Word mapping mat maker

Say it, tap it, map it, write it

Make a word mapping mat that works for any word. A grown-up says the word. Your child says it, taps one dot for each sound, writes the letter or letters for each sound in a box, and then writes the whole word on the line. Laminate it and use it every day.

Pick a design

Now: . Hundreds of designs to choose from.

Choose each part yourself

To keep a copy, choose “Save as PDF” as the printer. What you type stays on your device: it is not sent to us and not saved.

Your worksheet:

How to make your worksheet

  1. Choose three, four or five boxes.
  2. Choose one or two mats on a page.
  3. Pick a word set for the list at the bottom, or type your own words, or turn the list off.
  4. Print and laminate. Use a dry-erase marker.

The reading skill

Mapping ties each sound in a word to the letters that spell it. Doing this with care a few times is how a word becomes one a child knows by sight.

One sound in each box

In the word ship, sh goes in one box. Not every box has to be used: a three-sound word on a four-box mat leaves the last box empty.

The word list

The words at the bottom are for the grown-up to say out loud. The child does not read them first.

Good questions

Can I use it for tricky words?

Yes. Map the sounds as usual, then talk about the part that is not spelled the way it sounds.

Can I use my own words?

Yes. Choose “Type your own words” at the top of the word list and type them. What you type stays on your device.

How many boxes do I need?

Three for words such as cat and ship, four for frog and lamp, five for words such as stamp.

How do I make it last?

Laminate the page or slip it into a page protector. Then it can be wiped clean and used again.

Is it free?

Yes, with no sign-up and no limit.

Make another kind of sheet

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