Jolly Phonics Flashcards Free Printable: 7 Powerful Ways To Turn Them Into A Fun, Smart Learning System Your Kids Will Love – Especially With One Simple App Upgrade
Jolly Phonics flashcards free printable are great, but this shows how to turn them into smart app-based cards with audio, pics and spaced repetition in Flash...
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
Forget Just Printing – Here’s How To Actually Make Jolly Phonics Stick
You can absolutely grab Jolly Phonics flashcards free printable sheets online…
But the real question is: do your kids actually remember anything after you use them?
That’s where a little upgrade makes a huge difference.
Instead of just printing and hoping for the best, you can turn those same Jolly Phonics sounds and words into a smart, interactive system using Flashrecall, a super simple flashcard app for iPhone and iPad:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
You still get all the fun of phonics cards, but now:
- They pop up exactly when your child is about to forget (spaced repetition)
- You can add audio, pictures, and colors
- You never lose a card under the sofa again
Let’s break it down.
1. Start With Your Free Printable Jolly Phonics Flashcards
If you like paper, keep it.
You can use any Jolly Phonics free printable you find online that includes:
- Letters and sounds (s, a, t, i, p, n…)
- Actions or pictures
- Simple CVC words (cat, sit, pin, etc.)
Print them, cut them, maybe laminate them if you’re feeling fancy.
But here’s the catch:
Paper flashcards don’t remind you when to review, and they’re easy to forget in a drawer.
That’s why the next step matters.
2. Turn Your Printable Cards Into Digital Cards In Seconds
Instead of rewriting every card by hand into an app (which nobody has time for), Flashrecall lets you convert your existing printable cards into digital ones super fast.
With Flashrecall:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
You can:
- Take a photo of a printed Jolly Phonics card and turn it into a flashcard
- Or upload a PDF if your printable sheet is in PDF format
- Or just type the sound/word manually if you prefer
For example:
- Front: “s” with a picture of a snake
- Back: “/s/ sound – action: move arm like a snake”
Now your Jolly Phonics card is:
- On your phone or iPad
- Always with you (waiting rooms, car rides, anywhere)
- Ready to be reviewed with smart reminders
3. Add Sound, Actions, And Pictures (Kids Love This)
Jolly Phonics isn’t just about letters — it’s sound + action + picture.
With Flashrecall, you can make each card richer than a plain printable:
Example card for the sound “a”
- Front:
- Big letter: “a”
- Picture: an ant (you can snap a photo or use an image)
- Back:
- Text: “/a/ like in ‘ant’”
- Action: “wiggle fingers up your arm like ants”
- Audio: record yourself or your child saying “a, a, a”
Why this is better than plain printables:
- Kids hear the sound
- See the letter
- See the picture
- Remember the action
- And you can replay it over and over without re-explaining every time
Flashrecall lets you add:
- Images (from camera or gallery)
- Audio recordings
- Text explanations
So your “free printable” basically becomes a multimedia phonics card.
4. Use Built-In Spaced Repetition So The Sounds Actually Stick
Here’s the big problem with paper flashcards:
You either:
- Drill them too much (kids get bored), or
- Forget to review them (kids forget everything)
Flashrecall fixes that with built-in spaced repetition.
What that means in normal words:
- The app shows cards right before your child is likely to forget them
- Easy cards appear less often
- Hard cards appear more often
You don’t have to plan anything.
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
You just open the app, and it tells you: “Hey, it’s time to review these sounds.”
Perfect for:
- Jolly Phonics letter sounds
- Blends (sh, ch, th)
- Tricky words (said, was, they, etc.)
And yes, study reminders are built in, so you don’t have to remember to remember.
5. Mix Printable Practice With App Practice (Best Of Both Worlds)
You don’t have to pick paper or app — you can use both together.
Here’s a simple routine you can try:
Step 1: Learn With Paper
- Use your Jolly Phonics free printable cards at the table
- Do the actions
- Practice the sounds
- Maybe color or trace the letters
Step 2: Review With Flashrecall
Later in the day (or the next day):
- Open Flashrecall on your iPhone or iPad
- Review the same sounds with the digital flashcards
- Let the app handle which cards to show and when
This way:
- Paper time = fun, hands-on learning
- App time = smart, efficient review that actually builds memory
Flashrecall also works offline, so you can do this anywhere — no Wi‑Fi needed.
