Word family

R-controlled word families

The answer

R-controlled word families are groups of one-syllable words that share a rime with an r-controlled vowel, like -art, -ore, -urn and -are. Our lexicon has 213 public words in 37 such families of three or more words, listed family by family.

What do these families share?

R-controlled families are the most numerous group here, because so many short words end in a vowel and r. They cover ar (art, ark, ard), or and ore, the sound in her (urn, irk, erve) and the sounds in air, are and ear. Two of them, ore and are, have pages of their own. The /er/ families show the spelling problem clearly: turn and learn rhyme but use different letters.

The families and their words

The -ore family, as in bore

17 words

The -ore family, as in bore
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
bore	b + ore	Lesson 78
core	c + ore	Lesson 78
more	m + ore	Lesson 78
wore	w + ore	Lesson 78
score	sc + ore	Lesson 78
store	st + ore	Lesson 78
sore	s + ore	Lesson 78
tore	t + ore	Lesson 78
swore	sw + ore	Lesson 78
ore	(none) + ore	Lesson 78
fore	f + ore	Lesson 78
lore	l + ore	Lesson 78
pore	p + ore	Lesson 78
chore	ch + ore	Lesson 78
shore	sh + ore	Lesson 78
snore	sn + ore	Lesson 78
spore	sp + ore	Lesson 78

The -are family, as in care

17 words

The -are family, as in care
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
care	c + are	Lesson 112
dare	d + are	Lesson 112
rare	r + are	Lesson 112
share	sh + are	Lesson 112
spare	sp + are	Lesson 112
square	squ + are	Lesson 112
bare	b + are	Lesson 112
fare	f + are	Lesson 112
scare	sc + are	Lesson 112
stare	st + are	Lesson 112
hare	h + are	Lesson 112
mare	m + are	Lesson 112
pare	p + are	Lesson 112
blare	bl + are	Lesson 112
flare	fl + are	Lesson 112
glare	gl + are	Lesson 112
snare	sn + are	Lesson 112

The -ear family, as in dear

13 words

The -ear family, as in dear
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
dear	d + ear	Lesson 113
fear	f + ear	Lesson 113
near	n + ear	Lesson 113
year	y + ear	Lesson 113
clear	cl + ear	Lesson 113
ear	(none) + ear	Lesson 113
gear	g + ear	Lesson 113
rear	r + ear	Lesson 113
tear	t + ear	Lesson 113
sear	s + ear	Lesson 113
shear	sh + ear	Lesson 113
smear	sm + ear	Lesson 113
spear	sp + ear	Lesson 113

The -art family, as in art

11 words

The -art family, as in art
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
art	(none) + art	Lesson 77
part	p + art	Lesson 77
heart	he + art	Lesson 77
start	st + art	Lesson 77
chart	ch + art	Lesson 77
smart	sm + art	Lesson 77
cart	c + art	Lesson 77
dart	d + art	Lesson 77
hart	h + art	Lesson 77
mart	m + art	Lesson 77
tart	t + art	Lesson 77

The -ar family, as in bar

11 words

The -ar family, as in bar
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
bar	b + ar	Lesson 77
car	c + ar	Lesson 77
far	f + ar	Lesson 77
char	ch + ar	Lesson 77
par	p + ar	Lesson 77
star	st + ar	Lesson 77
jar	j + ar	Lesson 77
mar	m + ar	Lesson 77
tar	t + ar	Lesson 77
scar	sc + ar	Lesson 77
spar	sp + ar	Lesson 77

The -ark family, as in dark

11 words

The -ark family, as in dark
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
dark	d + ark	Lesson 77
mark	m + ark	Lesson 77
park	p + ark	Lesson 77
bark	b + ark	Lesson 77
lark	l + ark	Lesson 77
stark	st + ark	Lesson 77
ark	(none) + ark	Lesson 77
hark	h + ark	Lesson 77
quark	qu + ark	Lesson 77
shark	sh + ark	Lesson 77
spark	sp + ark	Lesson 77

The -orn family, as in worn

9 words

The -orn family, as in worn
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
worn	w + orn	Lesson 78
born	b + orn	Lesson 78
corn	c + orn	Lesson 78
horn	h + orn	Lesson 78
torn	t + orn	Lesson 78
sworn	sw + orn	Lesson 78
morn	m + orn	Lesson 78
scorn	sc + orn	Lesson 78
thorn	th + orn	Lesson 78

