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Let’s face it. Daily review can be, well…boring. But regular review is one of the most important factors in retaining and recalling previously taught material. In other words, review makes learning stick! That’s why daily review of the Word Cards in All About Reading helps children master what they’re learning—permanently.
If reviewing the Word Cards has become a chore for you and your child, you have full permission to get creative and make them fun again! Practice sessions can become another part of the lessons that your child looks forward to.
The activities below are specifically geared toward use with All About Reading Word Cards, but if you’re looking for ideas for reviewing spelling words, check out 10 Great Ways to Review Spelling Word Cards as well!
Make a big circle on the floor with a pile of upside-down Word Cards. Each player throws a pair of dice and moves that number of spaces around the circle, counting each card as he steps on it. If the player can read the card he stops on, he keeps the card. If he can’t read it, he puts the card back. Keep rolling the dice and moving around the circle until all the cards have been collected.
For this game you’ll need an exercise ball and a long hallway. Put a pile of Word Cards upside-down at the far end of the hallway. When you say go, have your child roll down the hall, pick up a card, and try to read it. If he reads it correctly, he runs back to the starting position with the ball and the card. If he can’t read the card, he must put it back in the pile. Continue the game until your child has correctly read all the words.
Create a city in your living room by arranging the Word Cards face down on the floor and furniture so that every Word Card is a building. Have your child drive around the city, reading the word as he arrives at each building. If he reads a word correctly, turn that card face up. The game continues until all the cards have been turned face up.
Write the word BOOM on several blank Word Cards. Mix up all your Word Cards and scatter them face down in a pile on the table. Players take turns selecting and reading cards from the pile. If a player reads a card correctly, he keeps the card. If he misses a card, he puts it back in the pile. If a player picks up a BOOM card, he has to return all his cards to the pile. Play continues until all the cards have been collected. (Shared by Pam B. at Ed Snapshots.)
Place one or two Word Cards face up on each step of your staircase. Have your child stand at the bottom of the staircase. Say a word aloud and have your child hop up the stairs until he locates the matching Word Card. Have your child read the word. If he has found the correct card, he keeps the card. If it’s the wrong card, he leaves it on the step. Play continues until all the Word Cards have been found.
Find a coloring book with big pictures that have large coloring spaces. Write the day’s Word Card words in the spaces. Point to a word (or give oral instructions for finding the word, such as “find the word in the grass”) and have your child read it. If the word is read correctly, the child colors in the space. Keep playing until all the words have been read and the entire picture has been colored.
Write each of your review words on a plastic beach ball using a dry erase marker. Toss the beach ball back and forth. When your child catches the ball, have him read the word his hand is closest to. If he reads it correctly, erase the word. Play continues until all the words have been erased. (Idea shared by Marlo on Facebook.)
Use your imagination and your Word Cards to create your own amazing adventure. Here is Harley’s adventure: “The evil Nightmare Moon has captured sweet Twilight and Rainbow Dash! Now Harley must traverse the treacherous Word Road in order to save them! Can he read the words and thwart the frightful filly, or will his pony friends be in perpetual peril?” (Shared by @craftynotcreative via Instagram.)
This one is a ton of fun—for teacher and student! Place Word Cards in various circles of a Twister game mat. Play the game as usual, but with a “twist”. Before your child can claim a space, he has to correctly read the card on the spot. It’s reading practice and P.E. all at the same time! (Shared by Shawna at Not the Former Things.)
This one is bound to be a favorite! Place a large piece of bubble wrap on the floor and place Word Cards in rows on the bubble wrap. Have your child read the words. Once he has read a word correctly he gets to stomp on the card. Then the bubble wrap does what bubble wrap does. Hey…it’s bubble wrap. What’s not to love? (Shared by Shawna at Not the Former Things.)
This super fun idea came from a 7-year old fan! Do you have a balcony? Or maybe a second story window? I hope you’re not afraid of heights, because you’ll need a high spot for this one. Even standing on a chair or step stool will work. Once you’ve found your high spot, drop the Word Cards, one at a time, and have your child catch the cards as they float down. After he reads the card, drop the next one. (Shared by Melinda via Facebook.)
Tape a web of string to the walls of a narrow hallway. Attach word cards (or phonogram cards) to the string with bobby pins or small clothes pins. Players make their way through the web, selecting cards and reading them aloud as they go. If a word is missed, reattach it to the web. Have your student continue through the web until all words have been read correctly. (Shared by Jill via AAR & AAS Facebook Support Group.)
Be sure to check out our Something Fishy review book! It includes 16 full-color activities, designed to help students review reading and spelling words in fun and engaging ways.
And if you’re looking for similar ideas to use when reviewing your child’s spelling Word Cards, check out 10 Great Ways to Review Spelling Word Cards.
After you practice Word Cards, why not review compound words? Our free downloadable Banana Splits Game offers fun for practice students of all reading levels.
Julie Smalley
says:Integrating review into active play is genius! We love the student book and the optional
activity books, but these ideas will add a renewed sense of excitement when we face a bit of burnout. Thank you!
Robin
says: Customer ServiceYou are so welcome, Julie! We agree that playful learning is so important!