6. Turn Words And Sentences Into Easy Phonics Flashcards
Once your child knows some sounds, you can move beyond single letters.
With Flashrecall, you can quickly create cards for:
- CVC words (cat, dog, sit, pin)
- Blends and digraphs (ship, chat, thin, shop)
- Tricky words (said, they, was, are)
Example: Word “ship”
- Front: “ship”
- Back:
- Highlight “sh”
- Add note: “sh says /sh/ like in ‘ship’”
- Add a picture of a ship
- Optional audio: record “ship”
You can even paste short sentences:
- Front: “The ship is big.”
- Back: “Can you find the ‘sh’ sound?”
Flashrecall lets you create cards from:
- Typed text
- Images
- PDFs
- Even YouTube links (for older learners or phonics videos you want to turn into cards)
So as your child grows, your deck can grow from:
letters → words → sentences → reading practice.
7. Use “Chat With The Flashcard” When Your Child Gets Stuck
One really cool thing about Flashrecall:
You can chat with the flashcard if you’re unsure or want more explanation.
This is more useful for older kids or parents who want to go deeper, but here’s how it helps:
- Not sure how to explain a tricky word?
→ Ask inside the app.
- Want more example words with the “sh” sound?
→ Ask and get a list.
- Need ideas for simple sentences using “ai” or “oa”?
→ Ask and turn them into new cards.
It’s like having a mini tutor built into your flashcard deck.
8. Keep Everything Organized (No More Lost Cards)
If you’re using free printable Jolly Phonics cards, you already know:
- They slide under furniture
- They get mixed up
- You can’t easily sort “easy” vs “hard” sounds
In Flashrecall, you can:
- Create decks (e.g., “Group 1 Sounds”, “Tricky Words”, “Blends”)
- Mark cards as hard or easy through active recall
- Let spaced repetition automatically schedule reviews
Plus:
- It’s fast, modern, and easy to use
- Works on both iPhone and iPad
- And it’s free to start, so you can test it without committing to anything
Link again so you don’t have to scroll:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
9. Ideas For Using Flashrecall With Different Ages
A few quick examples:
Younger Kids (4–6)
- Focus on letter sounds and actions
- Use big images and audio on each card
- Short, fun sessions: 5–10 minutes max
Early Readers (6–8)
- Add CVC words and simple sentences
- Mix printable worksheets with app review
- Use reminders so you keep a daily habit
Older Kids / ESL Learners
- Use Jolly Phonics basics as a foundation
- Add vocabulary, spelling, and grammar cards
- Use the chat feature to get explanations and examples
Flashrecall isn’t just for phonics — it works for:
- Languages
- Exams
- School subjects
- University
- Medicine
- Business
Pretty much anything you want to remember.
10. How To Get Started In 5 Minutes
Here’s a super simple way to start today:
1. Download Flashrecall
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
2. Pick 5–10 Jolly Phonics sounds
Use your free printable set as a base.
3. Create matching digital cards
- Snap photos of the printed cards
- Or type them in with sound + action + picture
4. Do one short session
- 5 minutes with paper
- 5 minutes with the app
5. Let the app remind you tomorrow
Spaced repetition + reminders will handle the rest.
Final Thought: Printables Are Great, But Smart Review Is Better
Free printable Jolly Phonics flashcards are a great starting point.
But if you want your child to actually remember the sounds, blend them, and read confidently, you need:
- Consistent review
- Smart timing
- A system that grows with them
That’s exactly what Flashrecall gives you, while still letting you use all your favorite printable resources.
Try turning just a few of your Jolly Phonics cards into digital ones and see how much smoother practice feels:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
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
- 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.
- Family And Friends 1 Flashcards: 7 Powerful Ways To Help Kids Learn English Faster (Most Parents Don’t Know These!) – Turn any Family and Friends unit into fun, smart flashcards your child will actually want to review.
- Pre K Sight Words Flash Cards: 7 Powerful Tricks To Help Your Child Read Faster (Most Parents Skip #3)
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

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