R-Controlled Vowels (Bossy R) — Answer Key
Part A: Trace the Words
Trace each word carefully by following the dotted lines.
1. for
2. corn
3. born
4. fork
5. torn
6. horn
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. This present is for you from grandma.
For uses the 'or' bossy-r pattern. The r bosses the o so it does not say short /o/ like in hot. Instead 'or' blends into one /or/ sound.
2. Farmers grow yellow corn in the field.
Corn has the 'or' sound in the middle. The r takes charge of the o and they make /or/ together. Corn rhymes with born and horn.
3. A baby lamb was just born on the farm.
Born uses the 'or' bossy-r pattern. The r and o team up for one /or/ sound. This word rhymes with corn, torn, and horn.
4. I use a fork to eat my spaghetti.
Fork has the 'or' sound between f and k. The r bosses the o, making the /or/ blend. Your lips round when you say /or/.
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. In the word corn, the letters o and r make one /or/ sound together.
True False
The 'or' pattern is a bossy-r team. The r tells the o they will make one sound together: /or/. That is why corn has just one middle sound.
2. The word for rhymes with the word fox.
True False
For ends with /or/ because of bossy r. Fox ends with /ks/ and has a short o sound. Different endings mean they do not rhyme.
3. Horn and born both have the bossy-r /or/ sound.
True False
Both words use the 'or' pattern where r bosses the o. They rhyme because they share the same /or/ sound plus the /n/ ending.