R-Controlled Vowel Sounds
Read and spell words containing r-controlled vowels (ar, er, ir, ur, or, ore) and vowel-r patterns where 'r' modifies the vowel sound
What a learner can do afterwards
- Read words with r-controlled vowels (e.g. 'car', 'bird', 'fork', 'her')
- Recognise that 'r' changes the vowel sound (e.g. 'cat' vs 'cart')
- Spell words with common r-controlled patterns
The lesson
Sometimes the letter r sits right after a vowel. When it does, the vowel sound changes. It stops making its normal sound. The r takes over. We call this a bossy r.
Look at cat and cart. In cat, you hear a short a. In cart, the r changes the a sound completely. Cart does not rhyme with cat.
R-controlled vowels have special spelling patterns. Look for ar, er, ir, ur, or, and ore. Er, ir, and ur often sound the same. Think her, bird, and nurse.
When r comes right after a vowel, it changes that vowel's sound.
Watch it
Where it sits
Learn first
This opens up
Nothing builds on it yet.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.