3.2 Explicitly Teach R-Controlled Vowels

Now it's time to teach!

If you choose to use The Alphabet Queen story, you can begin by reviewing closed syllables. Then tell the part of the story about r-controlled vowel sounds to introduce the lesson.

Or you can introduce r-controlled vowels using this step-by-step lesson.

Say,

As you know, vowels have short sounds and long sounds. Vowels say their short sounds when they are closed in by (or followed by) a consonant. You have learned that if a vowel has a consonant after it, we call that a closed syllable.

But guess what? When the consonant that comes after the vowel is the letter 'r', the sound changes. The vowel is no longer short. It makes a new kind of sound. That's what we're going to learn about today!

On the board, write the word card. Ask,

Tell students,

Today, we will look at words that follow this pattern: a vowel, then an 'r'. It is a very special pattern that we call r-controlled or bossy 'r'.

The 'r' is SO bossy that when it stands next to a vowel, it does not let the vowel make its short sound. The 'r' makes the vowels say different sounds. The 'r' controls the vowel. In this word [point to card on the board], the 'ar' together says /ar/. So this word is /c/, /ar/, /d/, card.

Next show students the r-controlled flash cards that you will use to help them practice these sounds.

Show students the new flash card(s).

This part of the lesson can be introduced on a different day, if needed.

Say,

In addition to learning the new sounds vowels make when they're followed by an 'r', we also need to learn how to recognize r-controlled syllables.

Remind students that a syllable is a word or word part that has one vowel sound. Model for students a few sample syllables that have one vowel followed by an 'r', like star, park, and farm. Write them on the board and point out that there is one vowel immediately followed by an 'r'. 

Then show students the step-by-step procedures for identifying a syllable and determining what the vowel says. Pick a word or syllable that has 'ar' and have students do the following:

Steps for Identifying a Syllable Type

1. Look through the syllable from left to right and find the vowel.
2. Touch the vowel and look "next door" (right after the vowel).
3. Is there an 'r' next door?
4. If there is an 'r', underline the vowel and the 'r' together. This means it is an r-controlled syllable.
5. If the syllable is r-controlled, then the 'r' tells the vowel what to say.
6. Mark the syllable as r-controlled with a capital 'R' and a circle around it.
7. Review what the vowel followed by an 'r' says in the syllable.
8. Read the syllable.

Here's some language you might use when introducing this process.

I am going to spell a syllable for you. Please do not blurt out the syllable! We are going to move through the syllable together. Here we go.

Write 'h', 'a', 'r' on the whiteboard.

Say,

Look all the way through the syllable and touch the vowel. Now look next door, immediately after the vowel. Is the vowel followed by an 'r'?

Students should say "yes."

Say,

If the vowel is followed by an 'r' then the syllable is r-controlled or bossy 'r'.

We can underline the vowel and the 'r' together. We can put an 'R' with a circle around it above the syllable.

Say,

Now let's tap and read the syllable together.

/h/, /ar/, har.

Now that you can read har, let's read the next syllable together.