R-Controlled Vowels

These printables will help you teach the /är/ vowel sound that is heard in words like car, hard, and march.

These printables cover the /ôr/ vowel sound, spelled with the letters or. Words in this set set include for, short, and storm.

These worksheets have the /ûr/ sound spelled all three different ways. It is spelled er as in herd, ir as in girl, and ur as in curl. Each activity includes all three spellings.

These printables cover the /ûr/ vowel sound, spelled with the letters er. Words in this set include her, term, and germ.

These printables cover the /ûr/ vowel sound, spelled with the letters ir. Words in this set include bird, third, and swirl.

These worksheets will help students learn about the /ûr/ vowel sound, spelled with the letters ur. Words in this set set include fur, curl, and surf.

Learn about the /âr/ sound with these printable resources. Words in this unit include: hare, bear, wear, air, where, and there.

These worksheets, flash cards, and word circles feature words with the /îr/ sound. Words in the unit include deer, here, clear, near, and fear.

This is our complete phonics index page. Find worksheets related to consonant sounds, long and short vowel sounds, blends, diphthongs, and digraphs.

R-controlled vowels are a significant part of phonics instruction in elementary school, helping students understand how the letter "R" changes the way vowels are pronounced. Common R-controlled vowel combinations include ar (as in car), er (as in her), ir (as in bird), or (as in corn), and ur (as in turn). Recognizing and mastering these patterns is essential for young readers and writers, as these combinations frequently appear in the English language. Super Teacher Worksheets offers a wide range of learning materials to help students practice and master R-controlled vowels in engaging and effective ways.

Students can use various activities provided by Super Teacher Worksheets to strengthen their understanding of R-controlled vowels. Sorting activities challenge students to group words by their vowel sounds, reinforcing pattern recognition. Circle-the-word exercises help students identify R-controlled vowel patterns within a group of words, sharpening their phonics skills. Word searches offer a fun and interactive way to locate and practice spelling R-controlled vowel words, while fill-in-the-sentence tasks provide contextual practice, helping students learn how these words fit into everyday language. These activities are ideal for individual or small group practice, making them versatile tools for classrooms.

In addition to printable resources, teachers often use hands-on and interactive methods to teach R-controlled vowels. Visual aids like anchor charts or phonics posters can serve as helpful reminders of vowel patterns. Phonics games, such as bingo or memory-matching with R-controlled vowel words, make learning more engaging. Teachers may also incorporate read-alouds featuring R-controlled vowel words or guided writing exercises to help students apply their knowledge in real-world contexts. By combining these varied teaching strategies, educators can ensure students gain a deep understanding of R-controlled vowels and how they affect pronunciation.

Understanding R-controlled vowels is crucial for building reading fluency, spelling accuracy, and overall language skills. Mastery of these vowel patterns enables students to decode words more effectively and boosts their confidence as readers and writers. With Super Teacher Worksheets’ free and comprehensive resources and a variety of classroom teaching strategies, educators can ensure that students develop strong phonics foundations, paving the way for continued academic success in English Language Arts.