Bossy R Chains Worksheet
Bossy R Word Chains
Change one sound at a time • Complete decodable sentences
Name:
Date:
Phonics Rule When the letter R follows a vowel, it controls the sound!
ar = /ar/ er = /er/
1
AR Sound Chain: /ar/ as in star
Target words: car, star, farm, sharp
Follow the clues to change the letters and complete the word chain:
Start
car
Change c to st
Add -t at end
st → sh, t → p
Change to farm
Write the matching AR word from your chain to complete each sentence:
Under 10 Words
1. The red parked by the big barn.
8 words
2. A bright lit up the dark sky.
8 words
3. Pigs play in the mud on the .
8 words
4. Watch out for that pin!
6 words
2
ER Sound Chain: /er/ as in fern
Target words: her, fern, term, perch
Follow the clues to change the letters and complete the word chain:
Start
her
h → f, add -n
f → t, n → m
t → g (germ)
p- and -rch
Write the matching ER word from your chain to complete each sentence:
Under 10 Words
1. The brown dog ran to .
6 words
2. A green grew in the woods.
7 words
3. We finished our spring today.
6 words
4. The robin sat on a high .
7 words
Bossy R Phonics Practice • Page 1 of 2 Turn page for IR, OR, and UR chains →
Bossy R Word Chains
IR, OR, and UR Sounds • Complete decodable sentences
Name:
Score: / 16
Sound Match Notice how er, ir, and ur often make the very same sound!
ir = /er/ or = /or/ ur = /er/
3
IR Sound Chain: /er/ as in bird
Target words: bird, shirt, stir, third
Follow the clues to change the letters and complete the word chain:
Start
stir
Drop t → sir
s → b, add -d
b → th (third)
th → sh, d → t
Write the matching IR word from your chain to complete each sentence:
Under 10 Words
1. A blue sang a sweet song.
7 words
2. He put on a clean white .
7 words
3. Please the warm oatmeal now.
6 words
4. She was in line for lunch.
7 words
4
OR & UR Chains: corn, fork, turn, burn
Target words: corn, fork, turn, burn
OR Chain horn → corn → fork
Start horn
h → c
c → f, n → k
UR Chain fur → burn → turn
Start fur
f → b, add -n
b → t
Write the matching OR or UR word to complete each sentence:
Under 10 Words
1. Sweet yellow tastes good.
2. Use your silver to eat.
3. Now it is my to go.
4. Do not the warm bread!
Write Your Own Sentence (Under 10 words): Pick any target word from this page
Bossy R Phonics Practice • Page 2 of 2 Great job! You mastered AR, ER, IR, OR, and UR chains!
Bossy R Chains Teacher Guide
Teacher Answer Key
Answer Key & Guide
Bossy R Chains • AR & ER Reference Page
Grade Levels: 1st – 2nd Phonics
Instructional Routine: Students complete chains, then use those words to fill in the missing blanks in each sentence.
Sentence Key
1
AR Sound Chain Solution & Notes
Solutions Highlighted
Start
car
Change c → st
star
Add -t at end
start
st → sh, t → p
sharp
Change to farm
farm
AR Completed Sentences Key (All < 10 Words):
1. The red car parked by the big barn. 8 words • Blank: car
2. A bright star lit up the dark sky. 8 words • Blank: star
3. Pigs play in the mud on the farm. 8 words • Blank: farm
4. Watch out for that sharp pin! 6 words • Blank: sharp
2
ER Sound Chain Solution & Notes
Solutions Highlighted
Start
her
h → f, add -n
fern
f → t, n → m
term
t → g (germ)
germ
p- and -rch
perch
ER Completed Sentences Key (All < 10 Words):
1. The brown dog ran to her. 6 words • Blank: her
2. A green fern grew in the woods. 7 words • Blank: fern
3. We finished our spring term today. 6 words • Blank: term
4. The robin sat on a high perch. 7 words • Blank: perch
Phonological Articulation Tip:
Remind students that /ar/ requires the mouth to open wide for /ah/ before the tongue pulls back into the retroflex /r/ position. Contrast this with /er/ in her, fern, term, perch where lips are relaxed and unrounded.
Bossy R Teacher Guide • Page 1 of 2 See page 2 for IR, OR, and UR Answer Keys →
Teacher Answer Key
Answer Key & Guide
Bossy R Chains • IR, OR, and UR Reference Page
Total Target Words: 16
Spelling Rule: The phoneme /er/ has three common spellings: er (her), ir (bird), and ur (turn). Use context and orthographic memory!
Triad Rule
