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R-Controlled Vowels Worksheets

10 free PDFsUS Letter or A4Answer key includedNo login

A chart and word list for ar, or, er, ir and ur, with sorts, fill-ins, a which-spelling page, matching, sentences and a short story.

Download the r-controlled vowels worksheets

R-controlled vowels chart and word list

Sort ar, or, er, ir and ur

The ar and or picture sort comes as cut and paste and as a no-cut page.

Read and write r-controlled words

Print at 100% (actual size) for the cleanest tracing lines.

About these r-controlled vowels worksheets

When r comes right after a vowel, the r changes the vowel's sound. The a in car isn't short a or long a; it is a new sound, ar. The same happens in corn (or), her (er), bird (ir) and turn (ur). Many teachers call these bossy r words, because the r is the boss of the vowel.

These r-controlled vowels worksheets start with a chart and a word list. Children sort ar and or pictures (cut and paste or no-cut), sort er, ir and ur words, write the missing r-controlled vowel for pictures, choose the right spelling of er, ir and ur words, match words to pictures, and read r-controlled words in sentences and a short story about a farm trip.

Most children learn ar and or first and then er, ir and ur, which all make the same sound. All pages print in black and white on US Letter or A4 with answer keys on page 2.

Standards

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.3.BDecode regularly spelled one-syllable words.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.3Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.2.DUse conventional spelling for words with common spelling patterns and for frequently occurring irregular words.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.4.ARead grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.4.CUse context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.

How to use them

  1. Teach ar and or first. They sound clearly different (car, corn), so the picture sort works well by ear.
  2. Then teach er, ir and ur together, and show that they sound the same. The sort and the which-spelling page are about remembering how each word is spelled.
  3. Finish with the sentences and the story to read the words in context.

Teaching tips

  • Don't ask children to hear the difference between er, ir and ur; there isn't one. Group words by spelling and read them often.
  • er is the most common at the end of a word (tiger, ladder, sister). ir and ur are more common in the middle (bird, turn).
  • Watch for wor- words like word, work and world: the or there sounds like er. Teach them as tricky words.

Questions teachers and parents ask

What are r-controlled vowels?

R-controlled vowels are vowels followed by r, where the r changes the vowel's sound: ar (car), or (corn), er (her), ir (bird) and ur (turn).

Why are they called bossy r?

Because the r bosses the vowel into making a new sound. The a in cat and the a in car sound different only because of the r.

How do children know whether to write er, ir or ur?

They sound the same, so there is no rule a child can hear. Children learn each word's spelling by reading and sorting it, and by noticing that er is common at the end of words.

When do children learn r-controlled vowels?

Usually in the second half of 1st grade, after short vowels, blends and silent e. Practice continues in 2nd grade.

Are answer keys included?

Yes, every page with right answers has a key on page 2.