and effective learning: Policy implications for instruction. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), 12-19
Policy review advocating for spaced repetition in educational settings based on extensive research evidence
Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science, 319(5865), 966-968
Research demonstrating that active recall (retrieval practice) is more effective than re-reading for long-term learning
Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27
Review of research showing retrieval practice (active recall) as one of the most effective learning strategies
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58
Comprehensive review ranking learning techniques, with practice testing and distributed practice rated as highly effective

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