Frequently asked questions
Questions parents ask FlashCardRead
Everything parents ask before starting — how the ten-minute sessions work, whether it fits a child with dyslexia or ADHD, picking the right level, pricing and the free week, and how your family's information is handled. Your question not here? Ask Mrs. Parra directly.
How the program works
How long does a session take?
Eight to ten minutes. Most families do one session in the morning and one after school. Consistency matters far more than length.
What happens in a session?
Each word is heard in a sentence, flashed up to 11 times, written from memory with instant spelling feedback, and then reinforced with a quick game. It is a ten-word set per week, sixteen weeks per grade.
How soon will we see a change?
Most families notice a real difference in about two weeks of daily practice, with bigger gains around week eight.
Can this program be used to advance my child?
Yes — once a student has caught up to grade level, this program can be used to get ahead.
Why is this program inexpensive?
This program was designed for every family in every economic background to be able to afford it. The Flash Method works or your money back!
Do the games have to be part of it?
No. Games can be switched off anytime for kids who focus better without them.
Dyslexia, ADHD, and struggling readers
Will this work for dyslexia or ADHD?
That is exactly who it was built for. The method activates sight, sound, and handwriting at the same time, which is what multisensory reading instruction is meant to do. Short sessions and a game reward keep attention where it needs to be.
What are the first signs of dyslexia in children?
The earliest clues are usually trouble learning letter sounds, difficulty hearing rhymes, mixing up look-alike letters like b and d, and forgetting sight words from one day to the next. These often show up in kindergarten and first grade.
Can a child outgrow dyslexia?
Dyslexia doesn't go away on its own, but children make remarkable progress with the right kind of daily practice. Short, structured reading and spelling sessions — ten to fifteen minutes a day — are far more effective than waiting to see if a child catches up.
How is dyslexia different from just being a late reader?
Late bloomers steadily catch up with ordinary classroom teaching. A child with dyslexia keeps struggling with the same building blocks — letter sounds, blending, and spelling — even after plenty of practice, and often guesses words instead of sounding them out.
Should I wait for a formal evaluation before helping my child?
No. School evaluations can take months. You can start gentle daily practice at home right away — extra practice helps every beginning reader, whether or not dyslexia is the cause. Our free 3-minute reading check suggests a starting level while you wait.
Can a high schooler with dyslexia use this?
Yes. The flash-and-write routine was built for students with dyslexia and ADHD, and short daily sessions suit older students well.
Getting started and picking a level
What grade should we start in?
Start where your child is reading, not where they are enrolled. The free reading check on our sign-up page and the words-per-minute Reading Race will point you to the right level in a few minutes.
My child does not know all the letter sounds yet. Can we still start?
Yes. The flash-and-write routine teaches sounds in the context of whole words, which is often faster for children who have struggled with letter drills.
My child is in sixth grade but reads at a lower level. Is that a problem?
No. Work at the level where they succeed. Children move up fast once the gaps below are filled.
Should we finish all sixteen weeks in order?
Yes for most children — the patterns build on each other. If a week feels easy, repeat it once and move on quickly.
Can we do two weeks of words at once?
Better not to. Ten minutes a day on one set is what builds recall; doubling up usually costs retention.
How do we know when to move up a level?
If a week's words feel easy, move to the next week. If more than three words in a week are unfamiliar, drop back one grade.
Is this useful for an adult learner?
Yes. The method does not assume a child; adults often move through several levels quickly.
Pricing, the free week, and cancellation
What does it cost?
Your first week is free. After that it is $15 a week, $50 a month, two months for $80, six months for $119, or a full year for $199. Cancel anytime.
Can my child try it without signing up?
Yes. The first word set of every grade is open to guests — no account and no credit card. Progress just isn't saved until you create an account.
What happens after the free week?
The Weekly plan continues at $15 per week unless you cancel before the trial ends.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. You can cancel a weekly or monthly subscription anytime and keep access through the period already covered.
Do prepaid plans renew automatically?
No. The two-month, six-month, and one-year options are one-time payments. You choose whether to continue.
What if the program is not right for us?
You can request a refund within 30 days. The Flash Method works, or your money back.
Privacy and your child's progress
Does my child need an account to practice?
No. Any first word set can be played as a guest. An account is only needed once you want progress, streaks, and accuracy history saved and carried over between devices.
What happens to my child's answers in the free reading check?
The check is anonymous by default. You see the recommended level instantly, and nothing about your child is stored unless you choose to share an email afterward.
Do I have to share anything about a diagnosis?
Never. Questions about diagnoses, IEPs, or 504 plans are optional with a 'Prefer not to answer' choice, and personal help from the teacher is entirely up to you.
How much of my information can the teacher see?
Only what you choose to send — a message, a question, or an optional email address. Reading answers and practice data stay in your family's account.
Still deciding?
Take the free 3-minute reading check to see where your child is, or let your child play a real word set right now — no account needed.