Orthographic Mapping--MORE Strategies to Help Students Map Words (post 3)

In my previous post I shared SIX ways to help students map words.  

BUT.....as teachers we aren't just limited to six ways.  In fact, there are many other techniques you can implement in your instructional routine.  So...I am devoting this post to SIX MORE strategies you can use to promote orthographic mapping with your students.   

1. Phoneme Grapheme Mapping

• When we teach phonics we teach the letter and then the sound, but in order to be skilled in orthographic mapping we need to go from sound to grapheme (letter or letter combination). Mapping 3-5 words per phonics lesson is a great strategy to build up a student's orthographic lexicon.  
• Check out the phoneme to grapheme maps in the resource below--which also includes a word list and instructional routine. 

2. Spell Nonsense Words

• Having students spell nonsense words forces them to be aware of the phonemes she or he is hearing.  When teachers use real words all of the time, we run the risk of a student having prior experience or knowledge of that word.  With nonsense word spelling students must listen for the sound, and then write the correct sound.  This reinforces phoneme awareness and letter to sound skills.  Aiming for 3-5 nonsense words per phonics lesson is a great practice!  

3. Mixed Case

• Used mixed cases for word level reading.  Using this technique disrupts any strategy a student may have for remembering the "look" of the word and keeps students focused on the string of letters. 

4. Space Between Letters

• Much like using mixed case for word level reading, putting space between the letters in a word disrupts a students ability to memorize the "look" of a word. In addition a larger space between a word, makes it easier for students to focus on each letter in the letter sequence.  Viewing words with extra space between the letters is best done at a distance.

5. Reverse Sentence Reading

• The real point of reverse sentence reading is to prevent guessing of the text by using context clues.  Before having students read a sentence the normal way (left to right), have the student read the sentence from the last word to the first word. When a student has correctly read the words in the sentence, he or she may read it the proper way. 

6. Teach Rime Units 

• Teaching students rime units will increase their skills in sounding out words, and spelling.  Words are stored in our brain by onsets and rimes, and if students are directly taught common rime units--they are able to quickly an efficiently decode an unfamiliar word.  Rime units not only show up in single syllable words, but also in multi-syllabic words. 
• Check out the rime unit pack below--which includes flashcards, games and strategies to directly teach students rime units. 

If you are looking for the first six ways I shared to promote orthographic mapping, check out the previous post by clicking here.