All the Write Sounds

The reading program created for YOUR child!

Jump to Level → 1: Vowels & Consonants | 2: CVCs | 3: Blended Consonants

4: Digraphs | 5: R-Controlled Vowels

Level 5: R-Controlled Vowels

R-Controlled Vowels are vowel sounds that change when followed by the letter r, creating a new sound. For example, "ar" in "hard" sounds different from "a" in "had".

Supplies

Play-doh or kinetic sand
White board & marker (or paper & pencil)
Letter cards
Level 5 Activities
Tray optional

Download Level 5 Activities here!

Get Resources

Parent Video

Steps to Success:

1. Parent: Watch this Level 5 Parent Video

2. Work on the activities included underneath this video until your child is comfortable reading and writing r-controlled vowels

Your Goal for Level 5

Work on the activities below until your child can do the following with r-controlled vowels:

➔ Read the words using Sound Balls

➔ Write the words

➔ Sound check spelling using Sound Balls

Choose Your Next Adventure!

Below are some fun activities to help get your child comfortable reading and writing r-controlled vowels:

Reading with Sound Balls & Letter Cards

Roll Play-Doh into small balls (These are your Sound Balls)
Choose either ar or or to start with - I like to start with ar
Review the sound that the vowel makes on its own (e.g., a makes a-a-apple)
Place the vowel plus the r card on the tray (e.g., ar)
Explain that this sound makes a single new sound that uses a single sound ball - ar
Choose consonant cards to place on either side of ar. (Note - you can use the sheet of R-Controlled Vowels Practice Words included in this lesson's activity pack!)
Place a Sound Ball below each sound - ar will only get one sound ball.
As you pronounce each sound, SMASH the Sound Ball for that sound!
Then, grab all the Sound Balls and SQUEEZE them together as you pronounce the word!
Replace the consonants to create a new word.
When you're ready, you can move on to the other sounds, like or, er, ir, and ur. Since er, ir, and ur sound the same, I like to teach them separately from each other so the student doesn't get them confused. For example, you can teach ar first, then er, then or, and then ir, so that er and ir aren't taught too close together.
Keep lessons short and consistent - just 5-10 minutes each day will do!

Reading with Sound Balls & Word Cards

Roll Play-Doh into small balls (These are your Sound Balls)
Choose a Level 5 word card (download here!) to place on the table or tray
Place Sound Balls on your table or tray - one for each sound. Remember, two letters that make one sound only get one Sound Ball.
As you pronounce each sound, SMASH the Sound Ball for that sound!
Then, grab all the Sound Balls and SQUEEZE them together as you pronounce the word!
Replace the word card with a new word card and repeat!