The -air family, as in air

8 words

The -air family, as in air
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
air	(none) + air	Lesson 112
fair	f + air	Lesson 112
hair	h + air	Lesson 112
pair	p + air	Lesson 112
chair	ch + air	Lesson 112
stair	st + air	Lesson 112
lair	l + air	Lesson 112
flair	fl + air	Lesson 112

The -eer family, as in peer

8 words

The -eer family, as in peer
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
peer	p + eer	Lesson 113
cheer	ch + eer	Lesson 113
sheer	sh + eer	Lesson 113
steer	st + eer	Lesson 113
deer	d + eer	Lesson 113
jeer	j + eer	Lesson 113
veer	v + eer	Lesson 113
sneer	sn + eer	Lesson 113

The -ard family, as in card

6 words

The -ard family, as in card
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
card	c + ard	Lesson 77
hard	h + ard	Lesson 77
guard	gu + ard	not taught
yard	y + ard	Lesson 77
bard	b + ard	Lesson 77
lard	l + ard	Lesson 77

The -ort family, as in port

6 words

The -ort family, as in port
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
port	p + ort	Lesson 78
sort	s + ort	Lesson 78
short	sh + ort	Lesson 78
sport	sp + ort	Lesson 78
fort	f + ort	Lesson 78
snort	sn + ort	Lesson 78

The -urn family, as in turn

5 words

The -urn family, as in turn
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
turn	t + urn	Lesson 81
burn	b + urn	Lesson 81
urn	(none) + urn	Lesson 81
churn	ch + urn	Lesson 81
spurn	sp + urn	Lesson 81

The -ur family, as in fur

5 words

The -ur family, as in fur
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
fur	f + ur	Lesson 81
spur	sp + ur	Lesson 81
cur	c + ur	Lesson 81
blur	bl + ur	Lesson 81
slur	sl + ur	Lesson 81

The -irt family, as in dirt

5 words

The -irt family, as in dirt
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
dirt	d + irt	Lesson 81
shirt	sh + irt	Lesson 81
skirt	sk + irt	Lesson 81
flirt	fl + irt	Lesson 81
squirt	squ + irt	Lesson 81

The -ord family, as in lord

5 words

The -ord family, as in lord
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
lord	l + ord	Lesson 78
chord	ch + ord	Lesson 118
sword	sw + ord	not taught
cord	c + ord	Lesson 78
ford	f + ord	Lesson 78

The -arm family, as in arm

4 words

The -arm family, as in arm
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
arm	(none) + arm	Lesson 77
farm	f + arm	Lesson 77
harm	h + arm	Lesson 77
charm	ch + arm	Lesson 77

The -ear family, as in bear

4 words

The -ear family, as in bear
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
bear	b + ear	Lesson 112
wear	w + ear	Lesson 112
swear	sw + ear	Lesson 112
pear	p + ear	Lesson 112

The -irl family, as in girl

4 words

The -irl family, as in girl
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
girl	g + irl	Lesson 81
swirl	sw + irl	Lesson 81
twirl	tw + irl	Lesson 81
whirl	wh + irl	Lesson 81

The -arch family, as in march

4 words

The -arch family, as in march
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
march	m + arch	Lesson 77
arch	(none) + arch	Lesson 77
parch	p + arch	Lesson 77
starch	st + arch	Lesson 77

The -erve family, as in serve

4 words

The -erve family, as in serve
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
serve	s + erve	Lesson 80
nerve	n + erve	Lesson 80
verve	v + erve	Lesson 80
swerve	sw + erve	Lesson 80

The -oar family, as in oar

4 words

The -oar family, as in oar
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
oar	(none) + oar	Lesson 78
boar	b + oar	Lesson 78
roar	r + oar	Lesson 78
soar	s + oar	Lesson 78

The -ork family, as in fork

4 words

The -ork family, as in fork
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
fork	f + ork	Lesson 78
pork	p + ork	Lesson 78
cork	c + ork	Lesson 78
stork	st + ork	Lesson 78

The -urt family, as in hurt

4 words

The -urt family, as in hurt
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
hurt	h + urt	Lesson 81
curt	c + urt	Lesson 81
blurt	bl + urt	Lesson 81
spurt	sp + urt	Lesson 81

The -urge family, as in urge

4 words

The -urge family, as in urge
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
urge	(none) + urge	Lesson 81
purge	p + urge	Lesson 81
surge	s + urge	Lesson 81
splurge	spl + urge	Lesson 81

The -irk family, as in irk

4 words

The -irk family, as in irk
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
irk	(none) + irk	Lesson 81
quirk	qu + irk	Lesson 81
shirk	sh + irk	Lesson 81
smirk	sm + irk	Lesson 81

