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R Controlled Vowels Teaching Ideas

          Hey friends! It’s been a while since I’ve updated this post. Teaching the phonics pattern for r controlled vowels can be very tricky for students. We want them to learn how to decode r controlled vowels without getting them stuck in the process. So how do I do it?

Decoding R Controlled Vowels

I work with students on decoding and practicing nonsense words. As a teacher, it’s important to model for students how adding the r after a vowel changes the vowel sound. In order to show my students how to decode, I display these  words and we emphasize the difference. The words I use are:  at/ art bid/ bird hut/ hurt. I circle the r in each word and we read them together. Next, I want students to see and hear the difference in the sound.
r controlled vowels

I let my students play games so that they are engaged in the phonics process.

Here’s a list of popular r controlled vowel words that might help you while teaching them.

We use these literacy mats to help students practice decoding and vocabulary all at once. One of the reasons I love teaching this phonics pattern is it naturally lets students decode words they might not use every single day. You can find these literacy mats right here.

r controlled vowels literacy centers

Another trick to teaching this phonics pattern is to use poems, chants and songs. In my class, we love using Jack Hartmann Songs.  Do you have a favorite song or chant to use in the classroom? If so, use the contact me button to send me a message. I’d love to try it in my classroom!

r-controlled-vowels

If students are struggling with these sounds, go back to each sound and determine where the hold up is. Let students practice each individual sound for a bit before mixing them all back together.
Please let me know if you have any questions while teaching r controlled vowels. Phonics is one of the biggest road blocks for struggling readers, so it’s important to try to use a variety of instructional tools to help them.

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