Orthographic mapping refers to the process of decoding and encoding words by analyzing letter-sound relationships. This is a key step in learning how to read, as it helps children connect letters with their corresponding sounds. Through the process of orthographic mapping, readers can decode unfamiliar words, practice spelling patterns, and develop reading fluency.
Why is Orthographic Mapping Important?
Along with phonemic awareness, orthographic mapping helps children learn how to decode and spell words. It gives them the ability to figure out unfamiliar words by breaking them into their component parts and recognizing letter-sound relationships. Orthographic mapping also increases fluency, which is essential for comprehending a text.
Practice Blending & Mapping Words with “Roll, Map, Write!”
If you’re looking for a fun way to switch up your orthographic mapping practice, or just a fun way to review common syllable patterns, you’ll want to check my “roll-a-word” word mapping resources.
The “Roll, Map, Write!” word mapping activity is a great Science of Reading (SoR) activity that helps children encode words and practice orthographic mapping. It’s an engaging and interactive way to build automaticity with letter-sound relationships while practicing blending and word recognition skills.
Use this activity to target specific phonics patterns or to review phonics skills already learned. The activity is simple and perfect for literacy centers to reinforce your phonics instruction.
Activity Directions
“Roll, Map, Write!” uses dice to make the learning process fun and engaging for students.
To complete the activity, students roll their dice 3x to choose each part of the word. Then they have to blend the sounds, map the sounds, and write the sounds using the sound boxes and spaces provided. My students love using sparkly gel pens, fuzzy pens, scented markers, invisible ink pens, and other fun writing tools to write their words.
The best part is… you can use the roll-a-word pages again and again with your small groups and literacy centers because your students will come up with different words EVERY time! By “gamifying” the word mapping process, students will have fun rolling dice to blend, map, and write different real and nonsense closed-syllable words.
Free Sample Pages
“Roll, Map, Write!” is a fun way to practice orthographic mapping in the classroom or at home! If you want to give this activity a try, grab a few sample pages for FREE by clicking the image or button below. The sample includes CVC words and words with final digraphs.
If you like the sample pages and want to check out the complete resource, Roll, Map, Write! – Set 1 includes 17 pages of closed-syllable word mapping fun. Students will roll, map, and write short vowel CVC words, as well as words with digraphs, initial blends, final blends, blends at both ends, 3-letter blends, and digraph blends. There are two design options for you to choose from, and more sets will be added to my shop soon!
