K-12

Discover how Readable English is transforming reading instruction 

PROGRESS MONITORING

Easily assess and monitor growth with data-driven insights and reporting tools

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Discover the services that support your success, from virtual training to expert coaching

INDIVIDUALS

Strengthen your reading skills with an interactive app tailored to your learning needs

PARENTS

Empower your child's reading journey with an interactive app and expert strategies for home support

Divider Line (2)

 

Boosting Middle School Literacy: How Readable English is Making a Difference in the Classroom

 

A recent peer-reviewed study shows Readable English significantly boosts reading fluency and comprehension for struggling middle school students.

 

Read now  Arrow Icon - Read Boosting Middle School Literacy: How Readable English is Making a Difference in the Classroom

 

RESEARCH & RESULTS

Explore peer-reviewed studies and real-world case studies on Readable English in action

BLOG

Explore articles on feature highlights, research deep-dives, and the latest literacy insights 

EBOOK

Download the ebook Why Learning to Read English is So Hard and how to Make it Easier

RESOURCE AND PRODUCT ENABLEMENT LIBRARY

Find essential educational references and instructional materials to enhance teaching

FAQS

Find essential educational references and instructional materials to enhance teaching

NEWS & EVENTS

Stay up to date with media coverage, webinars, and upcoming events featuring Readable English

Divider Line (2)

 

Boosting Middle School Literacy: How Readable English is Making a Difference in the Classroom

 

A recent peer-reviewed study shows Readable English significantly boosts reading fluency and comprehension for struggling middle school students.

 

Read now  Arrow Icon - Read Boosting Middle School Literacy: How Readable English is Making a Difference in the Classroom

 

1 min read

Orthographic Mapping: The Brain Science Behind Word Recognition

Orthographic mapping is the process by which readers store written words in long-term memory, allowing for instant, effortless recognition. Understanding this process is crucial for designing effective reading instruction, especially for beginning and struggling readers.

In this post, we’ll explore key statistics and insights behind orthographic mapping, the role of phonemic awareness, and how tools like Readable English can accelerate learning outcomes.

Download the Orthographic Mapping Infographic as PDF.

 

stats about orthographic mapping infographic

🔍 What Is Orthographic Mapping?

Orthographic mapping is the brain’s process for storing written words so they can be retrieved instantly, without needing to decode them each time. It's how fluent readers recognize words on sight, not through memorization, but through a deep understanding of the letter-sound structure of language.

📈 How Many Exposures Are Needed to Map a Word?

The number of exposures needed to orthographically map a word depends on a reader's proficiency level:

  • Beginning Readers: Typically need 5-20 exposures

  • Fluent Readers: Can map a word in 1-4 exposures

  • Highly Proficient Readers (Grade 3-4+): May only need 1 exposure

Fast-mapping readers can learn up to 5,000 words by the end of third grade. (Note: Struggling readers may need more exposures or targeted intervention.) 

🧠 Phonemic Awareness Is Critical

Phonemic awareness - the ability to hear and manipulate individual sounds in words - is a key factor in successful orthographic mapping. Students with strong phonemic skills map words 2–3 times faster than those with weaker skills. 

🔤 Decodable vs. Irregular Words

  • Decodable words (e.g., snap, test, brick) have consistent phoneme-grapheme correspondences and are easier to map.

  • Irregular words (e.g., laugh, yacht, busy) are harder to map and require more exposures.

On average, students learn decodable words 50% faster than irregular ones.

🚀 Readable English: Accelerating Orthographic Mapping

Readable English is a system that makes sound-spelling patterns visually transparent through a markup system. Here's how it supports orthographic mapping:

  1. Makes complex spelling patterns easy to decode

  2. Reinforces memory through repeated, scaffolded exposure

  3. Supports 2x faster improvement in fluency and comprehension compared to traditional methods

Students using Readable English show twice the rate of improvement in both fluency and comprehension compared to control groups.

🏫 Implications for Reading Instruction

  1. Combine systematic phonics with explicit phonemic awareness instruction

  2. Avoid rote memorization of irregular word lists

  3. Provide repeated, meaningful exposure in context

  4. Use tools like Readable English to make decoding intuitive

Orthographic mapping is the cornerstone of skilled reading. By focusing on phonemic awareness, decodable word exposure, and effective instructional tools like Readable English, educators can help all students, especially those who struggle, become fluent, confident readers.

Want to see how Readable English works in action? Contact us or schedule a demo today!

 

 

How Readable English Supports Struggling Readers, ML Students, and Students with Dyslexia

How Readable English Supports Struggling Readers, ML Students, and Students  with Dyslexia

In education, ensuring that every child can read proficiently is a cornerstone of academic success. However, many students face significant...

Read More
Bridging the Gap for Dyslexic Readers: From Pronunciation Symbols to Readable English

Bridging the Gap for Dyslexic Readers: From Pronunciation Symbols to Readable English

A recent instructional report by Dr. Shawn Anthony Robinson from the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Wei LAB shines a powerful spotlight on a...

Read More
Why Some 'Simple' Words Are Surprisingly Hard to Read And How to Fix It

Why Some 'Simple' Words Are Surprisingly Hard to Read And How to Fix It

At first glance, words like five, move, and gone look simple. But for beginning readers, decoding these words can be far from easy. This infographic...

Read More