263. Making Words Stick: Orthographic Mapping and How the Brain Learns to Read with Dr. Molly Ness

What is orthographic mapping—and why does it matter so much for your upper elementary readers? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Molly Ness, educator, researcher, and co-author of Making Words Stick, to unpack the science behind how students store and retrieve words. We break down what orthographic mapping actually is, how it develops, and why it’s a missing piece for so many students who struggle with fluency and comprehension.

You’ll learn about a simple, four-step instructional routine that supports orthographic mapping in a way that’s practical, flexible, and effective across all grade levels. From segmenting sounds to exploring word meaning and usage, Dr. Ness shares how you can make this invisible cognitive process visible in your classroom instruction—even without a fancy program or curriculum.

If you teach reading in grades 3–5, this episode is packed with insights and tools to help you feel more confident supporting students who struggle to decode and read automatically. Click play and discover how focusing on orthographic mapping can transform your reading instruction—one word at a time.

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To check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode263.