R-Controlled Vowels (Bossy R) — Answer Key
Part A: Trace the Words
Trace each word carefully by following the dotted lines.
1. car
2. jar
3. bar
4. far
5. star
6. arm
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. I drive a red car to the store.
The letters 'ar' team up to make one /ar/ sound. The r bosses the a, so it does not say its short or long name. Car rhymes with jar, bar, and star.
2. Grandma keeps cookies in a glass jar.
Jar uses the bossy-r pattern 'ar'. The r changes the a sound so it becomes /ar/. Listen closely and you will hear the same ending as in car and star.
3. A shiny yellow star twinkles at night.
Star has the 'ar' bossy-r pattern. The r takes charge and turns the a into /ar/. This word rhymes with car, jar, and bar.
4. I hurt my arm when I fell down.
Arm begins with the 'ar' sound. The r bosses the a right at the start of the word. Your mouth opens wide for /ar/ just like when a doctor checks your throat.
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. The word car has the /ar/ bossy-r sound.
True False
Car has the 'ar' pattern where r bosses the a. Together they blend into one /ar/ sound, not a short or long a.
2. In bossy R words, the letter a says its short sound /a/ like in cat.
True False
When r follows a vowel, the r takes over. The a does not say /a/ like cat — instead 'ar' blends into one new sound like in car and star.
3. Star and jar rhyme because they both end in the /ar/ sound.
True False
Both words share the 'ar' bossy-r pattern. Rhyming words have matching ending sounds, and 'ar' gives them the same /ar/ ending.