Shop
Grade workbooks
Classroom · Phonics · R-controlled vowels · 1st and 2nd grade
or words worksheets
A free seven-page pack for the r-controlled vowel or: picture words, which sound do you hear, picture match, missing letters, a word sort, read and trace with short sentences, and an answer key.
Watch it solved
50 sec · with voice and captionsA pencil works one example of each activity, so you can see how the worksheet goes before you print it. Tap a step to jump to it. The rest of the sheet is left for your child to finish.
Read what the video says
- 0:00 Let's practice O R words, step by step.
- 0:03 Say each word, and listen for the sound. Corn, fork, horse.
- 0:09 Say the picture name, and circle the sound you hear. Corn. You hear O R.
- 0:15 Draw a line from each picture to its word. The corn goes with the word corn.
- 0:20 Write the missing letters in the box, then write the whole word. Corn.
- 0:26 Read each word, and write it in the box where it belongs. Fort goes under O R T.
- 0:32 Read each word aloud, then trace it.
- 0:38 Read each sentence, and circle the words with O R. The horse eats corn.
- 0:43 Great job! Now print the free worksheet, and finish the rest on your own.
The picture words
- corn
- fork
- horse
- popcorn
- storm
- orange
- unicorn
- shorts
How to say it
How to say itOr sounds like the word "or", as in corn and fork. The r is bossy: it changes the sound of the o in front of it.
Watch for
Watch forSome words spell this sound another way (four, door, more), and after w, or often sounds like er (word, work). Teach these as you meet them.
More words to read
-orn
cornhornborntorn
-ort
fortsortshortsport
Read the sentences
- The horse eats corn.
- I sort the forks.
- A storm is on the way.
What the worksheets look like
Common questions
What are or words?
Words where the r changes the vowel sound in front of it (the or sound), such as corn, fork, horse, popcorn. Teachers often call it bossy r.
How do I teach or words?
Or sounds like the word "or", as in corn and fork. The r is bossy: it changes the sound of the o in front of it.
What mistake should I watch for?
Some words spell this sound another way (four, door, more), and after w, or often sounds like er (word, work). Teach these as you meet them.
Is there an answer key?
Yes. Page 7 has every answer, the circled words for each sentence, and a teaching tip.
Mix ar, or, er, ir and ur
Mix ar, or, er, ir and urBossy r detective, sort by vowel sound, an answer key and a Bossy R Champion certificate.
