• 2nd Grade
  • Reading & Phonics
  • About 10 minutes

Fill In the Bossy R

Say the picture's name. Write the vowel and r in the blue box.

How much on the page?

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This is sheet #47124601.

How to do it

  1. Say the picture's name.
  2. Read the hint under the word.
  3. Write the vowel and r in the box.

Teaching tip

For er, ir and ur, it's fine to check the chart. Those take time to remember. This sheet is aligned with Common Core RF.2.3b.

Fill In the Bossy R worksheet for 2nd grade phonics (r-controlled vowels), free printable
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About this worksheet

Picture words with ar, or, er, ir or ur missing. A hint shows which ones to choose from.

What kids practice

When the letter r comes right after a vowel, it changes the vowel's sound. Kids often call it "bossy r." ar says /ar/ as in car, or says /or/ as in fork, and er, ir and ur all say /er/ as in her, bird and turtle. R-controlled vowels are a key second grade phonics pattern.

Watch for

  • Reading the vowel short, like ca-r for car.
  • Spelling bird as berd or burd. All three sound right, so it takes practice to remember.
  • Mixing up or and ar when reading fast, like farm and form.

It's free to print, with Fewer, Standard or More on the page and an answer key. See the full r-controlled vowels phonics guide for 2nd grade.

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