📖 Reading & talking · Ages 5–6 · about 2 weeks

Reading ur, ir and er

Goal: Recognise ur, ir and er in familiar words, read them with help and listen for rhyming endings.

For parents: Start with turn, then bird, then her. Say words naturally in your own accent, including any r you normally pronounce. Do not insist on a fixed sound count or change your child's accent. These groups can sound alike or differ across accents. The ending er in longer words comes later.

Do together

  1. A word window

    You need: Paper and a pencil

    Write turn and burn. Cover everything except ur with folded paper. Say that part naturally, then uncover and blend each word. Explain burn without using heat. Say both words again and listen for their matching endings.

  2. Read and describe

    You need: Paper and a pencil

    Write bird and shirt, underlining ir. Read together, helping with sh if needed. Your child describes a bird for you to draw, then points to their shirt. Read both words again, keeping the pronunciation your family uses.

  3. Who is it for?

    You need: Paper and a pencil

    Draw Sara and a bag. Say, "That bag is for her." Write her and underline er. Read it together. Add fern, explain it is a plant, and read it with help. Compare the written groups in her, bird and turn.

Talk about it

  • Where is ur in turn?
  • Which word rhymes with turn: burn or bird?
  • What letters do you notice in her?

Words to use

  • ur
  • ir
  • er
  • turn
  • burn
  • bird
  • shirt
  • her

Play

  • Rhyme Time
    Rhyming
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