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500+ Free SLP R Materials, Games, Activities, Flashcards, and more!

Virtual games and activities, freeslp offers tons of virtual slp materials for the r sound. to help target the r sound in the initial, medial, and final positions, we have created r tic-tac-toe, connect 4, virtual flashcards, virtual progression cards, battleship, spot-it, candy land, soccer, painting, and more to view our all free r sound virtual games and materials, click below:, r sound games and activities link.

Downloadable R Materials

We also have tons of free no-prep downloadable r sound materials. r sound printables that we currently have include: r flashcards, qr code scavenger hunt, progression cards, spot-it, word finds, tic-tac-toe, bingo, candy land, connect 4, battleship and more if you're looking for more engaging ways to teach the r sound, hopefully you find these materials helpful to view our all free r sound virtual games and materials, click below:, r no-prep downloadables.

R Sound Animated Videos

Animated videos for each sound teaching how to produce the sound as well as animated articulation adventures for each sound adventure across safaris, space, the world of minecraft, and more while teaching your child how to make awesome r sounds to view our all free r animated videos, click the link below:.

R Artic Hierarchy Activities

Virtual materials to target r from the isolation level all the way up to the conversational level whether you're targeting sounds at the word, phrase, sentence, paragraph, story, or conversational levels, we have free and engaging speech therapy materials for each to view our all free r hierarchy activities, click below:.

Over 1,000+ Flashcards that you can sort by target sound, position of sound, syllables, blends, and more! Add words to your custom word list and print out the flashcards! To view our all free R sound virtual games and materials, click below:

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R sound overview page

What age should my kid be able to say the r sound.

Children typically are able to correctly produce the R sound around 5 years old.

Is the R sound a voiced sound?

Yes, the R sound is a voiced sound.

Is the R sound a liquid sound?

Yes the R sound  is a liquid sound.

How do I make the R sound?

How  to make the “r” sound:.

There are two ways that we can make the “r” sound.

• The retroflexed “r” which means we bring our tongue tip up towards the top of our mouth.
• The humped “r”which means we place the tip of our tongue on our lower gums behind the bottom teeth.  By doing so, the back of the tongue “humps” up

To find out which technique is best for the child, have them say target words from our flashcards targeting the different types of “r” listed above.  The first time, have the child say the words with a retroflexed tongue.  The second time, have the child used a humped tongue.  Each child is different, so try both and use whatever one sounds better / they feel most comfortable with.

Retroflexed “r”

• Have the child pucker their lips slightly and hold them there.
• Tell the child to make the back of their tongue flat and make it tight/strong.
• Raise the tip of the tongue towards the top of the mouth, but not touching it, and curl the tip of it backwards slightly.
• Turn  on  the voice (voice is the rumbling in your vocal folds.  Have your child/client place their hand on their/your neck during the production of “s” and “r”, and have them feel the difference between the two.  In the production of “s”, there should be no rumble or voicing.  While in the production of “r”, there should be a rumbling or voicing.)
• Release the air out over the tongue.
• Raise the back of the tongue towards the top of the mouth.
• Point the tip of the tongue towards the lower gums behind the bottom teeth.

Tricks and Tips for producing the “r” sound:

• Challenge the child to see who can make the best bear growl “Rrrrrrrrr!”
•   For the humped “r”, press the tongue tip down with the tongue depressor and typically the back portion of the tongue with hump up on its own.
• For the retroflexed “r”, place the tongue depressor under the tip of the tongue and raise it towards the top of the mouth.  When you raise the tongue tip, the tongue should naturally rise and curl backwards.

60 Initial (Prevocalic) R Words

50 medial r words, 50 final r words, what is a prevocalic r.

Prevocalic “r” words  are words where the “r” is produced at the beginning of the word in front of the vowels and include words like: road, red, run

What is a Postvocalic R?

