English
Teaching Resource

Embedded Picture Mnemonics - Print Files

By ONlit Last updated 2024/09/04
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Description

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.”

Curriculum Connection

B2. Language Foundations for Reading and Writing
Embedded mnemonics are a research-validated way to teach foundational alphabet and phonics knowledge (B2).
Grade(s): K 1
Topic(s): Alphabetic KnowledgeApplying Phonics
Flashcards with Letters Flashcards with Instructional Routine Writing Support One Pager Home Practice Cards
total length

11 Comments

  1. Is it possible to make a black-line version that would be easier to print individual cards with. We would use colour for instruction but it would be nice to be able to make a small version of all of them for students that wasn’t colour.

    1. Hi Heather! Unfortunately we experimented with black and white (knowing how tricky it can be to print in colour) but it became very challenging to identify the word.

  2. Is it possible to post a letter orientation as opposed to landscape version for the Writing support one pager? I loved the idea that Melissa gave us to tape the support on the inside of a student journal (from the top so it can fold right over the page). With the file in landscape, it doesn’t really work out….
    Thanks for considering! Jennie 🙂

  5. Many, many thanks. I almost unsubscribed yesterday as I have almost extinct IT tools and our data is very expensive especially in peak periods. I am glad I didn’t unsubscribe, and had signed up for today’s embedded mnemonics alphabet webinar (as a test). Last year I had seen a version made locally and was totally put off by them. However, this set is brilliant and will be of great help for me. I am a totally voluntary (senior citizen) tutor of learners who are struggling, and sadly just left to fall through the cracks. However, I have done adult literacy for almost two decades. I prefer helping the younger learners, and they are now my focus. THANK YOU! MERCI BEAUCOUP! (Am NOT a French speaker, only know some of the basics. Too many other necessary languages in my weary brain. [But I am NOT a polyglot–learn only what I need to be useful!]
    I am not sure if I am to rate resources below this message-or if that is for someone else to respond to? My first time on the site.

  6. I would love to see the one-page writing support page with the alphabet letters on writing lines (top and bottom line with the dotted line in the middle) to aid with letter formation when writing on lines.

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