How to Creatively Use Flashcards for Learning

Flashcards. Flashcards. Flashcards.

If you hear the word flashcard, an image of a little child being "drilled" by an adult as they flip through a stack of cards probably comes to mind.

While rote learning may have some educational value for certain learning tasks, it's probably safe to say that  hands-on, active, self-initiated activities aid learning in a more meaningful way. Sure, flipping through a stack of cards may aid memorization, but is that learning?

So, are flashcards, then, totally useless?  Nope.  But, you have to disregard the image that immediately pops into mind when you hear the word and think a little outside the box.

Here are fun, creative ways to put your flashcards to good use....that go beyond bland rote learning and memorization.

Play a game.

     *MATCHING
This game is easy peasy.  All you need to do is match each flashcard to a particular object. For example, in the photo below you can see insect flashcards being matched to rubber insects.

You could easily do a matching game with alphabet flashcards and foam letters from a craft store.  Animal flashcards could be matched to animal figurines from a barn or zoo set.  Or, first word cards could be used to match to an alphabet chart - ask the child to match the first or last letter in the word.

     *GUESSING
Many flashcards have fun facts on the back of them.  With a card hidden out of sight from the child either read a few of the facts on the back of the card, or describe something about the object on the card, and see if the child can guess what it is.

For example, if you were holding a flashcard of a pig you might say, "This is an animal that has four legs, is pink, and loves mud.  Can you guess what animal is on the card?

     *COUNTING/ADDITION
In this flashcard game you will need dice (or large foam dice for toddlers) and a set of number flashcards that have two of each number.  Begin by spreading the deck of flashcards out on the floor.  Then, have the child roll the dice (that's the fun part), and count the number of dots on the first die.  Ask the child to search for that number in the pile of cards.  Then, repeat the same process with the second die.  Finally, ask the child to count the number of dots "all together" on both and find that number in the deck.

     *SORTING
The possibilities with a sorting game are endless.  Sort animal cards based on where the animals live.  Sort objects based on shape, color, size - you name it!

     *I SPY
If you have color, shape, or first word flashcards, try playing a game of I Spy.  The flashcards provide an example of what you are searching for in the room, which can make the game a little easier for younger children.

Make a craft.

A pack of flashcards, contact paper, and some decorations are all you need to make your very own learning placemat that can be used at meal time or craft time.

Talk about what you see.

Flashcards provide a great opportunity to build receptive and expressive language skills, much in the same way that a first word or alphabet book would.  Talk about and describe everything you see in the pictures.  For example, if the flashcard is of a ball, a language building conversation might go something like this:

Caregiver: "This card shows a ball.  It's round, and blue with a yellow stripe.  You can play catch with a ball or bounce a ball.  Here is the word ball and it starts with the letter B, right there.  Can you say ball?"

Toddler: "Ball."

Caregiver: "Where would you play with a ball?"

Toddler: "Out-side!"

Caregiver: "That's right! We usually play with our ball outside at the park."

Reenact or pretend play.

Learn about animal sounds by showing your child an animal flashcard, like a lion, then asking him to pretend he is a lion.  Action word flashcards can be used to get your child moving a little.  Ask your child to do what the word suggests - if the word is sit, then he should sit; if the word is jump, then he should jump; if the word is run, then he should run.  Action words paired with pictures may be suitable for younger children.

Explore.

"Exploring" flashcards is one way for babies to play with flashcards.  You might want to lay out a bunch of different cards from different packs in front of your baby and see what he does!  Try giving your child a wide variety of cards - some with different textures like these Dr. Seuss cards below, or ones that the child can manipulate like these slide & learn Sesame Street cards, or ones with bright colors and characters.

The cards might be your baby's snack for the day, but that's OK.  He also might have fun placing them in different piles, or feeling the different textures on the cards.  But that's all part of the learning process.



And, what's the greatest part about flashcard learning?  It can be really cheap!  Some of the cards with well-known characters can be a little pricier, but you can easily find a pack of flashcards for $1 or less!

Flashcards may not be for everyone, but I hope with these creative tips you will find that flashcards involve more than mindless rote learning.  And, they can be quite fun.

How to Aid Your Child's Development of Writing Skills: The Often Forgotten Half of the Literacy Equation

Literacy by definition is the ability to read and write. 

