How to Find Good Quality Printable Alphabet Flash Cards
Printable alphabet flash cards are a great learning tool to utilize for your child! They are inexpensive and educational for preschools and day care programs to use as well.
The great news is that there are many printable alphabet flash cards available for free online. The less great news is that the cards differ dramatically in quality.
This article will provide you with information to choose quality printable alphabet flash cards for your children and will provide links and reviews for quality cards at each learning level.
Happy Learning!
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- 8x11 1/2" or A2 sized paper
- Access to computer, printer and laminating machine.
Instructions
-
-
1
LEARN THE BASICS - There are basic elements that you will find on every quality printable alphabet flash card. These basics will support your children in several elements of learning. Do not print flash cards if they do not contain all the basics! Your flash cards should contain all the following:
1) Letters A-Z in both uppercase and lowercase letters
2) A word starting with the featured letter
3) A picture of the word spelled outExample: Aa, Ant, (picture of ant)
**These components will support your child to learn a variety of skills and increase flexibility for use of the cards in the future. These basics teach sight reading and beginning phonetics. The pictures stimulate your child to form images while reading, which is vital to the acquisition of reading comprehension skills.
-
2
PICK THE APPROPRIATE FLASH CARDS - I have included links to five sets of printable alphabet flash cards in the resource section below. Every flash card featured on this website will include the basics, excluding the Sign Language. However, it is also important to pick a flash card that is correct for your child's skill level. Read the following reviews for further direction and information:
ABC Teach - Excellent first set of flash cards! Clear graphics with easy to read common words.
A Jan Brett Alphabet - Beautifully Illustrated cards. Better for children who have basic vocabulary and are now expanding it. Has different words than ABC Teach, but much more complex words such as Iguana and Gingerbread Man. This would not be used for Sight Reading.
Dinosaur Flash Cards - This set is for dinosaur lovers only! And for more advanced kiddos.
Bible Alphabet Flash Cards - These are great for the younger or older child who is learning the Bible. Younger children can attempt the letter sounds, while older children can attempt to memorize the verses on each page. A is for Adam, B is for Bible, C is for Commandments, etc. For younger children this should be a supplement to other sets as some of the words are very long and will be unmanageable at first.
Sign Language Flash Cards - This last set will need to be modified or paired with a different set of cards, as it does not have the written letters, picture or word. They may also be used for caregivers and parents to learn and show in conjunction with other flash cards.
-
-
3
MAKE THEM DURABLE - Now that you have chosen the correct printable alphabet flash cards for your child/group, it is time to get them printed,laminated and cut.
**While it may seem unnecessary to laminate the flash cards, you will be amazed how quickly these cards are ruined (even if printed on heavy duty paper). Laminating proofs them to bends and water and food spills. They make them easy to clean and preserve them for younger children (so you don't have to remake them).
Keep them in a ziplock bag or special container and label Alphabet cards!
-
1
Tips & Warnings
It is recommended that you use several different sets of printable alphabet flash cards to aid your child's learning. If possible pick sets with different pictures and different fonts. This will support generalization. Ex: A is not only for Apple, but for Ant and Aardvark too.
It can be an extremely motivating experience for your children to make their own alphabet flash cards. Have them color and decorate the cards before laminating. Find graphics and use a program such as Publisher to make the cards by yourself.
Resources
- Photo Credit Etsy: "small alphabet cards" by ALittleHut
