2nd grade
Bossy R: er, ir, ur
One sound, three spellings: trace her, bird and fur, color the er, ir and ur words, pick the right spelling for six words and read a sentence.
Phonics worksheet · Bossy R and diphthongs
Bossy R: or
The or sound: trace corn, fork and horse, color the or words, choose or or ar to finish six words and read a sentence.
- Grade level
- 2nd grade
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- R-controlled vowels, Diphthongs, Spelling one sound many ways
What kids do
“The r is bossy: it changes the sound of the o! Read, trace, find and fill in or words.”
Printed on the sheet:
- 2. Read and trace corn fork horse storm short north or says /or/, as in corn and fork
- 3. Color every word with or
- 4. Write or or ar to finish each word
- 5. Read the sentence. Trace the or words.
- A horse ate corn in the storm.
- 6. Draw a horse in a storm
Words on this sheet
orpouchbonefortcordborntornsportporchtonspotfoxcodsestthsp
Teacher tip
Or is a word on its own. Ask kids to find it in corn and fork.
How to use it
- Call the r “bossy” and act it out: the r pushes the vowel to make a new sound.
- Say the sound with a picture: ar like a pirate, or like a fork, ou like “ouch”.
- Use the sheet as a quick check after you teach the sound, then reteach in a small group.
Watch for
er, ir and ur sound the same, so spelling them is about memory. Group words by spelling.
Talk about it
- Which spellings make the same sound?
- How did you figure out that word?
Take it further
Write a pirate story full of ar words.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More bossy r and diphthongs worksheets
2nd grade
Bossy R Sentences
Eight sentences with ar, or, ir and ur words to finish: car, fork, bird, nurse, star, horse, shirt and dirt.
2nd grade
oi and oy
The /oy/ sound: trace coin, oil and boy, color the oi and oy words, fill in the right spelling and read a sentence.
2nd grade
ou and ow
The /ow/ sound: trace cloud, house and cow, color the ou and ow words, fill in the right spelling and read a sentence.
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