📖 ReadingGrade 2Lesson 2
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R-Controlled Vowels ar, or, er, ir, and ur

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Recognize r-controlled vowels ar, or, er, ir, and ur in words
  • 2Say the sound each r-controlled vowel pattern makes
  • 3Sort words into the correct r-controlled vowel group
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Mini Lesson

When the letter r follows a vowel, it takes over and changes the vowel’s sound completely. We call these r-controlled vowels — also known as bossy r!

ar and or — different sounds

  • ar makes the /är/ sound — like the beginning of "are."
  • Example: car, star, farm, bark.
  • or makes the /ôr/ sound — like the beginning of "ore."
  • Example: for, corn, sport, born.

er, ir, and ur — one shared sound

  • er, ir, and ur all make the same /ûr/ sound.
  • er: her, fern, term.
  • ir: bird, first, shirt.
  • ur: turn, curl, hurt.

How to spot bossy r

  • Look for a vowel followed directly by the letter r.
  • Say the word — if the vowel sounds "bossed around," bossy r is there!
R-Controlled Vowels ChartA chart showing five r-controlled vowel patterns: ar makes the ar sound as in car, or makes the or sound as in corn, and er ir ur all make the same ur sound as in her bird and turn.Bossy r Patternsar→ /är/car · star · farm · barkor→ /ôr/for · corn · sport · bornerirur→ /ûr/her · bird · turn · shirt · curlAll three make the SAME sound!
Five r-controlled vowel patterns — ar, or, and the er/ir/ur trio that all make the same /ûr/ sound.
Bossy r SpotlightThree example words — star, corn, and bird — with the r-controlled vowel letters highlighted to show where bossy r appears in each word.Spot bossy r!star→ /är/corn→ /ôr/bird→ /ûr/When a vowel meets r, bossy r takes over.
Three words with their r-controlled vowel highlighted — star (ar), corn (or), bird (ir).
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Ask yourself: "Is there a vowel right before the r? What sound does that vowel-r pair make?"

Vocabulary
R-controlled vowel
A vowel whose sound is changed by the letter r that comes right after ite.g. the a in car, the o in corn, the i in bird
Bossy r
A nickname for r-controlled vowels — the r "bosses" the vowel and changes its sounde.g. star, for, her, bird, turn
/är/ sound
The sound the vowel team ar makes, like the beginning of "are"e.g. car, star, farm
/ôr/ sound
The sound the vowel team or makes, like the beginning of "ore"e.g. for, corn, born
/ûr/ sound
The shared sound made by er, ir, and ure.g. her, bird, turn
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← Lesson 1: Vowel Teams ai, ay, ee, ea, and oaLesson 3: Long Vowel Strategies — Silent-e and Vowel Team Patterns →