There is a lot of information regarding the importance of reading aloud to young children.  While parents are constantly bombarded with information on how to get their child to become a better reader, or how to get their child to love to read, or how to read aloud to their child, there seems to be much less information on how parents can foster the development of writing skills in their child.

And, writing is the other half of the literacy equation.  I think Pam Allyn (2011), Executive Director and founder of LitWorld, describes the relationship between reading and writing best in her book titled Your Child's Writing Life: How to Inspire Confidence, Creativity, and Skill at Every Age,


"Reading and writing are inextricably connected in ways that current research in education is showing to be more remarkable than we've ever understood before.  It is a constant circle and we are too often missing half of it. A child who reads regularly is a better writer. A child who writes regularly is a better reader. While reading, a child is ingesting words, and by writing he is practicing with them. Reading is like breathing in, writing is like breathing out."
(pg 9)

Much like the journey of learning to read that can and should begin at a very young age, the development of writing skills can and should begin with babies and toddlers, too.

Yes, you can begin to raise a reader and a writer from birth.

Here are few ways to help your child develop readiness skills in writing.  Some of these suggestions are things that may come naturally, such as play, but others may take a little time and effort on your part.  But, I encourage you to start today!

1) give your child the gift of play time.

Play (both solitary or group play, and guided play) is a fabulous skill builder.  In fact, it not only helps your child to gain reading skills, social skills, motor skills, and listening skills, but it even helps to foster the development of writing skills.  How?  According to Allyn (2011), play helps children learn narrative, time, and setting - three important elements of writing.

2) be a model writer.

It's not a secret that children learn through observation.  In fact, famed psychologist Albert Bandura proposed social learning theory decades and decades ago.  Parents who want their children to read more, should model good reading behaviors.  The same goes for writing.

Write out your grocery list.  Carry a notebook and jot down ideas as they come to you.  Take the time to write thank you notes to friends and family.  Keep a journal.

My notebook that travels with me in every room of our house;
as you can see, a little baby bookworm wanted to write in it too!

Daddy's notebook that he keeps next to the bed - just in case inspiration strikes

3) live and breathe words.

Have you ever walked into a daycare or preschool classroom and noticed labels on everything?  They aren't there because a teacher went a little nutty one day.  They are there to help children learn the value of print. Try doing the same thing at home.  And, if you don't want labels all over your house, Allyn  (2011)has two clever and creative solutions to try.  She suggests cutting out words and framing them, or creating a box where newly learned words are placed.  Simple and yet genius.  And don't forget, reading is one great way to help your child learn new vocabulary. 

You can even incorporate writing and words into your play time.  It's as easy as setting out a marker or crayon, and a piece of paper.  The play kitchen you have can then become a restaurant - you become the diner and your child the waiter who writes down your order. 

4) make writing special.

Do you have a reading nook in your house?  Do you read bedtime stories or stories at some other time of the day? 

What about a space and materials for writing? What about a time that you and your child write together?  What do you do with all of your child's drawings and "stories"?

Don't forget your child needs a special place to read and to write.  It also makes writing seem more special if you have a  place and method for keeping or displaying those stories your child worked so hard to create!

Our space for reading and writing

Our folder for art work, projects, and stories

5) provide a writing scaffold.

This tip is especially true for young children since their "writing" begins as scribbles and drawings.  You can't exactly hand a baby a crayon and say "Go to it! Write me a story!" 

Try drawing a picture together and then asking your child, "What did we draw?" Label the people and objects in your drawing.  Write down exactly what your child says about the picture.  Encourage him or her to tell a story about the picture, and model how to do so.

Books can also provide a great starting point for a writing activity, and provide a little motivation, too.  Try reading Harold and the Purple Crayon together.  Invite your child to be like Harold and draw with a purple crayon.

My Crayons Talk is another book that could easily be the beginning of a fun writing project.

So now you know how to help your child's writing skills, but what exactly does does writing "look" like with babies and toddlers?

More on this later in the week!

How To Read With That Child That Just WON'T Sit Still

In the ideal world children sit attentively on their parent's lap and listen with an eager ear as they are being read to. 

But...most likely if your child has recently gained some mobility by way of crawling or walking, sitting is the LAST thing on his or her mind.  In fact, you may not even get past the title page of a book.

So, what to do? 