Postvocalic “r” words  are words where “r” is produced after a vowel.  Post vocalic “r” often gives children the most issues because the vowel proceeding the “r” requires the articulators (tongue, lips, teeth, jaw, etc.) to be in different positions. To demonstrate this, look in a mirror or a camera and see how different your lips look while saying “ear” vs “or”.  Because of the placement required for the vowel, when saying a word like “ear” your articulators need to move fast to satisfy the placements for the “e” and then move quickly back to satisfy the placement of the “er”. Types of postvocalic r include: ar : artifact, farm, star or:  Orca, born, core er:  Earth, bird, mother ire:  iron, fireman, tire air:  airplane, fairy, hair ear:  earwax, beard, deer

R Sound Overview

If you are looking for tips and tricks on how to produce the perfect R sounds; click the link below:

Virtual Materials for Each Level of Artic Practice:

Target the R sound at the isolation level with 3 different activities: Isolation Animation, Pop the Bubbles, and Click the Button!

Target R at the syllable level with our virtual flashcards!

We have three activities for targeting R at the word level: 1.) Classic flashcards with initial, medial, final, and mixed sets. 2.) Minimal Pair Sliders 3.) Name the Photos (Have the computer give you feedback on your sound productions!)

R phrase flashcards with sets targeting R in the initial, medial, final, and mixed positions!

Target R at the sentence level with our rotating sentences activity!

Our R story is full of R target sounds and tongue twisters! Read it yourself or play it out loud and then repeat it back!

We have two ways to target R at the conversation level: 1.) Silly story scenes full of R target words. 2.) Conversation starter questions.

R Virtual Materials

List of All the Free R Sound Virtual Activities and Games

R flashcards, r progression cards, r soccer shootout, r escape from dragon's dungeon, r fish's flight to freedom, r witch's brew, r summer sundae dash, r fall apple quest, r halloween candy chompers, r thanksgiving treats, r cupid's valentines candies, r marshmallows' mad dash, r unicorn artic derby, r train track dash, r space race, r flashlight finder, r feed the bear, r pumpkin carving, r build-a-snowman, r thanksgiving dinner, r tic-tac-toe, r candy land, r connect 4, r battleship, r artic ninja, r volt runner, r artic clicker, r pizza jumper, r artic cruiser, r space invaders, r spot the differences, r treasure hunt, r crossword, r word find 1, r word find 2.

R Boom Cards

List of All the Free R Sound Downloadable and Printable and Games

R artic qr scavenger hunt, r artic progression cards, r artic spot the match, initial artic r flashcards, medial artic r flashcard, final artic r flashcards, r articulation carrier phrases, r articulation word find, r articulationtic-tac-toe, r articulation coloring sheet, r cartoon character flashcards, r articulation dice, r articulation flipbook, r artic bingo, r artic candyland, r artic cariboo cards, r artic battleship, r articulation connect 4.

R Downloadables

Free no-prep, virtual, and downloadable options available!

Free SLP articulation word lists, flashcards with pictures, downloadable PDFs and more!

Materials target the R sound in the initial, medial, and final positions!

Whether you are looking for printable, no-prep, or virtual materials, FreeSLP offers free R sound activities for students of every level!

We hope these R articulation activities and exercises for speech therapy help your child / student learn how to make s sounds!

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R Words for Speech Therapy (Lists and Activities)

Looking for R words for speech therapy? Speech-language pathologists looking for a quick list of initial r words, medial r, and final r target words to practice during speech therapy, make sure to bookmark this post. You’ll also find some great ideas for making r therapy more effective with a variety of engaging games, articulation worksheets, and speech therapy activities. Not only does this blog post provide a list of prevocalic r, vocalic r, and r blends, but it also suggests a variety of strategies for r remediation. SLPs will be able to have a list of words on hand to easily use in the therapy room.

This post contains affiliate links, which means we could receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended.

Correct Production of R

There are different ways to make the R sound! These different approaches vary in tongue placement and positioning. The most common approaches are known as the bunched r and the retroflex r. The bunched r literally involves the tongue bunching and lifting up and back towards the throat. The sides of the tongue make contact with the upper posterior molars. The retroflexed tongue position involves a more flattened tongue, with the tip of the tongue pointed up towards the alveolar ridge. Read more about bunched r vs retroflex r here , plus check out some tips to teach either method!

