Orthographic mapping is a mental process that our brains use to store and remember words both quickly and automatically. This occurs when the letters (graphemes) and sounds (phonemes) of a word are connected to its meaning. This allows a person to develop a strong mental representation of the word, so much so that they can instantly recognize it. Orthographic mapping differs from traditional spelling programs in the sense that its focus is not rote memorization, but grapheme-phoneme correspondence, and the morphological structure of words (the parts that communicate meaning – prefixes, suffixes, root words, etc.). Overall, orthographic mapping can facilitate successful literacy learning, as it integrates phonemic awareness, phonics, and vocabulary knowledge.

Here are some common orthographic mapping activities:

Phoneme-Grapheme Mapping: Students practice matching sounds to letters or letter patterns. This can involve activities like sorting words by common sounds, matching words with the same sounds but different spellings, or writing words while saying the sounds aloud.

Word Building: Using letter tiles or cards, students construct words by manipulating the letters. This helps them see how changing one letter can change the word and meaning (e.g., changing “cat” to “bat”).

Segmenting and Blending: These activities focus on breaking words into their individual sounds (segmenting) and putting them back together (blending). This skill is crucial for both reading and spelling.

Games and Interactive Activities: Games like word bingo, memory matching with words, or sorting activities can make orthographic mapping fun and engaging.

The Role of Orthographic Mapping in Learning to Read

References

Sedita, J. (2020) The role of orthographic mapping in learning to read. Keys to Literacy. https://keystoliteracy.com/blog/the-role-of-orthographic-mapping-in-learning-to-read/