NoW Cards The Story So Far

I first developed an earlier version of these cards as a simple way to make learning more enjoyable. The idea was to combine matching and memory with numbers, colours, letters, pictures and words.

Children in my family enjoyed playing with the cards, and that enthusiasm encouraged me to keep developing them. Over several generations, I have also seen some very encouraging academic results.

One child recorded an IQ score of 132 at the age of 11. In the next generation, members of the family achieved further strong results, including one score of 166 at the age of 17. A tutor who used the cards also recorded a high score.

The youngest generation has not yet been assessed in the same way, although the children are progressing well at school. One is working towards nine A grades and two A stars.

These experiences mean a great deal to me, but I do not claim that the cards caused those results. There are no guarantees. What I can say with confidence is that the children enjoyed using them, and that learning through play became something they wanted to return to.

Starting with a smaller game

When playing pairs with the black and yellow decks, I recommend beginning with a smaller group of cards.

You could start with the 20 number cards or the 11 colour cards. This makes the game easier to understand and gives players time to become familiar with the pictures and words.

More cards can be introduced gradually. A game using the full set can take about an hour with two players, so there is no need to use everything at once.

Supporting language learning

The cards may be particularly helpful for people who speak a language other than English at home. Players can look at a picture, read the word and say it aloud while searching for its matching card.

The ORAL table on this website can also be used alongside the cards. Together, they provide opportunities to practise recognition, pronunciation and everyday English vocabulary.

Tell me how you get on

I would love to hear how you use NoW Cards at home, at school or during tutoring sessions. Your experiences will help me understand where the cards are most useful and how they might be improved.

Please email me at cliff@cliffscards.com and tell me how you get on.

Cheers,

Cliff