R-Controlled Vowels Worksheets: 4 Free Printables!
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. See our disclosure policy.
These four free printables help children practice identifying and reading words with r-Controlled vowels. The worksheets include focused practice with AR, ER, IR, OR, and UR patterns.
What are r-Controlled Vowels?
When a vowel is followed by the letter r, the r takes control of the vowel. The vowel will no longer say its long or short sound, but it joins together with the r and a new sound is created.
This is why it is sometimes called the “Bossy R.” The Vowel + r will come together to make ONE new sound!
Sounds of The Bossy R
- a + r says /ar/
- e + r says /ər/*
- i + r says /ər/*
- o + r says /or/
- u + r says /ər/*
*er, ir, and ur all make the same sound.
Teaching r-Controlled Vowels
Explicitly teach the r-Controlled vowels one at a time. I like to start by teaching AR by itself, and OR by itself.
Next, teach ER, IR, and UR together, because they have the same /ər/ sound, then develop the patterns one at a time on separate days.
Provide children with lots of opportunities to practice reading words with these patterns and sounds. Allow them to practice spelling words with these sounds as well, using word and sentence dictation.
👉 Helpful Tip: Use a keyword as an anchor for each bossy r pattern!
Here are the little chants I say with my students, using the free printable r-Controlled anchor chart. I flash my phonogram cards and kids say the sound, followed by the keyword in this jingle:
AR: “/ar/ like the /ar/ of car.”
OR: “/or/ like the /or/ of corn.”
IR: “/ir/ like the /É™r/ of bird.”
ER: “/er/ like the /É™r/ of her.”
UR: “/ur/ like the /É™r/ of nurse.”
👉 Note: ER, IR, and UR are tricky! They all make the same sound, and there are no clear-cut spelling rules for which one to use.
Children must rely on visual memory and ask themselves, “Which one looks right?” This requires practice! Have students play our R-Controlled Bingo Game for more reinforcement.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to read the words on these worksheets, but to quickly identify and read words with controlled vowels within text.
The Worksheets
Each of the four worksheets focuses on AR, ER, IR, OR, or UR patterns.
Each worksheet allows students to practice reading over 20 words with r-controlled vowels, highlighting the vowels. The printables have been updated to only include one-syllable words. These are perfect to use when first introducing these new concepts.
Next, they’ll practice identifying words that match pictures. This is really helpful for practicing reading words that “look right.”
Tips & Tricks
- These pdf worksheets are designed for students Grades 1-3 to practice identifying and reading words with r-Controlled vowels.
- Use decodable texts to support this important phonics skill.
- Use these worksheets to challenge your students and deepen with spelling practice. For extra practice, flip over the worksheets and challenge kids to spell words that include these patterns!
Related Resources
Download & Print
We’d love to hear about your experience using these worksheets!
Please leave a comment below or tag us on Instagram @literacylearn.
DOWNLOAD TERMS: All of our resources and printables are designed for personal use only in homes and classrooms. Each teacher must download his or her own copy. Please do not save to a shared drive, reproduce our resources on the web, or make photocopies for anyone besides your own students. To share with others, please use the social share links provided or distribute the link to the blog post so others can download their own copies. Your support in this allows us to keep making free resources for everyone! Please see our Creative Credits page for information about the licensed clipart we use. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our terms, please email us. Thank you!
This is a cool site! I’m using the auditory exercise in my classroom tomorrow.
Hi Linda, That’s so great to hear! Thank you for sharing your kind feedback! 🙂 -Katie & Laura
Great resources to be used in my second grade class!
Thank you!
Veronica, We are so glad that you can use these resources with your students!
Katie and Laura
The 4 r-controlled worksheets are exactly what I need for my students. I like the separate sheets and the mixed practice one as well!!
Thank you so much for sharing!!
Hi Jennifer! Thank you so much for the lovely feedback. We’re thrilled this resource was helpful for your and your students!! 🙂 -Katie & Laura