How to use this sheet

  • Have the child circle the vowel and the r together: they make one sound.
  • Say the sounds before the sheet: ar as in car, or as in fork, and er, ir and ur, which all sound the same.
  • For spelling er, ir and ur words, have the child learn the common ones by sight, as the sound gives no clue.

Common mistakes

  • Reading the short vowel and then the r, so "car" becomes "cah-r". The vowel and the r make one sound.
  • Spelling "bird" as "burd" or "berd". The three spellings sound the same: learn which word uses which.
  • Mixing up ar and or, as in "farm" and "form". Say both words and listen.

R-Controlled Vowels

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