Introduction:

Students who have learned the sounds of the short and long vowels are ready to learn how r
changes the sound of the vowel. This strategy provides direct instruction.
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Strategy: Reading Words with Vowels + R

Materials Needed:
TTS-WA-VwR-Reading VwR.pdf

Show the student the Word Card.

Say:     Here are some words that have vowels followed by r. A vowel that has an r after it
doesn’t have a long vowel sound, and it doesn’t have a short vowel sound. It’s a
different sound altogether. Say these words after me as I read them. Listen to the
vowel sound in each one.

Point to far.

Say:     This word is far. The vowel a and the letter r say -ar in far. Say far now, and listen
to the vowel sound with r.

After the student says “far,” point to cord.

Say:     This word is cord. The vowel o and the letter r say -or in cord. Say cord now and
listen to the vowel sound with r.

After the student says “cord,” point to the next words.

Say:     These words are firm, germ, and burn. The vowels i, e, and u together with r say
-er in these three words. Read these words to me, and listen to the sounds these
vowels make with r.

After the student reads the words, show the student the Practice Words Card.

Say:     Now read these words.

On the Student Record Form, record the student’s responses.

Show the student the Sentence Card.

Say:     These sentences contain many words like those you have been reading. Read these
sentences.

On the Student Record Form, record the student’s responses.

Interpreting and Using TTS Results

Students who have been reading words with short vowels successfully usually have little
difficulty with words containing vowels with r. For those who do have difficulty, construct
word sorts and simple games to provide practice. Ask students to search their reading materials
for words with r-controlled vowels and copy them.