Lesson 26: Rr /r/
Help Your Child Learn to Say, Write, and Read with the Letter Rr!
What Will We Learn Today?
Today we’re learning the letter Rr, which spells the sound /r/—as in rat or red. In this lesson, your child will learn how to say the /r/ sound, write uppercase and lowercase Rr, and blend and read short words, phrases, and connected sentences using this rich, voiced consonant.
How to Make the /r/ Sound
The /r/ sound is a voiced, continuous sound made with the tongue in a unique position.
Here’s how to help your child say it:
Slightly open the mouth.
Curl the tip of the tongue up toward the roof of the mouth, but don’t let it touch.
Keep the sides of the tongue raised.
Turn your voice on and stretch it: /rrrrr/
Articulate
Say it together:
“Let’s say /r/ like a race car—/rrrrrr/!”
Have your child place their hand on their throat to feel the vibration.
Stretch the sound to emphasize fluency: /rrrrr/
Then blend it into words.
How to Write the Letter Rr
Time to grab your whiteboard and marker!
Uppercase R
Draw a straight vertical line down.
From the top, draw a curved line that goes to the middle and forms a half circle.
Then draw a slanted line down and to the right from the middle.
Lowercase r
Draw a straight line down.
From the top, curve a small hook to the right.
Let your child try tracing first, then writing on their own.
Let’s Practice Reading Words
Blend and read words that begin or end with /r/:
rag – rim – red – raft – rest – brim – grub – ram – rod – rib – ramp – rift – crab – prim – ran – rub – rid – rent – rust – drum – trot
Model:
“/r/ – /æ/ – /g/” → rag
Blend sounds slowly, then say the word fluently.
Let’s Practice Reading Phrases
a red rug
run to the rim
rub the rod
rant and run
rest on the rug
rat in a hut
Ask your child to point to each word as they read.
Let’s Practice Reading Sentences
The rat ran on the rug.
Ram can run to the ramp.
The rod is on the raft.
Rub the rug and rest.
The rim had rust.
You can read the sentence first, then have your child echo it back.
Let’s Practice Reading Connected Sentences
Use the phrases and sentences above to build a short story with illustrations or dramatize it during reading practice.
Optional extension: have your child act out actions like "rub the rug" or "run to the ramp" to deepen comprehension.
Color, Trace, and Write
Use printable worksheets where your child can:
Color pictures with /r/ words (e.g., rat, rug, raft)
Trace uppercase and lowercase Rr
Practice writing the letter independently
[Download the Rr Worksheet Here]
Flashcards – Beginning Sound Focus
Use picture flashcards that emphasize the /r/ sound at the beginning or end.
Examples:
rat
rug
ram
rib
Ask:
“What sound do you hear at the start?”
“Can you say the /r/ sound?”
[Download Rr Flashcards – Beginning Sound Set Here]
Conclusion
The /r/ sound adds rhythm and richness to your child’s reading journey. With practice in saying, writing, and blending /r/ words, your child will become more confident and fluent.
Ask your child:
“Can you roar like a lion with the /r/ sound?”
“What’s your favorite /r/ word today?”