Once students connect letters and sounds through orthographic mapping, what happens to reading words?

• A. Reading words becomes more automatic
• B. They rely more on context clues only
• C. They memorize only a few words
• D. Reading becomes slower

Answer: (A)

Orthographic mapping creates automatic word recognition by linking how a word is spelled with how it sounds, allowing the brain to store words as whole units. When students have this robust map, they can read familiar words quickly and effortlessly without needing to sound out every letter. This automaticity frees cognitive resources to focus on meaning and comprehension, which is why fluent reading improves. Without this mapping, decoding remains laborious and reading is slower. Relying solely on context clues or memorizing only a few words cannot replace the speed and independence that automatic word recognition provides.