Montessori Mom

The Picture Card Page is a simple, self-correcting reading exercise that helps early readers connect short phonetic words to the pictures they name. It builds directly on the sound work your child has already done with the Moveable Alphabet and the phonetic letter sounds.

Materials

You can make your own picture card pages using our free printable reading cards:

• Pink Reading Cards (Set A) — three-letter phonetic words & pictures (PDF)
• Reading Cards 1 — additional picture/label pairs (PDF)

The cards fit on a standard 8½ × 11 inch sheet. Print on firmer paper such as card stock or construction paper for durability.

Making the Material

• Cut out the pictures and the matching word labels.
• Paste about six pictures on a standard sheet of paper or poster board.
• Put the matching labels in an envelope or zip-lock bag, taped or Velcroed to the back of the picture card page.
• Make as many picture card pages as you need. Mix up the pictures and words — they don't have to rhyme.
• Introduce easy picture card sheets first: three-letter phonetic words with matching pictures. Progress to more difficult words later.

The Exercise

• Have the child take one of the labels and read it aloud.
• Ask, “Can you put that word by the picture that matches it?”
• Continue with the rest of the words.
• Let your child work independently and choose other picture card pages to do.
• Step into the background while still keeping an eye on the process — this is the child's work.

Extensions & Related Lessons

Once your child is matching short phonetic words confidently, move on to the phonogram words and the vowel reading lessons to build toward fluent reading.

Recommended Materials

• Montessori Large Moveable Alphabet — for building the phonetic words before matching.
• Bob Books beginning phonics readers — easy decodable words that pair well with the picture cards.