One of the first learning tools schools use to help children develop memorization skills is the flash cards. Flash cards are very effective for learning colors, shapes, vocabulary words and math problems. However, they can also be used for developing more advanced skills as well.

Building a Skill Base

The primary use of flash cards is to build a skill base for more advanced academic concepts to be developed later on. Flash cards work because they offer a quick way to offer students repetitive exposure to words, shapes, colors, etc. Flash cards are also effective because they work by linking one concept with another. For example the front of a flash card may have a square shape on it and the back of the card has the word: SQUARE printed out. The first round of exposure the student has is to the shape. When the shape is shown the teacher says "square." Once the student is able to link the vocalization of "square" with the shape, the teacher can then flip the card over to pair the vocalization of "square" with the printed word "square" as well as with the shape of the square.

Building on the Skill Base

After colors, shapes, numbers and letters have been learned using flash cards, the next step can be taken. The next skill to be developed is the pairing of pictures with words. Again the front of the flash card has a picture of something and the back has the printed word for the item. Pairing pictures with printed words allow students to learn how to read, and to build their vocabulary.

Another second level skill that flash cards can be used to develop is counting. Counting flashcards usually have a group of items on the front of the card and the number of items on the back. These cards can be used in a couple of ways. First of all, the student can touch count the items on the front of the card and then tell you the answer or they can sight count and relay the number of items to you without touching the card. For example, if there are four apples on the front of the card the student can answer, "one, two, three, four apples," or they can count in their heads and simply say, "four apples."

Advanced Skills

As students get older, flash cards are used more often to develop language skills and to help with memorization of facts. Language skills can be developed by printing a foreign language word or phrase on one side of the flash card and the English translation on the other. The student can practice these phrases either by looking at an English phrase and translating it, or looking at the foreign language phrase and translating it back to English.

Flash cards can also be used to help students memorize facts and systems like vocabulary, the periodic table, formulas, and events and dates.

Tutoring services use flash cards for skill development. However, they also use a variety of other strategies including work environment manipulation and skill modeling. http://www.tutoring-services.com/