Embedded Picture Mnemonics - Print Files

Embedded picture mnemonics are a research-based way to teach children about letters and the sounds they represent. They are letter cards with a picture of a key word embedded directly in a letter, such as the letter z made out of a zipper, or the letter r made out of a road. Research indicates that students learn letter-sound correspondences better when they are taught with embedded picture mnemonics (Ehri et al., 1984).

ONlit’s embedded mnemonics were carefully created to support explicit instruction of foundational reading and writing. When choosing key words, we considered many priorities, including:

• Is the target sound in the initial position?
• Can we avoid a consonant blend?
• Does the word represent the target sound?
• Are we considering dialect and linguistic variation?
• Is the key word a familiar vocabulary word to as many students as possible?
• Is the image specific, or could students mistake it for something else?
• Does the image look like the shape of the letter?

A variety of print files are available, including:

1. A set of half-page flashcards with a mnemonic on one side and a plain letter on the other. This deck can be used flexibly, allowing educators to use the mnemonic in visual drills when working on accuracy and the regular letter when building fluency with letter sounds.
2. A set of half-page flashcards with a mnemonic on one side and a sample instructional routine on the other. This allows an educator to show students the mnemonic while having a scripted instructional routine to support explicit instruction with plenty of active student participation.
3. All the mnemonics on one 8.5 x 11 page. Consider putting this in a page protector on tables when students are writing or in individual student folders.
4. 8 mnemonics per page for home practice materials, plus a sample letter with tips on how to use the cards at home. These sheets can be printed, cut into individual cards, and sent home on a binder ring for additional practice.

NOTE: When printing these files, make sure your printer is set to “flip on the long side.”