How to Use Picture Cues to Teach Reading

Don't be afraid to get up close to your student if he can't see the picture cue card.

Picture cues are a great mechanism for teaching young children to read. The combination of words and visual cues can help a young mind piece together a word. There are several ways to approach it. The approach shown here works with whole words.

Things You'll Need

• Picture cue cards

Instructions

1. Plan your lesson and pick the words you'll teach your student. An effective way to do this is by categories. For example, teach your student how to read words associated with fruit, such as apple, orange or peach. Since the human mind likes to categorize things, this method helps these words gel into your young student’s mind.

2. Get the corresponding picture cue cards. You can obtain picture cue cards with one letter on them or with entire words on them. When teaching a student to read by showing whole words, its best to look for picture cue cards that deal with life activities. These packages normally have food groups and other categories in them.

3. Sit the child down in a quiet place before starting the lesson. The trick to getting picture cues to work is to keep a young student’s attention and have her connect a picture with a word. This won’t happen if she can’t see the picture cue card or is distracted by sounds.

4. Pick up a picture cue card and say the corresponding word. Make sure you explain what you are doing before the lesson. Then, as you say the word and show the picture cue card, allow a time delay. This time delay (1 to 3 seconds) will allow your student to soak in the word and associate it with the image. After you show the picture card, spell the word so your student will associate certain alphabetic letters with the image.

5. Repeat this exercise at least two times. This means you should show a picture cue card of an apple and say the word twice. Repetition is a proven method of learning, so use it to your advantage.

6. Coordinate picture cues with spelling lessons. You can do this by covering up the word on the picture cue card and revealing only one letter at a time as the student says it to you. This will further associate the word with the picture and help the young student learn to read.

7. Allow your student a chance to show off his stuff. After you’ve been working with your student for a while, mix up the order of your picture cue cards and allow him to read the words back to you. This will let you see if he is really learning or if he has just memorized the order of the picture cue cards.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient with your student.

• Don't flash your picture cue cards too fast.

Resources

• Flag House sells picture cue cards.