R-controlled vowels (ar, or, er) worksheets

By grade

• 1st Grade Right on level
• 2nd Grade A step harder

What students need to know

When r follows a vowel, it bosses the sound around: car, corn, and bird don't use their short vowels.

This skill runs from 1st grade through 2nd grade. Pick a grade above for level-matched sentences, teaching notes, and worksheets.

R-controlled vowels (ar, or, er) across the grades

1st grade

When r comes right after a vowel, the two merge into a brand-new sound: the bossy r of car, corn, and bird. First graders sort words by ear into those three sound columns.

2nd grade

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.