The -or family, as in or

3 words

The -or family, as in or
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
or	(none) + or	Lesson 78
for	f + or	Lesson 78
nor	n + or	Lesson 78

The -orm family, as in form

3 words

The -orm family, as in form
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
form	f + orm	Lesson 78
norm	n + orm	Lesson 78
storm	st + orm	Lesson 78

The -our family, as in four

3 words

The -our family, as in four
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
four	f + our	Lesson 78
your	y + our	Lesson 78
pour	p + our	Lesson 78

The -arge family, as in large

3 words

The -arge family, as in large
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
large	l + arge	Lesson 77
charge	ch + arge	Lesson 77
barge	b + arge	Lesson 77

The -earn family, as in learn

3 words

The -earn family, as in learn
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
learn	l + earn	Lesson 113
earn	(none) + earn	Lesson 113
yearn	y + earn	Lesson 113

The -arp family, as in sharp

3 words

The -arp family, as in sharp
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
sharp	sh + arp	Lesson 77
carp	c + arp	Lesson 77
harp	h + arp	Lesson 77

The -ir family, as in sir

3 words

The -ir family, as in sir
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
sir	s + ir	Lesson 81
stir	st + ir	Lesson 81
fir	f + ir	Lesson 81

The -erk family, as in jerk

3 words

The -erk family, as in jerk
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
jerk	j + erk	Lesson 80
perk	p + erk	Lesson 80
clerk	cl + erk	Lesson 80

The -irth family, as in birth

3 words

The -irth family, as in birth
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
birth	b + irth	Lesson 81
girth	g + irth	Lesson 81
mirth	m + irth	Lesson 81

The -urse family, as in curse

3 words

The -urse family, as in curse
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
curse	c + urse	Lesson 81
nurse	n + urse	Lesson 81
purse	p + urse	Lesson 81

The -arn family, as in barn

3 words

The -arn family, as in barn
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
barn	b + arn	Lesson 77
darn	d + arn	Lesson 77
yarn	y + arn	Lesson 77

The -orch family, as in porch

3 words

The -orch family, as in porch
Word	Onset + rime	Readable after
porch	p + orch	Lesson 78
torch	t + orch	Lesson 78
scorch	sc + orch	Lesson 78

Word ladder: change one sound at a time

Every step is a real word from the list, and each one changes exactly one sound. Say the change aloud before the student writes the new word.

Word ladder for R-controlled families
Step	Word	The change
1	or	start here
2	air	change /ao/ to /eh/
3	bear	add /b/
4	bar	change /eh/ to /aa/
5	bark	add /k/
6	dark	change /b/ to /d/
7	mark	change /d/ to /m/
8	march	change /k/ to /ch/
9	arch	take away /m/
10	arm	change /ch/ to /m/

How do you teach it?

Teach by sound, not spelling: the ar families first, then or and ore, then the /er/ families together, then air, are and ear. For each sound, show every family that shares it.

"Turn and earn. Say them: they rhyme. Now look: u-r and e-a-r. Two spellings, one sound. When we spell /urn/, we have to remember which family the word is in."

What is the common error, and the fix?

Spellers mix er, ir and ur, and are and air. The fix is to learn the common words in each family and to default to er for /er/ at the end of longer words.

Sort it: a hands-on activity

Sort r-controlled cards by sound into /ar/, /or/, /er/ and /air/. Then sort each pile by spelling and count how many spellings each sound has.

How this list was built

Every word comes from our lexicon of about 19,000 common words, each checked against a pronouncing dictionary and split into spelling units. Words a student meets in our assessments and progress-monitoring probes are left out, so practicing a list never rehearses a test. A family is every one-syllable base word (no suffix, not a compound) whose rime, the vowel unit and every unit after it, has the same spelling and the same sounds, so bead and bread are in different families. Ladders use only words from the list, and each step changes exactly one sound.

"Readable after" is the first lesson in the lesson sequence at which our decodability engine finds every sound-spelling in the word taught; "not taught" means the word has a spelling the sequence does not cover, so it is read with help. You can check your own lists and passages with the free decodable text checker.

Questions people ask

How many r-controlled word families are there?

In our lexicon, 37 rimes with an r-controlled vowel have at least three public one-syllable words, 213 words in all. Smaller families exist, but two words are not enough to practice a pattern.

Which r-controlled sound has the most spellings?

The sound in her: er, ir, ur, ear (learn) and our (journey) all spell it. Our tables list each spelling as its own family.

Why teach word families at all?

Families let a student read many words from one chunk, which builds speed and confidence. They work best alongside sound-by-sound blending, so a student can still read a word when no family fits.