Make Your Own Sight Word Flashcards App: The Best Way To Help Kids Read Faster (Without Spending Hours Cutting Paper)
make your own sight word flashcards app that actually saves time: paste school word lists, auto-generate cards, and let Flashrecall handle spaced repetition.
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
Why You Need A “Make Your Own Sight Word Flashcards” App (And The Best One To Use)
So, you’re trying to find a make your own sight word flashcards app that actually saves you time and keeps your kid engaged? Honestly, the easiest way to do this is with Flashrecall because it lets you create custom sight word cards in seconds from text, photos, or PDFs, and then automatically schedules review so your kid actually remembers the words. You just type or paste the words, and Flashrecall turns them into flashcards with built-in spaced repetition and study reminders, so you don’t have to nag or track anything manually. It’s fast, free to start, works on iPhone and iPad, and you can tweak cards anytime as your child’s reading level grows. Grab it here and you can have your first sight word deck ready in a few minutes:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
What Makes A Good Sight Word Flashcard App?
Alright, let’s talk about what actually matters when you’re picking an app for sight words.
You don’t just want “flashcards.” You want:
- Super fast card creation – You shouldn’t be typing the same word three times in three different places.
- Customizable cards – Big text, maybe a sentence, maybe a picture… kids all learn differently.
- Smart review system – Sight words need repetition, but not random repetition. The app should know when to show each card.
- Reminders – Because life is busy and you’ll forget otherwise.
- Works offline – For car rides, waiting rooms, flights, etc.
- Easy enough that a tired parent can use it at 10pm – This is important.
Flashrecall basically checks all of these boxes and then adds a few cool extras.
Why Flashrecall Works So Well For Sight Words
You know what’s annoying? Spending more time setting up flashcards than actually using them.
Here’s why Flashrecall is actually great as a make-your-own sight word flashcards app:
1. Creating Sight Word Cards Takes Minutes, Not Hours
You can build cards in a few different ways:
- Type words manually – Perfect if you’ve got a list from school:
- Front: the sight word (e.g., because)
- Back: a simple sentence + maybe a hint (“I stayed inside because it was raining.”)
- Paste from a word list – Got a PDF or website with Dolch or Fry lists?
- Copy → paste into Flashrecall → it auto-generates cards from the text.
- Use images or PDFs – Snap a photo of a worksheet or upload a PDF, and Flashrecall can create cards from that content.
- From YouTube links or text prompts – If you have a video or text-based lesson, you can turn it into cards too.
No more manually formatting 100 cards one by one. You just set it up once and tweak as needed.
Download it here if you want to try it while you’re reading:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
2. Built-In Spaced Repetition = Less Forgetting
Sight words are all about recognition on sight, not sounding out. That means repetition is everything.
Flashrecall has spaced repetition built in:
- It shows new words more often at first.
- As your kid gets them right, the app spaces them out further.
- If a word is tricky, it comes back more frequently.
You don’t have to plan review sessions or track which words they struggled with. Flashrecall does that automatically and sends study reminders so you don’t lose momentum.
3. You Can Customize Cards For Your Kid’s Learning Style
Every kid is different. Some just need the word. Others need context.
With Flashrecall, you can:
- Make simple cards:
- Front: said
- Back: “He said yes.”
- Add pictures for tricky words to help memory.
- Add audio (you can record yourself saying the word or sentence).
- Add short phrases or sentences to show the word in context.
- Color-code decks (e.g., kindergarten list, first grade list, tricky words).
Because it’s not just a “kids app,” you’re not locked into some rigid kid-only template. You can build exactly what your child needs.
4. Study Anywhere: Offline, On iPhone Or iPad
You don’t need Wi-Fi every time.
- Flashrecall works offline, so you can do a quick sight word session:
- In the car
- While waiting at the doctor
- On a flight
- It works on both iPhone and iPad, which is perfect if your kid uses a tablet and you use your phone to set things up.
5. You Can Chat With The Flashcard (Yes, Really)
This sounds wild, but it’s actually super useful as your child gets older.
If there’s a word they don’t understand in a sentence, or you want to explain a word more clearly, you can chat with the flashcard in Flashrecall.
For example:
- You have a card with the word through in a sentence.
- You’re not sure how to explain the difference between through and threw in kid-friendly language.
- You can use the chat feature to get a simple explanation or extra example sentences.
It’s like having a helper teacher inside the app.
Step-By-Step: How To Make Your Own Sight Word Flashcards In Flashrecall
Let’s walk through it like you’re doing this tonight.
Step 1: Install The App
1. Go to:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
2. Download Flashrecall on your iPhone or iPad (free to start).
3. Open it up and create an account (takes a minute).
Step 2: Create A “Sight Words” Deck
- Tap to create a new deck.
