Orthographic mapping is most closely associated with building which of the following in early literacy?

• A. Automatic word recognition
• B. Rote memorization of passages
• C. Grammar rules mastery
• D. Keyboarding speed

Answer: (A)

Orthographic mapping is the process of linking sounds to letters to form mental spellings of words. In early literacy, this helps a reader move from sounding out a word to recognizing it instantly. When mapping becomes automatic, the reader can identify a word quickly without laborious decoding, which builds fluent word recognition and overall reading ability. This is why automatic word recognition is the best fit.

Rote memorization of passages relies on memory for whole strings rather than understanding how letters and sounds connect. Grammar rules mastery focuses on sentence structure and usage, not on how words are represented in print. Keyboarding speed concerns typing, not how we learn to map sounds to written forms.