Well, don't give up. 

Why?

Because children learn vocabulary through books more so than through TV or conversation!  And children with more advanced vocabularies in Kindergarten tend to fair better.

Every kid has his or her strengths and weaknesses.  If your child loves running, jumping, and climbing on walls, tables, and chairs - that's OK!  This may be his strength, which is a good thing! But, do try to find a way to fit in some time to read together.  Don't let his strength (or your frustration) become his weakness in reading readiness skills and language development.

Here are a few suggestions for reading with that child that just WON'T sit still:

1) Start slow....and work your way up.

If your child isn't necessarily interested in sitting for an entire story at first, then take baby steps.

• you might want to let your child wander while you read.  Just because he's not sitting doesn't mean he's not listening.  When and if something warrants his attention, he'll likely wander back over to the book, which is a step in the right direction.
• don't actually "read" the book.  Maybe you want to flip through the pictures at first.  Then maybe you'll want to paraphrase the story.  Then, maybe, just maybe, you'll want to try reading the words.  Chances are the more your child is exposed to a book, and the more familiar the pictures and characters become, the more likely he will be to sit and listen to the story.

2) Make reading time fun and interesting.

Yes, so bribe your child with a little razzle dazzle.  Here's how:

• Use fun books, in a fun way (click on the links for examples and more information).  Try:
• pop-up books
• search and find books
• sing-songy books or books that are also beloved songs
• books based on movies your child loves
• book apps
• bath time books
• Do an activity/craft BEFORE reading a book to spark interest in the story.  Many times books often serve as the attention grabber for an activity or field trip (such as reading a book about farm animals before visiting a farm).  But, the reverse can work well, too.  If you would like your child to sit for Mo Willems' pigeon books, then try a pigeon craft prior to reading the story to get your child familiar with this character.

3) Capitalize on your child's least active moments of the day.

If your child is full of energy first thing in the morning, that may NOT be the opportune time to try to get him to sit still and listen to a book.  Here are two good suggestions:

• When is the one time when your child is likely to be sitting?  At mealtime in his or her high chair.  Take advantage of this time and try to sneak in a short story before or after his meal. 
• When is the other time when your child is likely to be less mobile?  At bedtime.  When your child is starting to get drowsy from all that running around all day long, try settling down with a story in bed.  Plus, there is evidence to show that bedtime routines that involve things like story time are great for language development.

And last but not least, be diligent and be a reader yourself.  The joy of reading will likely begin with you, your child's first and most important teacher!

How to Get Started with the Littlest Learner: Some Book Recommendations and Tips for Reading with Newborns

Bringing that new baby home from the hospital is a very exciting time for a family. You have likely spent hours decorating his or her room in the perfect shade of pastel pink or blue, read about "what to expect", hired a professional photographer to capture his or her milestones on film forever more, and even taken some kind of "preparation" course such as a breast feeding, CPR, or a parenting class.  But, how much time did you spend organizing a home library for your newborn?  Think a newborn doesn't need a home library?  Think again! 

While many parents give ample attention to their newborn's sleep, feeding, and pooping schedule (all of which ARE very important), few give a second thought to their newborn's thinking and learning; and it's just as important.  Why?  Because early experiences matter. 

Did you know?

• A newborn comes into the world with virtually as many neurons as he will ever have; the interconnections between neurons increase at a phenomenal rate early in life based on the experiences your infant has.  The more stimulation and sensory input your child receives, the stronger those connections will become.
• Your child's vocabulary at a year and half is largely influenced by how much you have spoken to him in his first year of life.  Parents who speak to their infants more, have toddlers who know more words!
• Parents who believe that their newborns are more capable of learning, actually have one year olds who have learned more.
• From the moment your child is born, his environment begins to shape his brain in a way that will have important implications for his future.  Growing up in an impoverished learning environment that lacks proper stimulation from play, language, affection, and one-to-one bonding can actually hinder a child's brain development.
• Connections in the brain that are not stimulated by experience will eventually be lost; some connections in the brain that are not stimulated during a critical period of time may never develop normally. 