Young children often have difficulty producing the R sound. McLeod and Crowe published this article , which reported that nearly all speech sounds are developed by age 6. A child’s speech intelligibility can be impacted by difficulty with R sound production.

Common R Speech Sound Errors

R is often thought of as one of the most challenging sounds to learn! Here are some common R speech sound errors:

• Oftentimes in younger children, the w sound is substituted for the R sound. An example might be “wabbit” for “rabbit”. This is known as the phonological process of gliding. Minimal pairs might be useful in this situation.
• Occasionally, students might substitute l for r (for example, “light” for “right”).
• R might also be substituted by a “y” sound (an example would be “ram” vs “yam”).
• Other R speech sounds might lose their “R” quality and sound more like a vowel sound. “ER” might be placed by a neutral schwa, for example.

A licensed speech-language pathologist can listen carefully to distinguish which r sound errors a student might be making.

References: Bauman-Waengler, J.A.  Articulatory and Phonological Impairments: A Clinical Focus . Third ed., Pearson Education Limited, 2013. 

How To Teach the R Sound in Speech Therapy

For children who substitute w/r, minimal pairs are often very beneficial. A rounded lip shape may also be contributing to this substitution, so providing cues and reminders to keep the lips retracted while saying R in the initial position of words can be helpful. Try having the student look in a mirror while practicing this sound. Providing accurate feedback is also important.

Older students with articulation disorders often struggle with the production of vocalic r words. School slps may wish to read this article for a deep dive into elicitation techniques for vocalic r. It includes 5 effective tips for teaching the vocalic r sounds. One simple idea is to try using a tongue depressor to gently lift the tongue up and back while smiling and saying “ER”. The teeth should be slightly apart, and the smile should be held during production. This can assist with eliciting vocalic er using a bunched R tongue positioning.

Watch this youtube video to see examples of how to teach R .

R Word Lists for Articulation Therapy

Do you need a list of functional words to work on the R sound in your speech therapy session? R can occur in many different positions of a word, and specific r words may be targeted in speech therapy sessions. The following word lists contain words with r in the beginning of a word (initial R), vocalic R words (initial, medial, and final positions of words), and initial R consonant blends. These R articulation word lists allow the speech therapist to easily work on a target sound and speech goals in speech therapy at the word level. Or, have your student practice at the sentence level or conversation level by using targeted words in sentences. Quickly pull these word lists up during your speech therapy session and pair them with the  game  or activity of your choice. These word lists provide less complex syllable shapes to more complex multisyllabic words.

Initial R Words (Prevocalic R Words) for Speech Therapy

Here is a list of r words in the initial position to use in speech therapy (prevocalic R words):

Vocalic AIR Words Speech Therapy

Here is a list of vocalic air words in the initial position, medial position, and final position of words.

Vocalic AR Words Speech Therapy

Here is a list of vocalic ar in the initial position, medial position, and final position of words.

Vocalic EAR Words Speech Therapy

Here is a list of vocalic ear in the initial position, medial position, and final position of words.

Vocalic IRE Words

Here is a list of vocalic ire in the initial position, medial position, and final position of words.

Initial and Medial

Vocalic OR Words Speech Therapy

Here is a list of vocalic or in the initial position, medial position, and final position of words.

Vocalic ER Words Speech Therapy

Here is a list of vocalic er in the initial position, medial position, and final position of words.

Vocalic RL Words Speech Therapy

Here is a list of vocalic rl in the medial position and final position of words.

Initial R Blend Words Speech Therapy

Here is a list of initial r blends for speech therapy.

Initial BR Words

Initial dr words, initial fr words, initial kr words, speech therapy activities for the r sound.

R can be a difficult sound to remediate, so great resources are a MUST in speech therapy! So try using a comprehension program, a fun game, or effective activities and worksheets for your students.