- Name it something like:
- “Kindergarten Sight Words”
- “First Grade Sight Words”
- “Tricky Words Only”
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
You can make multiple decks if you want to separate by level or by school list.
Step 3: Add Your First Cards
You’ve got options here:
Good if you’ve got a short list or want full control.
For each card:
- Front: the word — e.g., because
- Back:
- A simple sentence: “I stayed inside because it was raining.”
- Optional hint: “We use ‘because’ to give a reason.”
You can also add:
- A picture (for some words this helps).
- Your voice reading the word and sentence.
If the school sent a list or you found one online:
1. Copy the list of words.
2. Paste into Flashrecall.
3. Let the app turn them into cards automatically.
4. Go through and edit a few if you want to add sentences or hints.
This is the fastest way if you’ve got 50–100 words to set up.
Step 4: Start Studying With Your Kid
Once your cards are in:
- Open the deck.
- Choose a short session (like 5–10 minutes).
- Let your kid:
- Read the word out loud.
- Tap to flip the card.
- Mark if they got it right or wrong.
Flashrecall will use active recall (showing the word, hiding the answer) plus spaced repetition (scheduling the next review) so your kid keeps seeing the right words at the right time.
You don’t have to track which words are “mastered” and which are “still learning.” The app does that.
Step 5: Use Study Reminders To Stay Consistent
The real magic with sight words is consistency — short, frequent sessions beat long, rare ones.
With Flashrecall:
- Turn on study reminders.
- Pick times that make sense:
- After school
- Before bedtime
- Weekend mornings
- The app nudges you when it’s time to review, so you’re not relying on memory.
Even 5–10 minutes a day adds up fast.
Sight Words Aren’t Just For Little Kids
One cool thing about using Flashrecall instead of a super basic kids-only app: you can grow with it.
Once your child gets older, you can use the same app for:
- Vocabulary for chapter books
- Spelling lists
- Science terms
- Foreign language words (Spanish, French, etc.)
- Even your own stuff: exams, work, medical terms, whatever
Flashrecall is great for languages, exams, school subjects, university, medicine, business — basically anything you want to remember. So you’re not installing some single-purpose app you’ll delete in six months.
How Flashrecall Compares To Other Flashcard Apps For Sight Words
You might be thinking, “Why not just use Anki or Quizlet or some kids flashcard app?”
Here’s the quick breakdown:
- Versus generic flashcard apps (like Anki-style tools)
Those are powerful but often clunky, not super friendly for quick parent use, and not exactly kid-focused. Flashrecall is fast, modern, and easy to use, with a much nicer interface and automatic reminders built in.
- Versus kids-only sight word apps
Those usually come with pre-set lists and fixed games. They’re fine, but:
- You can’t always add your own words easily.
- You’re stuck with whatever teaching style the app uses.
- You outgrow them fast.
Flashrecall lets you fully customize your own sight word decks and then reuse the same app for more advanced learning later.
- Versus paper flashcards
Paper is great… until:
- Cards get lost.
- You forget to bring them.
- You never get around to making new ones.
With Flashrecall, everything’s on your phone or tablet, always synced, and you can edit or add cards in seconds.
Tips To Make Sight Word Flashcards More Effective
Since you’re already going digital, here are a few simple tricks:
1. Keep sessions short
5–10 minutes is plenty. Stop before your kid gets tired.
2. Mix old and new words
Flashrecall’s spaced repetition already does this, but don’t just drill the newest list only.
3. Use sentences, not just words
On the back of the card, add a simple sentence so your child sees the word in context.
4. Celebrate tricky words
If a word keeps showing up because your kid struggles with it, make it fun:
- Clap when they finally nail it.
- Make a “tricky words” deck and turn it into a challenge.
5. Let your kid help make the cards
Have them help choose sentences or pictures. When they “own” the cards, they’re more engaged.
Ready To Make Your Own Sight Word Flashcards?
If you want a make your own sight word flashcards app that doesn’t waste your time and actually helps your kid remember words long-term, Flashrecall is honestly a solid choice.
- Create cards from text, images, PDFs, YouTube links, or manually.
- Built-in active recall and spaced repetition so words stick.
- Study reminders so you stay consistent.
- Works offline, free to start, and runs on iPhone and iPad.
- Flexible enough for sight words now and harder subjects later.
You can grab it here and have your first sight word deck set up tonight:
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
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- Colors Flashcards Printable: 7 Powerful Ways To Teach Colors Faster (Plus a Smarter Alternative)
- Alphabet Flash Cards: 7 Powerful Ways To Help Kids Learn Letters Faster (Without Boring Worksheets) – Turn the ABCs into a fun game your kid actually asks to play.
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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