Learn To Read Flash Cards: 7 Powerful Tricks To Help Kids Read Faster And Remember More – Most Parents Miss #4

Why Flashcards Are Secretly One Of The Best Ways To Learn Reading

If you want a kid to actually enjoy learning to read, flashcards are one of the easiest wins.

They’re quick, visual, and perfect for short attention spans. And when you pair them with a smart app like Flashrecall (free to start, iPhone + iPad), they go from “cute activity” to “super effective reading tool”.

Here’s the app link so you can check it out while you read:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Flashrecall basically lets you:

• Turn any word list, book page, worksheet, or screenshot into flashcards instantly
• Use spaced repetition and active recall so words actually stick
• Study in short, focused sessions that fit into busy days
• Work offline, so perfect for car rides, waiting rooms, or screen-time with a purpose

Now let’s go through how to actually use flashcards to help someone learn to read, step by step.

Step 1: Start With The Right Kind Of Flashcards

Not all “learn to read” flashcards are equal.

For reading, you’ll want to build in this order:

1. Letters & Sounds (Phonics)

• Single letters: a, b, c…
• Common sounds: sh, ch, th, oo, ee, ai, oa, etc.
• Example card:
• Front: `sh`
• Back: “/sh/ like in ship” + a picture of a ship

2. Simple CVC Words (Consonant–Vowel–Consonant)

• cat, dog, hat, bed, cup, etc.
• Example:
• Front: `cat`
• Back: picture of a cat + sentence: “The cat is big.”

3. Sight Words / High-Frequency Words

• the, said, was, you, they, are, some, one, etc.
• These don’t always follow rules, so memorizing them helps a ton.

4. Short Phrases and Sentences

• “The red cat.”
• “I can run.”
• “You are funny.”

How Flashrecall Helps Here

With Flashrecall, you don’t have to manually create every card from scratch (unless you want to):

• Take a photo of a worksheet, book page, or word list → Flashrecall can turn it into flashcards automatically.
• Paste text from a reading list → auto flashcards.
• Use a PDF or even a YouTube video explanation → turn key words into cards.

So instead of spending an hour cutting paper cards, you can build a full reading set in minutes and actually spend your time practicing.

Step 2: Use Active Recall (Not Just Passive Reading)

Most kids “look at” words but don’t really learn them.

The key is active recall: make their brain pull the word or sound out from memory, not just recognize it.

With physical cards, that means:

• Show the front (e.g., `sh`)
• Ask: “What sound is this?”
• Let them answer
• Then flip to check

With Flashrecall, this is built-in:

• The app shows the front of the card
• The learner tries to remember
• Then taps to reveal the back and marks if it was Easy, Medium, or Hard

That rating is important, because…

Step 3: Use Spaced Repetition So Words Don’t Get Forgotten

Most kids can remember a word during one session… and forget it two days later.

Spaced repetition solves that. It’s a system that shows easy cards less often and hard cards more often, right before they’re about to be forgotten.

You can try to do this manually with piles of cards (new / learning / mastered), but it gets messy fast.

Flashrecall has automatic spaced repetition:

• You study a set of reading flashcards
• You tap how hard each one was
• The app schedules the perfect time to show it again
• You get study reminders, so you don’t even have to remember to remember

This is huge for:

• Busy parents
• Teachers juggling multiple groups
• Kids who need small, regular practice instead of long, exhausting sessions

Step 4: Keep Sessions Short, Fun, And Predictable

Reading practice should feel like a quick game, not a punishment.

Some simple rules:

• 5–10 minutes per session is totally fine
• Aim for 1–3 sessions per day instead of one long one
• Mix easy cards (for confidence) with new ones (for progress)

With Flashrecall:

• You can do a quick review session anytime: in the car, before bed, waiting at a restaurant
• It works offline, so you’re not stuck needing Wi-Fi
• The interface is fast and modern, so kids don’t feel like they’re using some old clunky school app

Step 5: Use Images, Audio, And Context To Make Words Stick

Kids remember better when there’s more than just plain text.

For Each Card, Try To Add:

• A picture
• For “cat”, show a cat
• For “run”, show a kid running
• A simple sentence
• “The cat is black.”
• “I can run fast.”
• Audio (if helpful)
• Say the word out loud
• Or record yourself saying the sound: “/sh/”

In Flashrecall, you can:

• Add images easily (from photos, screenshots, or files)
• Record audio right in the app
• Use text + image + audio on the same card

This turns a boring word like “the” into something more memorable:

• Front: `the`
• Back:
• Audio: “the”
• Example: “The dog is big.”
• Picture of a dog

Step 6: Use “Chat With Your Flashcards” When They’re Confused

Sometimes a kid will ask:

“Why is this word said like that?”