Comprehensive R Program for Vocalic R

If you need a systematic program that’s going to ensure great success for your R students, you’ll want to check out this R program . For students having a difficult time achieving success using a traditional articulation method, it’s beneficial to try a whole new game plan. This program is based on the extensive research of Sandra Holtzman, and is based on her R CEU course , with permission. It incorporates orofacial myology basics, which is often the piece that many failed approaches have been missing.

Jessica G., SLP, reviewed, “I’m so grateful for this resource !!!! Targeting “r” was like my worst nightmare and when students weren’t making progress I felt so discouraged and did not know what else I could do to improve accuracy. Thanks to Karen and this amazing resource, I actually get excited to treat “r” now. The approach used actually works and my students finally seem to understand tongue positioning better (and maybe I do too!). This is definitely worth buying! Thank you!”

Vocalic R Playing Card Game Companion

Do you need to review vocalic r in different word positions? Check out this card game companion , which pairs with a popular color-coded card game. It uses the colors and symbols on the playing card, and matches those with a target vocalic R word. Your player would draw a card, then check his vocalic r sheet to see which target word corresponds with the card he has drawn. Trust me, your elementary students will love this one! It’s fast, easy, and motivating!   Please note: The Pedi Speechie is in no way associated with the well-known card game, which is trademarked.

• Playdough Articulation Manicure Activity

The trick to making articulation drill fun? Try doing a speech manicure ! This articulation activity, which includes r articulation and vocalic r articulation targets, will become an instant hit in your speech therapy room. It’s ideal for younger and older students because picture-supported cards and text-only cards are provided. It’s simple to use. The speech-language pathologist chooses the target sound, and the student chooses the play dough color (in other words, the “nail polish” color). After saying a target word, the student places play dough onto the “nail”, and continues to repeat the process until the manicure is complete!

P.S. Don’t have any play dough on hand? You could also try pairing this activity with a magnetic wand and chips .

Mixed Group R and R Blends Worksheets

Trying to target language AND articulation goals in a mixed group? Let’s face it, sometimes the day can get chaotic! This mixed groups resource is designed to help maintain a school SLP’s sanity during a busy day. How does it work, exactly? Articulation words are sorted by noun or verb. While one student works on articulation, another student can work on language goals- using the same target words.

Use the noun articulation pictures to work on goals such as describing, following directions, spatial concepts, and making inferences. Use the verb articulation pictures to work on goals such as verb tense and creating sentences. These activity sheets are no prep and low ink, so you truly can use these while on-the-go. Just print them out and hand one out to each student.

These mixed group worksheets are also available as a bundle . The bundle includes other articulation targets, including k and g, sh, ch, j, l and l blends, and s and s blends. Lou Ann M., SLP, reviewed, “This resource was easy to use. No prep! Worked well for mixed groups. Able to target multiple goals. Definitely will be using this over and over!”

More Articulation Word Lists for Speech Therapists

Short on time and need a quick summary of this article? Scroll up to see r words speech therapy lists. Then, try out these best-selling articulation worksheets and activities to work on the r sound:

• Comprehensive R Program
• Vocalic R Playing Card Companion
• Mixed Groups Articulation and Language Bundle

Don’t miss these other articulation word lists!

• S Word Lists
• L Word Lists
• F Word Lists
• K Word Lists
• TH Word Lists

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1000+ R Words, Phrases, Sentences, and Reading Passages Grouped by Place, Syllable, & Blend

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SEE ALSO:  How to Say the R Sound [VIDEO]

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Br - blends, cr - blends, dr - blends, fr - blends, gr - blends, pr - blends.

prairie dog

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Initial R by Syllables

wrist watch

racquet ball

rattlesnake

Rhode Island

right handed

rolling pin

wrestling match

recognition

recollection

relationship

residential

respectable

riding safety

Rocky Mountains

rationality

reciprocity

recommendation

respiratory

roasting marshmallows

Roman Catholic

Roman numeral

reconciliation

reconsideration

Republican Party

Medial R by Syllables

encouragement

interruption

maple syrup

waffle iron

irresistible

Memorial Day

necessarily

verification

voluntarily

Mediterranean

peculiarity

Final R by Syllables

falling star

millionaire

questionnaire

shooting star

conquistador

El Salvador

SEE ALSO:   The Best Books for Speech Therapy Practice

Initial R Phrases and Sentences

cute rabbit

raccoon tail

tennis racquet

pretty rainbow

scoop of raisins

rake leaves

reach up high

read quietly

recycle bin

old rhinoceros

bowl of rice

ride safely

diamond ring

small wrench

write it out

I see a rabbit in the grass.

