7. Student Practice Activities for R-Controlled Vowels

Students need lots of opportunities to practice reading and spelling words with r-controlled vowels so that they can build accuracy and automaticity on the way to fluent reading. We've included free printable student practice activities below. Please download and share them with your colleagues!  

Before your students begin the activities, make sure that they understand how to complete them. You can model the activities in a whole group setting or in a small group. 

Keep an eye out for students who may need you to step in and scaffold.

Roll and Read

Roll and Reads are a fun, game-like way to practice reading and spelling words in isolation. After you've modeled how to do Roll and Reads, students can do them with partners or in centers on their own. Use this student activity to build accuracy and fluency in reading and spelling words with r-controlled vowels.

Roll and Read with R-Controlled Vowels ‘ar’ and ‘or’

Roll and Read with R-Controlled Vowels ‘er’, ‘ir’, and ‘ur’

Student Read Sheets

Use these read sheets to practice the new phonics pattern you've taught. You'll want to first introduce these sheets in whole or small groups. After students have read them with guidance from the teacher, they can use them to practice reading independently at school or home.

Mixed R-Controlled Read Sheet with Words

R-Controlled Vowels: Read Sheet with Words for ‘ar’ (opens in new window)
R-Controlled Vowels: Read Sheet with Words for ‘er’ (opens in new window)
R-Controlled Vowels: Read Sheet with Words for ‘ir’ (opens in new window)
R-Controlled Vowels: Read Sheet with Words for ‘or’ (opens in new window)
R-Controlled Vowels: Read Sheet with Words for ‘ur’ (opens in new window)

Mixed R-Controlled Vowels: Read Sheet with Words, Phrases, and Sentences

R-Controlled Vowels: Read Sheet with Words, Phrases, and Sentence for ‘ar’ (opens in new window)
R-Controlled Vowels: Read Sheet with Words, Phrases, and Sentences for ‘er’ (opens in new window)
R-Controlled Vowels: Read Sheet with Words, Phrases, and Sentence for ‘ir’ (opens in new window)
R-Controlled Vowels: Read Sheet with Words, Phrases, and Sentences for ‘or’ (opens in new window)
R-Controlled Vowels: Read Sheet with Words, Phrases, and Sentences for ‘ur’ (opens in new window)

Decodable Texts for Building Fluency

Students should practice reading in context each day to build fluency. This decodable text focuses on the words with -ck that students are learning. Be sure to read How to Use Decodable Texts before implementing them with students.

Decodable – To The Farm

Decodable – Thor and Greg

Decodable – A Girl Named Shirl

Other Activities

Elkonin Boxes for R-Controlled Vowels

Phonics Board Game with R-Controlled Vowels

Word Chaining with R-Controlled Vowels