About These Flashcards

• Print from a Chrome Browser to make sure the margins are correct, and make sure “fit to page” is not selected. You may have problems getting the correct margins if you use the Edge browser.
• Print on card stock and laminate.

Tips and Tricks for Using My Word Families Flashcards

• Ideally, you would use these flashcards to build 3 letter words using magnetic letters and muffin tins. I love how the consonants and vowels are different colors. First say, “We’re going to spell the word cat,” then touch each letter and say the sound, “c-a-t”, and finally swipe your finger from the beginning of the word to the end and say “cat”. As children get more comfortable with this process, don’t say what the word is until after they tap out the sounds.
  

  Three Letter Words Magnets and Muffin Tin

Tips and Tricks for Using My Word Families Letters

• Use simultaneously with my Words Families Flashcards Set #1. Prop up the flashcards and work with your child to spell each word.
• Build the first word together doing a think aloud. For example say, “We’re going to spell the word mad,” then say the sounds, “m-a-d, so first we’re going to need the letter m that says the sound /m/, next we’ll need the letter that says the /a/ sound, so here’s a, last we’ll need the letter that says the /d/ sound so d. Put it all together and we get m-a-d, mad!”
• First you show your child how to do it, then you encourage them to do small parts on their own. “Can you find the m for me? What letter makes the /m/ sound? m-a-d what makes the /a/ sound?” Gradually release responsibility to your child so that they take on more and more of the work.
• I recommend cutting out the small cards on the last page, taping them onto small plastic baggies, and sorting the letters into word families.
  

  Word Families Letters Set #1

Tips and Tricks for Using My Word Families Videos

• After you’ve introduced the three letter words activities would be a good time to start watching the videos, but you could also watch them first to stimulate interest.
• I tried to include a lot of fun new activity ideas to show how to spice up this activity, but you will still find success if you keep it simple.
• Try building the words with my flashcards as you watch the video. Pause as needed.

For More Information

• For a simple overview for how to teach your child to read, check out my blog: Teach Your Child to Read in 5 Simple Steps, and for a more in depth look at teaching reading, check out my: Teach Your Child to Read Blog Series.
• Check out my Free Reading Resources page to access all of the flashcards, posters, and video digital downloads you’ll need to teach your child how to read.