Ideas for using flashcards

I've never seen someone get so happy about flash cards

One of the best teaching strategy conducted by an obviously seasoned and charming teacher. I will for sure adapt this original lesson

I don't know why someone would dislike the video. It's very nice and the presenter looks very wholesome.

Smiling smiling smiling teacher .......... Thank you so much for showing a very kind and caring smiley refreshing ideas for using FC

Very helpful games, I used it in my class, kids really loved it. A very nice way to learn and have fun. Thank you Ma’am 😊😊

Very helpful ideas to encourage kids to learn easily and joyfully. Carol, I appreciate your work; thank you so much.

I've been teaching kindergarten for almost 10 years now. This video has some very useful tips. For teachers, always look to have variations on your activities, so you get more mileage out of them. For example, the "flash" technique is simply showing the card to the children very quickly. But if you tweak it, it becomes new and exciting for the children. Hold it behind your back and spin around. The card is only visible for a second, just like the "flash" technique, but to the kids, since it is presented differently, it captures their interest. For the "slowly, slowly" technique, wiggle the fingers of your opposite hand above the card while sliding the card up with your thumb - to the children, it looks like "magic". You can also turn an imaginary crank to slowly raise the card up, put your fist to the side with your thumb out and pretend to blow up the flashcard like a balloon (your extended thumb being where you blow into), again slowly raising the card with your thumb. Pumping an imaginary bicycle pump can raise the card as well. Another "presentation"-type tip: kids LOVE it when the teacher makes mistakes. If you put flashcards on the board, like in the video, after teaching the words, take one off the board without looking, and elicit an incorrect word. The kids will yell out "NO!" You look at the card and act surprised. Then you can ask them what the card really is. Similar to this, you can have the cards in a bag, and take one out as you say the incorrect word. It's best if you make it so that you don't see the card as you are saying the wrong word, as if you show that you see it and still say the word, a child may take it as you teaching them that particular word. Other "game"-type activities that I've had success with are: 1. Clap/Don't Clap - Place a few flashcards in few. Say the cards in a rhythm, with the children repeating each word after you say it - BUT ALSO CLAPPING THEIR HANDS. After a few repetitions, get them into a comfortable rhythm, then say a silly word that ISN'T one of the target words, like "banana" or "monkey". Kids will say the silly word and clap. Just have a laugh and ask if that word is one of the ones they are learning. 2. Words Go Up - Have a balloon (best), a ball, a handkerchief, or something else that you can toss in the air. When you toss it in the air (you needn't toss it high), the children say the target language. After doing that several times, pretend to toss it in the air, but hold onto it. As with Clap/Don't Clap, some kids will have said the word, simply because they have gotten into a rhythm. 3. Matching - Have a copy of your flashcards (I tend to use smaller versions). Give a child the copy and have them lay it on the flashcard that it matches. Elicit the language and praise them. Great for preschoolers. 4. In the Mix - Have one flashcard have the children do a specific action. Have the kids simply say the vocabulary of every other card. In a small classroom, you can have the action be to put their heads down/duck, then swing your hand over their ducking heads (an inflatable bat works better, for reach purposes). In a large classroom, the safe words can get the kids to step toward you, and the action word sends them back to a safe area as you chase after them. There are sooooo many games that you can do with flashcards. You should always think of variations to the activities you use. Variations are easy for the kids to learn, but different enough to keep their interest.

They are great ideas. I will certainly use them in my ESL classes. Thanks a million.❇

I watch seek out this video every two years :) please never delete it!

i started to doubt myself but this presentation makes things much clearer than long academic articles..love it..after all. I want to become teacher

I pretty much enjoyed this video. Thank you a lot for sharing these ideas, i was getting tired of playing " what's missing". now i can't wait to go back to class. Hugs !

Amazing! Thank you very much, Carol! It's so clearly and visually!

This was so helpful. I will use them in my ESL class in Japan. Thank you very much!

Oh, thank you so much for presenting this lesson! It's awesome!

I've been struggling to find more uses for flashcards, in a non-boring way! Thank you so much for this video!!

Thanks a lot! ))) It's really helpful. I've recently started using your ideas with my own flashcards, and my little pupil likes these activities very much!

Thank you so much, Carol. You've proved that there are endless ideas for using flashcards, and so simply explained.

Amazing teacher with clear and professional instructions, thank you.

Thank you so much . I am an arabic teacher and I have benefited a lot .

It´s amazing how she explains all the techniques! thank you a lot!!!