A. READ is definitely not designed to be a whole word memorization program, it is just the opposite. If your child is memorizing words, you are not using the Notched Card. READ precludes memorizing by providing no picture clues and by using words that look very much alike: Mit/Mat, sit/sat, fell/fill, will/well. Most if not all beginner readers will need to say the sounds as least one time to read these words. Some may look as if they are memorizing if they acquire automaticity very rapidly. Others need to do the blending many times to acquire automaticity. All children should slow down to “say the sounds” sub-vocally when encountering unfamiliar words.