Flashcard: Known and Unknown Stack

Creating the Known and Unknown Stacks

1. Create flashcard using a master sight word list (e.g. Dolch or Fry).

2. Get student to read the words.

3. Words student able to read within 3 seconds: place them into a “known” stack.

4. Words student unable to read/reads incorrectly: place them into an “unknown” stack.

Creating a daily set of cards

1. Teacher prepares 10 cards, 3 from the "unknown" stack and 7 from the "known" stack

2. Shuffle the deck and get student to read card by card

• If student reads correctly within 3 seconds, say "Yes, the word is [word]."

• If student reads incorrectly, say "No, the word is [word]. Say [word]."

• If student is correct, move on to the next word

• If student is incorrect or takes longer than 3 seconds, say "The word is [word]. Say [word].”

3. Repeat this till student gets to word correct

4. When all flashcards have been read, shuffle the cards and repeat the process

5. Stop the session when student is able to read the set correctly 3 times in a row

6. When student is able to do this for 3 sessions in a row, move on to prepare the next set of cards him/her to read

7. Revisit each set of 5 words periodically to enable student to attain mastery of the words