Introducing the /er/ Triplets

Taura Dorsey: Hi everyone.

Students: Hi!

Narrator: At Hope-Hill Elementary in Atlanta, Georgia. Taura Dorsey is leading her first graders through a lesson on what is known as the /er/ triplets: 'er', 'ir', and 'ur'. The triplets are members of the r-controlled or bossy 'r' family. And they're tricky because they all make the same sound. Ms. Dorsey kicks off the lesson by reviewing the bossy 'r' vowels her students already know: 'ar' and 'or'.

Taura Dorsey: What do you know about 'or' and 'ar'? Ellis?

Ellis: They are both bossy 'r'.

Taura Dorsey: Awesome job. Now I'm going to introduce you to some more bossy 'r' family members. Okay? And I'm going to tell you the sounds. Everyone say /er/.

Students: /er/.

Taura Dorsey: /er/.

Students: /er/.

Taura Dorsey: And ... /er/.

Students: /er/.

Taura Dorsey: Have a question ... /er/, /er/, /er/. I need ... Okay, let's see. Think time. Think time. What did you notice? What's similar? Aiden?

Aiden: They all say the same sound.

Taura Dorsey: They all have the same sound. Okay, these are the /er/ triplets. Everyone say "/er/ triplets."

Students: "/er/ triplets."

Narrator: Even though they're spelled differently — 'er', 'ir', and 'ur' — they all make the same /er/ sound like in fern, girl, and curb.

Taura Dorsey: So this is /er/. This is number one. So number one /er/ is what?

Students: 'er'.

Taura Dorsey: Number two /er/ is ...?

Students:'ir'.

Taura Dorsey: And the third /er/ is ...

Students: 'ur'.

Taura Dorsey: Okay.

Narrator: Now it's time for dictation where students get to practice spelling each of the /er/ triplets. First, just the sound and then with words.

Taura Dorsey: All right. Now this is our chance to tap out some words. Are you all ready?

Students: Yes.

Taura Dorsey: Are you ready?

Students: Yes.

Taura Dorsey: So our first word is bird. Everyone echo.

Students: Bird.

Taura Dorsey: Let's go.

Students: /b/, /er/, /d/. Bird.

Narrator: Because students can't hear which triplet to use. Ms. Dorsey gives them the correct spelling ...

Taura Dorsey: 'ir' everyone.

Narrator: And plenty of opportunities to practice until it becomes automatic.

Taura Dorsey: Which /er/ triplet did we say?

Student: 'ir'.

Taura Dorsey: Awesome. Yes. So write it over.

Student: B-I-R-D.

Taura Dorsey: Awesome. Thank you. The next word is turn. Everyone say turn.

Students: Turn.

Taura Dorsey: What word is it?

Students: Turn.

Taura Dorsey: Let's tap it out.

together:
/t/, /er/, /n/. Turn.

Taura Dorsey: 'ur' everyone. 'ur'. Let's see if you can write it. Go. All right. Who wants to spell turn for me? Who wants to spell turn? Go ahead, Ellis.

Students: T-U-R-N.

Taura Dorsey: Awesome job. Kiss your brain.

Narrator: Writing words in isolation is not enough If we want to help these students become strong writers. So Ms. Dorsey moves on to dictating phrases.

Taura Dorsey: Here's your phrase. "Got a sunburn." Let me help you out with that /er/ triplet. It is 'ur'. Everyone say 'ur'.

Students: 'ur'.

Taura Dorsey: Did you write it?

Students: Yes. Yes.

Taura Dorsey: Oh, look at this. This is amazing.

Narrator: Ms. Dorsey wraps up the lesson by going back and having students read everything they wrote, starting with just the sounds. This routine is quick and simple, but provides meaningful practice to reinforce their learning.

Taura Dorsey: Everyone flip it back over. So we're going to go over our sounds and our words. Let's say the sounds. So the first one is what?

Students: 'er'. /er/.

Taura Dorsey: Let's do the second one.

Students: 'ir'. /er/.

Taura Dorsey: And the third one.

Students: 'ur'. /er/.

Taura Dorsey: And what are those called? The what?

Students: The /er/ triplets.

Taura Dorsey: The /er/ triplets. All right, put your finger on the first word. What is that first word?

Students: Bird.

Taura Dorsey: Bird. Let's spell it. Go.

together: B-I-R-D.

Taura Dorsey: What's the word?

Students: Bird.

Taura Dorsey: All right, let's do the second word. Are you ready? Go.

Students: Turn.

Taura Dorsey: Spell it.

Students:
T-U-R-N. Turn.

Taura Dorsey: All right. Celeste, read that one phrase for us. Go.

Celeste: "Got a sunburn."

Taura Dorsey: All right. Thank you Celeste. Everybody. On the count of three, I want you to kiss your brain. Ready? 1, 2, 3.

Narrator: Reading Universe is made possible by generous support from Jim and Donna Barksdale; the Hastings/Quillin Fund, an advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation; the AFT; the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation; and anonymous donors. Special thanks to Hope-Hill Elementary, Reading is Essential for All People, and Atlanta Public Schools. If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel @RUteaching. Reading Universe is a service of WETA, Washington D.C., the Barksdale Reading Institute, and First Book.

Taura Dorsey: My name is Taura Dorsey, and this is Reading Universe.