What the Teacher Needs to Know about Feature G: R-Controlled Vowels (Description pp. 132-133, Word Lists pp. 214, 206-207, 213) R-controlled vowels are often a source of confusion for students. The sound of er, ir, and ur is often very similar, and it is difficult for students to distinguish one sound from another. Students often omit the vowel in words that have r-controlled vowels even when they generally include vowels in other words. This may be due to the fact that the /r/ sound includes a vowel. Another common mistake with students needing help with this feature is that they reverse the r and the vowel, so instead of writing girl, they write gril. To help students catch mistakes related to reversing the letters, have them break down words to analyze their sounds. For example, start with the word bark: bark ark ar Then contrast bark with brat: brat at a (See page 132 of Word Journeys for examples of other pairs of words to analyze.)
Feature G Sort 1a tramp sake arch aid bar yarn drape task stub cave tar star play bank frail? tramp sake arch aid bar yarn drape task stub cave tar star play bank frail
Feature G Sort 1a a ace ar? tramp sake arch aid task drape bar frail stab cave yarn play bank tar star Transfer Words: arm, snarl, smash, slate
Feature G Sort 2a bit bite birch chirp firm dip dime blink file glide third stir drip mine shirt bit bite birch chirp firm dip dime blink file glide third stir drip mine shirt
Feature G Sort 2a i ice ir bit bite birch dip dime chirp blink file firm drip glide shirt mine stir third Transfer Words: bird, dirt, dive, hide, bring, limp
Feature G Sort 3a box broke born no corn fork close got job dome globe horn bold nor goat? box broke born no corn fork close got job dome globe horn bold nor goat
Feature G Sort 3a o oce or? box broke born no got close corn bold job dome fork goat globe horn nor Transfer Words: hope, sort, pond
Feature G Sort 4a bus cube blur burp church mule cud dug use thud curl stump hurl plum purr bus cube blur burp church mule cud dug use thud curl stump hurl plum purr
Feature G Sort 4a u uce ur bus cube blur cud mule burp dug use church thud curl stump hurl plum purr Transfer Words: trust, huge, curve
Feature G Sort 5a smart worn twirl her perch part jar storm stir skirt sport harm cork dark port smart worn twirl her perch part jar storm stir skirt sport harm cork dark port
Feature G Sort 5a ar or ir er smart worn twirl her part storm stir perch jar sport skirt harm port cork dark Transfer Words: sharp, torn, whirl, fern
Feature G Sort 6a card cape aid bare are dare stare faint frame charm march where trail hare large? card cape aid bare are dare stare faint frame charm march where trail hare large
Feature G Sort 6a ar ace ai are? card cape aid bare are charm frame faint dare where march trail hare large stare Transfer Words: hard, sail, share, crane
Feature G Sort 7a arch mare bait air stamp stray hair drain jail maid stare flare bar car jar? arch mare bait air stamp stray hair drain jail maid stare flare bar car jar
Feature G Sort 7a ar are ai air? arch mare bait air stamp bar stare drain hair stray car flare jail jar maid Transfer Words: arm, rare, brain, chair
Feature G Sort 8a clerk beach steep earn bread her each wee heard dear term heat feed search sheet? clerk beach steep earn bread her each wee heard dear term heat feed search sheet
Feature G Sort 8a er ea ee ear? clerk beach steep earn bread her each wee heard dear term heat feed search sheet Transfer Words: fern, bead, street, earth
Feature G Sort 9a perch wheel year cheer steer earth verse sweet rear be gear clear speed cheese fern? perch wheel year cheer steer earth verse sweet rear be gear clear speed cheese fern
Feature G Sort 9a er ee ear eer? perch wheel year cheer earth verse sweet rear steer be fern speed gear cheese clear Transfer Words: stern, weep, tear, deer
Feature G Sort 10a fir spice high fire tire fight light time girl third pipe rise firm child wild? fir spice high fire tire fight light time girl third pipe rise firm child wild
Feature G Sort 10a ir ice igh ire? fir spice high fire wild girl time fight tire child third pipe light firm rise Transfer Words: firm, spine, bright, hire
Feature G Sort 11a cork zone oak bore more oar snore toad soap woke for sort those road goal? cork zone oak bore more oar snore toad soap woke for sort those road goal
Feature G Sort 11a or oce oa ore? cork zone oak bore oar for woke toad more sort those soap snore road goal Transfer Words: short, robe, soak, sore