2nd grade
Bossy R Sort: ar, or, er/ir/ur
Twelve words to sort by their bossy R sound: ar (scarf, spark), or (thorn, stork) and the /er/ spellings (perch, twirl, church).
Phonics worksheet · Bossy R and diphthongs
Bossy R Sentences 2
Eight new sentences with ar, or, er, ir and ur words to finish: scarf, storm, turtle, sister, turn, skirt, carve and third.
- 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
“Read each sentence. Circle the bossy R team that makes a real word. Write it on the line.”
Printed on the sheet:
- It is my th d try.
Words on this sheet
arorirurMy sisterPlease tHer skThe stAt
Teacher tip
Have kids underline the bossy r chunk (ar, or, er, ir, ur) in each answer before they reread the whole sentence.
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”.
- Send it home with a note asking families to listen to their child read the words.
Watch for
er, ir and ur sound the same, so spelling them is about memory. Group words by spelling.
Talk about it
- What sound does the vowel make when r comes after it?
- What sound does this letter or letter team make?
Take it further
Make a bossy R anchor chart with words from class books.
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
Sound Sort: /oy/ or /ow/?
Twelve longer words to read out loud and sort by sound: moist, choice and oyster, or crowd, pouch and sprout.
2nd grade
Bossy R Word Search
Ten ar, or, er, ir and ur words hidden across, down and diagonally down: shark, storm, shirt, nurse, fern and more.
2nd grade
oi, oy, ou and ow Word Search
Ten words with oi, oy, ou, ow, au and aw hidden across, down and diagonally down: coin, toy, cloud, crown and straw.
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