How to Make Handmade Vocabulary Flash Cards

Memorization is an important part of learning new vocabulary words. By making your own vocabulary flash cards you increase your level of interactivity with new words which helps make the memorization process easier. Also, if you choose to color code your vocabulary cards, your memory recall will improve due to color association.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Scissors
• Dictionary or textbook
• Index cards

1. Use large index cards cut into quarters. A single 5" x 8" index card will yield four sturdy 1.25" x 2" flash cards.
2. Write the new vocabulary word on the unlined side of the flash card. Write the word as large as possible. Keep the word centered both horizontally and vertically on the card.
   
3. Flip the card over. Write a short definition of the word on the lined side of the flash card. Keep this definition centered vertically.
4. Write the vocabulary word's part of speech in the bottom right corner of the lined side of the flash card. If you used a textbook to define the word, write the book name and page number in the upper right corner.
5. Color code your vocabulary flash cards according to part of speech. Use a different color index card for each type of word. For example, nouns can be blue and verbs can be green.

Tips & Warnings

• Review your handmade vocabulary flash cards for five or ten minutes several times a day.
• Add more flash cards as you grow confident with the words you have already selected.
• Mix the cards up while reviewing. Don't keep them in the same order all the time.