“Why is there an ‘e’ at the end?”

“Why does ‘said’ look like that?”

Instead of getting stuck or Googling for explanations, Flashrecall has a super cool feature:

You can chat with the flashcard.

• Tap to chat
• Ask questions like:
• “Explain this word for a 7-year-old.”
• “Give me 3 simple sentences using this word.”
• “Why is ‘said’ spelled this way?”
• Get an instant, kid-friendly explanation

It’s like having a patient reading tutor built into your flashcards.

Step 7: Build Different Decks For Different Reading Goals

To keep things organized (and less overwhelming), split cards into decks:

Ideas:

• Alphabet & Sounds – letters + phonics
• CVC Words – cat, dog, bed, sun, etc.
• Sight Words Level 1 – the, to, and, is, you, he, she, etc.
• Sight Words Level 2 – they, said, were, some, one, there, etc.
• Action Words – run, jump, play, read, sing
• Short Sentences – “I can read.” “You are kind.” “We go home.”

In Flashrecall, decks are super easy to manage:

• You can create new decks in seconds
• Move or duplicate cards between decks
• Share decks (e.g., between parent and child’s device on iPhone/iPad)

Example: A Simple “Learn To Read” Routine Using Flashcards

Here’s how a realistic daily routine might look using Flashrecall:

• Review Alphabet & Sounds deck
• Focus on 10–15 cards only
• Let the app handle which ones to show (spaced repetition)

• Practice CVC Words
• Help them sound out: c–a–t → “cat”
• Mark cards as Easy/Medium/Hard based on how smoothly they read

• Quick review of Sight Words Level 1
• Use the “chat with flashcard” feature if they’re confused
• End on a few short sentence cards so they feel like they’re “really reading”

That’s 15–20 minutes total, spread out. Very doable. Very effective.

Paper Flashcards vs Flashrecall: What’s Better For Learning To Read?

Both can work, but here’s the honest breakdown:

Paper Flashcards

• Hands-on, tactile
• Good for crafts / DIY activities

• Time-consuming to make
• Easy to lose or mix up
• No automatic scheduling
• Hard to track progress
• Can’t add audio or explanations easily

Flashrecall

• Make cards instantly from text, images, PDFs, YouTube links
• Built-in active recall and spaced repetition
• Study reminders so you don’t forget to practice
• Works offline
• Can chat with the flashcard for explanations or extra examples
• Great for reading, languages, school subjects, exams, anything
• Free to start on iPhone and iPad
• Fast, modern, and easy to use

• Needs a device (phone or tablet)
• Kids may need a bit of guidance at first

For most busy parents and teachers, the automation + reminders alone make Flashrecall the better long-term choice.

You can grab it here:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Extra Tips To Make Reading Flashcards Actually Stick

• Celebrate small wins
• “You read 5 new words today!”
• Give a sticker, high five, or quick reward.
• Mix old and new
• Don’t do only new words; it’s tiring.
• Let them feel like a pro on words they already know.
• Use real-life connections
• If they learned “dog”, point out the word “dog” in a book or sign later.
• Take a picture of your own dog and add it to the card in Flashrecall.
• Keep it consistent, not perfect
• Missing a day isn’t the end of the world.
• But 5–10 minutes most days? That’s where the magic happens.

Ready To Help Someone Learn To Read With Flashcards?

Flashcards are one of the simplest, most powerful tools for learning to read—if you use them the right way:

• Start with sounds, then words, then sentences
• Use active recall instead of just “looking”
• Let spaced repetition and reminders do the heavy lifting
• Add images, audio, and context
• Keep sessions short and fun

If you want an easy way to do all of that without drowning in paper cards, try Flashrecall.

You can start free, build reading decks in minutes, and let the app handle the science-y stuff like spaced repetition and review timing:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Perfect for kids learning to read, older learners catching up, or anyone who wants reading to finally click.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Quizlet good for studying?

Quizlet helps with basic reviewing, but its active recall tools are limited. If you want proper spacing and strong recall practice, tools like Flashrecall automate the memory science for you so you don't forget your notes.

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.

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.

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