This week we will put on our Science of Reading hats, and dig into the importance of phoneme-graphing mapping in early literacy. If these terms are unfamiliar, phoneme-grapheme mapping is a game-changer for helping early readers connect sounds to symbols & this post will show you exactly how to do it! Let's dive in.

What is phoneme-grapheme mapping?

Teaching methods are growing to reflect the Science of Reading, focusing on clear, research-backed ways to help kids with phonics and decoding. Phoneme-grapheme mapping gives students the tools they need to see how letters and sounds work together, making it easier to figure out unfamiliar words.

Let's define the key terms:

• Phoneme: Smallest unit of sound. (For example, c/a/t in the word “cat”.)
• Grapheme: Single letters (e.g. “b”), or combinations of letters that represent a sound. or (e.g. “th” in the).
• Mapping: The process of connecting sounds to their written symbols.
• (Orthographic) phoneme-grapheme mapping: A process the brain undergoes once sound-symbol connections become automatic.

Why should we teach phoneme/grapheme mapping?

Our brains are pre-wired for spoken language, but learning to read takes some work. Our brains need to build pathways between the auditory (language) and visual (reading) centers of the brain. Explicitly teaching that letters have sounds, and these sounds can be put together to form words helps these pathways begin.

Phoneme-grapheme mapping benefits early learners in a couple of ways:

• Builds foundational skills for reading and spelling.
• Prepares students to decode more complex phonics patterns (e.g., digraphs and diphthongs).

Common Misconceptions About Phoneme-Grapheme Mapping

Before we dig into how to implement phoneme-grapheme mapping in your classroom, let's dispel some common myths.

• Myth: Orthographic mapping is something we “teach.”
  • Reality: It's a brain process that develops through practice.
• Myth: Each letter always corresponds to one sound.
  • Reality: Sounds can be represented by multiple letters or combinations.

Step-by-Step Guide to Phoneme-Grapheme Mapping

Let Katie from Team Lucky Little Learners walk you through a phoneme-grapheme mapping routine.

Step 1: Start with Sounds

• Teach students to identify and produce individual sounds.
• Activities: Phonological awareness drills like clapping out syllables or isolating sounds in words.

Step 2: Use Sound Boxes

Introduce sound boxes (e.g., Elkonin boxes) with counters/ tiles/ chips/ unifix cubes, etc to represent sounds. Use the teaching slides to introduce these boxes.

Example: For the word “bat,” students push counters into boxes while segmenting the word into /b/ /a/ /t/.

Gradually remove scaffolds as students become proficient… Aim for students to connect sounds and letters without external aids. Avoid over-reliance on scaffolds, which can hinder progress toward independence.

Step 3: Attach Graphemes

• Once sounds are identified, teach the graphemes that represent them.
• Example process:
  • Identify /b/ → write the letter B.
  • Identify /a/ → write the letter A.
  • Identify /t/ → write the letter T.

Another tactile way to practice this is with letter tiles.

Step 4: Teach Complex Phonics Patterns

• Gradually introduce multi-letter graphemes (e.g., sh, ai, igh) and how they represent single sounds.
• Emphasize variability in English spelling and sound representation.
• Try building the words with sound boxes.

More Tools

Here are some additional phonics activities for early readers to add to your phonics toolbox.

Phonics ladders

Students work their way up the ladder substituting letters to make new words.

Decodable text

When students are ready, apply their sound mapping skills to truly decodable text. Their feeling of reading success cannot be beat!

Additional Help

Looking for more phonics teaching tips? Check out these helpful posts.

How to Identify Gaps in Phonics with a Phonics Screener

From Mundane to Magical: A Case Study of the Lucky to Learn Phonics Curriculum

Beyond Flashcards: 9 Creative Ways to Use Phonics Cards

Get all the tools for phoneme-grapheme mapping for $1!

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