JoAnna
says:Thank you for these creative ideas!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, JoAnna!
Lena
says:It’s very, very useful, good, add for me!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceI’m glad this is useful for you, Lena!
Susan
says:We are enjoying the fun ideas.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThank you for letting us know you enjoy these review ideas, Susan!
EB
says:These are absolutely perfect for my kiddos who don’t always like to sit! Thank you for posting such great content!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re so welcome! Active review is so much more fun than sitting still!
Stefani
says:My goodness I have twins one is having an extremely difficult time learning to read but the way Marie breaks it down both girls and me too (who also had a hard time with English) are learning so much!! We’re going slow and steady but succeeding! Love these fun ideas!!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceI’m so happy to hear that All About Reading is working out well for both of your children and you, Stefani!
Vanessa
says:My son’s favorite ways to practice are hunting the word cards around the room and reading them as he goes or I use window markers to write the words on the window then he sees how fast he can read the words and wash them off the window.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceGreat ideas for making review super fun and active, Vanessa! Thank you for sharing them.
kelly thompson
says:Oh, I love this! new ideas to help them read words while being active and not bored are always winners!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceSo true, Kelly! Activity and fun make review much more appreciated!
Melody
says:I love the “color-by-word” and beach ball ideas! They’ll be great to use with my daughter!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThe beach ball activity was my daughter’s favorite, Melody!
Katie D.
says:These look great to try for those of us with kinesthetic learners! Thanks!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Katie!
George Zetina
says:Since I’m homeschooling my daughter, I’m always looking for ways to teach her in a better way. I came across your website and I’m very thankful for the ideas about how to teach reading and spelling effectively. There are many programs out there that guarantee excellent results, but yours is the best I have seen. Thank you for the free information you provide. I’m going to start using your materials!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceWonderful, George, and thank you! If you have any questions about placement or anything else, please let me know.
Mata Dennis
says:We love that there are so many active ways to use the cards. We don’t have to sit still.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceSo true, Mata!
Kelly Fischer
says:My first grader LOVES playing word splat outside!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceKelly,
Great to hear! It’s wonderful to find a review activity your child enjoys.
Krista Adams
says:Create a word web is my favorite idea. There are so many great ideas! I can’t wait to try them.
Charlene Burbett
says:We each make up a sentence using the word we’ve chosen, making it into a story. Typically they end up being hilarious, like Madlibs, which is why the kids enjoy it so much. Even without “fart, poop, and pee” cards, they still find a way to institute it.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceOooo, I love this idea, Charlene! What a fun way to review word cards, and also to build creativity. Thanks for sharing the idea!
Crystal Taylor
says:We’re starting level 1 this winter and love all these ideas for making review words fun!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceI’m glad you like these ideas, Crystal! Making review enjoyable is so important.
Kathy Sullivan
says:I absolutely love all the ideas for fun with reading! The route schedule can get taxing quickly so mixing it up with play is a win win for our homeschool. Thank you All About Learning for making learning fun!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re so welcome, Kathy!
Andrea Gade
says:Great ideas! I love the beach ball game!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceGlad you like it, Andrea! The beach ball one is especially great when your student just needs to get up and so something active.
Tulisha Scott
says:So very many ideas. Thank you!
Alyssa
says:I have also done the beach ball activity using balloons, in case you don’t have a beach ball.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceOooo, great idea, Alyssa! Thank you.
Katie Henderson
says:I am so excited for my son to start AAS. I love all the active and hands on learning without having a ton of preparation
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceSounds great, Katie! Let me know if you have any questions.
Shara
says:These ideas are fabulous, there are some that I’ve used before and others I plan to start using now.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceGlad you like them, Shara!
Alicia Lynch
says:Anything to get my girl moving. She is a kinetic learner and sitting still just doesn’t work for her.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceWith that in mind, Alicia, take a look at our 19 Activities for Kinesthetic Learning blog post as well.
Kylie Rudulph
says:Anything that turns into a game grabs my son’s attention and he wants more! Thanks for some great ideas to keep us moving through our day.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceKylie,
Yes! Games are such a great way to make reviewing seem like play so children will want to do more of it.
Vida Sensei
says:I love this program. It has been a game changer in our life. thank you!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou are so welcome, Vida! I’m so happy to hear that it’s working out so well for you.
Shana O.
says:Great, creative ideas for teaching at home. A lot of these will engage and work well with struggling learners who have attention / sensory issues like some of my children do. Even if they aren’t a perfect fit for your young learner, they can be the spark that leads to an adaptation that opens the door to mastery – and that is what we all hope for.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceGreat points, Shana! Yes, such activities can really make a difference for children that struggle in one way or another.
Kamal Khalid
says:This looks awesome. Would love to give it as a gift to my wife who is on this brave journey with my kids
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceWhat a lovely gift, Kamal!
Betty Winford
says:These are all incredible ideas. I struggle with creativity when it comes to school. Thank you this is amazing!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou are very welcome, Betty!
Kristin S.
says:These are great ideas! I’m excited to try them with my girls!
Paula Eversole
says:My kids will love trying out the bubble wrap idea.