How do I help my child pick er, ir, or ur when spelling?

There's no rule that decides it, so lean on word families and sight memory: -irst words (first, thirst), -urn words (turn, burn), and the common er ending in winter and summer. Writing the word both ways and asking which looks right builds the memory that eventually answers automatically.

Are there words where the r doesn't boss the vowel?

Yes, when the r starts the next syllable instead of closing the vowel's syllable: very, spirit, and arrow keep their normal vowel sounds. If your child meets one, it's a nice discovery: the r only takes charge when it stands right behind the vowel in the same syllable.

2nd grade r-controlled vowels (ar, or, er)

2nd grade r-controlled vowels (ar, or, er) worksheets

Second graders sort the bossy r patterns quickly and take on the real spelling challenge: er, ir, and ur sound identical, so words like nurse, first, and letter must be remembered by sight.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core RF.2.3.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of words you'll sort

Say each word, then write it under its bossy r sound.

porchsparkburntornforestfarcurbforkturnharpsharkverb

Columns: ar and or and er, ir, ur. "harp" belongs under ar; "torn" belongs under or; "turn" belongs under er, ir, ur.

Every print pulls a new set of words at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different mix.

What's on a 2nd grade sheet

2nd grade sheets draw from 90 words, 21 to a page. 1st and 2nd grade print from the same 90 words. What changes is the standard (RF.2.3 here) and the teaching notes below. 1st grade sheets print 15 to a page.

Some of the words:

bornstormtorchmorningcordorbitorganherfirstfur

Sorting. Say each word, then write it under its bossy r sound. 21 words per page.

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

The er column holds three spellings of one sound, and that's the grade-2 conversation: you can't hear the difference between fir and fur, so the eye has to learn each word. When a spelling error like "gurl" appears, write both forms and ask which looks right; that instinct is the goal.

Watch for: Er, ir, and ur all make the same sound; only the spelling differs (her, bird, fur). The r changes the vowel completely; sounding out c-a-r with a short a gives the wrong word.

Common questions about 2nd grade r-controlled vowels (ar, or, er)

How do I help my child pick er, ir, or ur when spelling?: There's no rule that decides it, so lean on word families and sight memory: -irst words (first, thirst), -urn words (turn, burn), and the common er ending in winter and summer. Writing the word both ways and asking which looks right builds the memory that eventually answers automatically.
Are there words where the r doesn't boss the vowel?: Yes, when the r starts the next syllable instead of closing the vowel's syllable: very, spirit, and arrow keep their normal vowel sounds. If your child meets one, it's a nice discovery: the r only takes charge when it stands right behind the vowel in the same syllable.

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Aligned to Common Core RF.2.3. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 240, updated August 2026.

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