R-Controlled Vowels
Videos and songs to help First Grade kids learn the r-controlled vowels: ar, er, ir, or, ur. R-controlled vowels occur when a vowel is followed by the letter R, which changes the way the vowel is pronounced. These vowels are often called “bossy R” because the R takes control of the sound.
Learn the R-Controlled Vowels
R-controlled vowels, also known as “bossy r” or “r-colored vowels,” are a key concept in English phonics. They occur when a vowel is followed by the letter “r,” and the “r” changes the way the vowel is pronounced. The “r” takes control of the vowel sound.
Here’s a breakdown of the most common r-controlled vowel sounds:
- “ar”
This sound is similar to the “a” in “car."
Examples: car, star, far, arm, dark, hard, farm, smart, start - “or”
This sound is similar to the “aw” in “law” or the “o” in “for."
Examples: for, or, more, born, corn, form, north, short, sport, store, storm - “er,” “ir,” and “ur”
These three spellings usually represent the same sound.
Examples:
er: her, term, person, under, number
ir: bird, girl, first, shirt, stir
ur: fur, burn, turn, hurt, purple
The following diagram shows r-controlled vowel words. Practice saying these words. Scroll down the page for more examples.
Key Characteristics of R-Controlled Vowels:
The “r” changes the vowel sound: The vowel does not make its typical short or long sound. Instead, the “r” creates a new, blended sound. Each r-controlled vowel represents a single sound, not two separate sounds.
Look Out for Bossy R
Fun Phonics Song for Kids
The Rules of Bossy “R”
R Controlled Vowels Practice
| R-Controlled Vowels & Digraphs | ||
|---|---|---|
| AR Sound | Er,Ir,Ur | OR Sound |
| Ar,Er,Ir,Or,Ur | Ou, Ow | Oi, Oy |
| OO Sound | ||
Learn the sound of the letters
Learning Short Vowels
| Short Vowels | ||
|---|---|---|
| Short A | Short E | Short I |
| Short O | Short U | Short Vowels |
Learning Long Vowels
| Long Vowels | ||
|---|---|---|
| Long A | Long E | Long I |
| Long O | Long U | Y (vowel) |
| Long Vowels | Short & Long Vowels | |
Compare Short & Long Vowels
| Short & Long Vowels | ||
|---|---|---|
| Short & Long A | Short & Long E | Short & Long I |
| Short & Long O | Short & Long U | |
Learning Consonants
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