So, to reiterate: Early experiences matter and CAN make a difference in your child's life.  Now, you don't need to be your child's own intellectual drill sergeant, enlist in any crazy baby genius programs, or give him a pop quiz at the end of the week in order to create meaningful early experiences!  In fact, one of the easiest and rewarding things that you can do to help stimulate your new baby's brain is very simple.  Reading.  It can not only be a can be a great source of pleasure for the both of you (think of all that bonding and cuddling time) but a great learning experience. 

Reading to a newborn is a little different than reading to a 3-year old, though!  And many parents probably don't know where to begin, so here's some general things to consider when reading to a newborn:

1. A newborn's visual acuity is quite poor.  In fact, a newborn would be considered legally blind.  So you'll want to hold a book fairly close to your bundle of joy, ideally 8 to 12 inches away. Over the course of the first few months, visual acuity improves. 
2. Be sensitive to your newborn's cues.  If he starts to cry, that may mean that he's not into story time, even though you are.  If he looks away, it may be a cue that he's being overstimulated.  Don't "force" your child to listen to stories if it's sleeping he'd rather be doing!  Try to understand his needs and respond effectively.
3. Consider buying cloth books or "board" books (which are books made of sturdier material). Books that you begin reading early in your child's life will undoubtedly become some of his favorites that you will be reading over and over (possibly more than you could have ever dreamed of), and they will need to last awhile.  Plus, once he learns how to reach for books and handle them on his own, they will become his favorite snack. 

Looking for some great first book recommendations?  You're in luck.  Here's a few that would work perfectly for the littlest of little learners.


Tana Hoban has some wonderful baby books that work well for newborns. Since newborns have such poor visual acuity, they love to look at high contrast pictures.  And since it's believed that an infant's color perception isn't fully developed until 3 - 4 months of age, black and white pictures are perfect.  Check out all of her books, but these ones are particularly great and they are sold in a set of 6:

Another good book with high contrast black and white pictures, plus a little art appreciation lesson thrown in, is Art for Baby:

Newborns are also naturally drawn to social stimuli such as faces. Some pretty amazing research has shown that even newborns who are a few hours old prefer to look at face-like stimuli! Board books with close up pictures of faces will delight your child. There is no shortage of "baby faces" books, so you will have your pick, but here's one as an example.

Very young infants tend to spend more time looking at people's hairlines, but by 2 months they gaze more at the internal features of a face such as the eyes.  And by 3 months an infant can even recognize photos of his mother!  Try some of these fun photo books with your newborn:

Sassy Look Photo Book by Sassy

Baby's My First Photo Album of Family & Friends by Genius Baby Toys



Baby's First Photo Album/Activity Book by One Step Ahead


Newborns are quite communicative and are born with an inherent ability to respond to human speech.  For example, you may notice your little one turns his head to look at you when you speak, smiles when spoken to, or even prefers to hear your voice over others. A newborn can actually discriminate between many of the sounds used in speech.  Your newborn's first "speech-like" sounds will probably occur between 1 and 3 months and will likely sound like "ooo" or "goo goo".  Even though your child is only a few months, or even weeks old, he is already working hard learning about language and communication.  In fact, language is learned through a back and forth process of interaction with adults (not by sitting in front of a TV).  Try to read books to your newborn that stimulate "conversation" between the two of you.  By responding to your child in a turn-taking manner, as if you are holding a conversation, your child's vocalizations are likely to become even more speech-like.  Here's an example from the book Butterfly Kisses by Sandra Magsamen, who has a wonderful collection of books for newborns. 

Mommy: oooh, butterfly kisses - let me kiss you on the nose! (Kisses)

Baby: giggles

Mommy: oh you think that's funny do you....let's see what the book says.  Oh, a picture of bees it says bees buzz along....birds sing a love song...la la la.

Baby: smile.  (kicks legs happily)

Mommy: Wow, what a good little kick...Turtles play peek-a-boo (hides eyes and uncovers them).

Baby: smile.  ooooo, aaaa 

Mommy: Are you trying to say boo?  Boo!

Baby: ooooo.  ababbbaaa.  gooo.

Mommy: oh, I see....yes, that's right.  That's what a baby says "goo" "goo".  Let's see what else this book says.

Sandra Boynton also has a great collection of books for infants; Moo Baa La La La would be a great conversational piece for a newborn.

