📖

Three Spellings, One Sound

R-Controlled Vowels: ER, IR, UR

Day 36of 180
Week 8of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand that er, ir, and ur make the same /er/ sound

2

Decode words with r-controlled vowel patterns

3

Read simple words containing er, ir, and ur

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 3:5

“Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding.”

— Proverbs 3:5 (WEB)

Learning new sounds is like trusting God - sometimes things aren't exactly what they seem!

📦 Materials Needed

  • R-controlled vowel cards
  • Colored markers
  • White paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students and introduce the exciting world of r-controlled vowels. Explain that sometimes letters work together to make surprising sounds!

💭 Review Question: Who can tell me what a vowel is?
2Teaching (10 min)

Demonstrate how er, ir, and ur all make the same /er/ sound. Show example words like 'her', 'bird', and 'turn'.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • R changes how the vowel sounds
  • These three letter combinations sound the same
  • We can decode words by listening carefully
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Can you hear how 'her', 'bird', and 'turn' sound similar?
  • What other words can you think of with these sounds?
3Activity: Sound Detective Sorting (7 min)
hands-on

Students create a sorting chart for er, ir, and ur words

📝 Instructions:
  1. Divide paper into three columns
  2. Label columns: ER, IR, UR
  3. Cut out word cards and sort them
  4. Illustrate one word from each column
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Provide pre-cut words to sort

Challenge: Students generate their own words to sort

4Closing (3 min)

Review what we learned about r-controlled vowels

📝 Review Questions:
  • What three letter combinations make the /er/ sound?
  • Can you give me an example of each?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You for helping us learn and grow. Please help us understand new sounds and words.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore more er words!

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 3:5

“Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding.”

— Proverbs 3:5 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Hand motions: Point to heart, then spread hands wide for 'trust'

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

R-controlled vowels can be tricky for young readers

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Practice listening to the /er/ sound
  • Use verbal and visual examples
  • Encourage patience with new phonics patterns
🤔 Common Struggles:

Distinguishing between similar vowel sounds

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to identify and sort words correctly

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a word hunt in children's books
  • Play 'Sound Detective' game at home
  • Make a poster of er, ir, and ur words

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 37 →Back to Phonics & Reading