Reading with your newborn also provides the both of you with a wonderful bonding experience, and forming emotional attachments early in life is an essential piece of the learning process; emotion and learning are closely linked and children who feel loved develop a sense of security that is often necessary for early learning to take place. By showing your child love and being responsive to his needs, he will likely feel a sense of pleasure which encourages him interact with you again.  So, snuggle up.  Here are some books that encourage love and bonding with your newborn.

Enjoy!  The newborn phase doesn't last very long....

How To Create A Supportive Literacy Environment In Your Home

It’s really no secret that reading aloud to children and having access to books aids in the development of language and literacy skills.  Once a child learns to read, voluntary free reading is associated with the development of adequate skills in comprehension, writing, vocabulary, grammar, and spelling.  One of the simplest things a parent can do to encourage literacy skills and free reading is to create what I call a “supportive literacy environment”.  Let me explain……

1)   Make sure books (and other types of print materials) are accessible in your home.

This not only means that you need to HAVE books in your home, but they need to be easily accessible by children.  So, it’s not enough to have a ton of books sitting pretty on the last shelf of your bookcase since your toddler can’t actually get to them.  For young children, the help-yourself bookcases are wonderful for providing access to printed materials (ours below is from JCPenny).  Can’t afford a new bookcase?  A bin placed on the floor, or a magazine rack will do the trick just fine too. 

Why is access to books so important?  Here’s some interesting research findings

(as cited in The Power of Reading by Steven D. Krashen):

            *A print-rich environment in the home is related to how much children read

            *Reading has been associated with number of books in the home; children who

              read more, have more books

            *More access at to books in the home results in more reading

            Books don’t have to be expensive either. Check out local garage
            sales, book sales at your public library, second hand thrift shops, and the dollar
            store. 

2)      Have a space in your home designated for reading.

Just like dad or mom needs their own office or “man space” or Jacuzzi tub to relax and enjoy some quiet time, your child needs a place where he or see can go to read.  It should be a quiet, inviting space much like you might see in a children’s library, although it doesn’t have to be that extravagant.  You might want to include your child’s favorite stuffed animal, a nice throw rug, a rocking chair and some soft furniture or pillows (there is research to support that these things actually encourage reading!).  A child’s reading space can even be his or her own bed with a nightstand stocked with favorite books and a lamp for comfortable reading.

3)      Be a model reader

Let’s face it, children model our behaviors.  It’s not enough to preach reading to your child - you actually have to do it a little yourself!  Research shows that children read more when they see others reading.  So turn off the TV and cell phone and pick up a newspaper, magazine, or your favorite novel. 

4)      Set aside a specific reading time

Research shows that children read more when they have time to read.  Remember sustained silent reading from your own school days?  Well, set up a time for SSR at home.  Whether it’s right before bed, or every Saturday morning, your child will definitely benefit from the time set aside specifically for reading.  Parents take time each week for their children to participate in activities such as soccer, or ballet lessons, why not a time for reading?

           Now, take this a step farther and combine suggestions #3 and #4 and have your

           own “family” SSR  time.  I’m sure there’s a book or magazine you’re interested in

           reading too!   

      5)  Read aloud 

There’s a ton of research suggesting that being read to is beneficial to the development of literacy (and this goes for newborns through college-aged students!).  First, it has been found that children who are read to more, read more themselves.  Second, being read to aloud has been linked to positive gains in vocabulary and comprehension (Denton and West, 2002).  For some tips on exactly how to read aloud check out the Read Aloud Tips tab at the top.

If you want to become truly educated on the subject of reading aloud, I suggest you check out Jim Trelease’s The Read Aloud Handbook, now in its sixth edition.

What if you don’t have all the time, money, space, or energy to do any of these suggestions in your home?  Take advantage of the professionals!  Your public library is a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon, or take your child after school.  There are two important things, however, to keep in mind if you want to help build literacy skills via your public library: 1) Actual reading has to be done (just making the trip there to “play” or socialize doesn’t count!), and 2) The quality of the library does make a difference.  Research has shown that better libraries result in better reading (Krashen, 1995; McQuillian, 1998).  So it’s worth visiting a library in the next town over if it has more books, more staffing, and better programming for children and teens.  

Good Luck!

Other How To's to come:

The Bad Rap of Flashcards: How to Use and Not Use Them Effectively

How to Use Dialogic Reading Strategies

How to Get Started with the Littlest Learner: Some Tips for Reading with Newborns