The raccoon has a striped tail.

They all wanted to race together.

He hit the ball with the racquet.

I am listening to an old radio.

Use the rag to clean the floor.

The rain was pouring down.

I see more than one rainbow.

I want raisins in my cereal.

We rake leaves in the fall.

The rat was looking for some cheese.

She is trying to reach the rings.

It was fun to read about princesses.

She is showing people how to recycle.

Red is my favorite color.

The rhinoceros has big horns.

She is holding a ribbon.

We want rice for dinner.

He went on a motorcycle ride.

She had a beautiful diamond ring.

Don't rip the paper we need it.

The rock is heavy.

There is a big rug in my house.

He likes to run by himself.

He used the wrench to fix the leaky faucet.

He is holding his wrist.

She writes in her journal every week.

Medial R Phrases and Sentences

suspect arrest

charged battery

fresh blueberries

digital camera

fresh carrots

cherry on top

breakfast dairy

beaded earring

erase a mistake

fairy costume

thick forest

tall giraffe

small hearing aid

dry macaroni

married couple

peel orange

talking parrot

pirate ship

nice squirrel

number zero

The police officer made an arrest.

She is holding an arrow.

He needed a battery for his game.

He ate blueberries for breakfast.

She has a digital camera.

We pick carrots from the garden.

I would like a milkshake with a cherry on top.

Dairy is always good for breakfast.

Her earring was too heavy.

If you make a mistake, erase it.

She dressed up as a fairy.

Many trees are in the forest.

Their house has two garage doors.

The giraffe has a long neck.

He puts the hearing aid in his ear.

He dressed up like a hero.

We want macaroni and cheese for dinner.

They are a married couple.

He is going to eat the orange.

How does a parrot talk?

The pirate is looking for treasure.

The squirrel was looking for nuts.

Mom read a story to her son.

I want syrup on my pancakes.

The walrus has huge tusks.

The doctor showed her the x-ray.

Our address has a zero in it.

Final R Phrases and Sentences

hungry bear

butter popcorn

wooden chair

family dinner

clothes dryer

roaring fire

tall ladder

near the hole

white paper

nice to share

ocean shore

square block

classroom teacher

whisper softly

The bear was hunting for food. 

I put butter on my popcorn.

The car is fast.

Matthew sat down on the chair.

They did a cheer at the pep rally.

They sat down for a family dinner.

We knocked on the door three times.

She put the clothes into the dryer.

The fire kept them warm.

The wood floor made the room look great.

She will be four years old in October.

She has long, pretty hair.

Use the ladder to reach the fruit.

The ball is near the hole.

Please take out a sheet of paper.

Can I have a bite of your pear?

Can I pour you a glass of water?

She is nice to share her ice cream.

Let's go play by the sea shore.

The spider waited for flies in the web.

A square has four sides.

The star was hanging on the tree.

She is our 5th grade teacher.

Don't make me tear these papers.

She whispered into the girl's ear.

The fence had barb wire on it.

It is almost the end of the school year.

R Reading Paragraphs

Garage scientist.

Whenever I have free time, I race to my garage. I have all kinds of crazy experiments going on in there. I don't mean testing rats or anything. I mean really cool experiments. 

For example, right now I am experimenting to see if carrots can recharge batteries. I have had other experiments that have gone longer. My experiment to see if raisins will make the speakers in my radio louder has been going on for over a year now. 

There are so many more ideas that I want to experiment with - making a fireproof door, testing to see what rainbows are made of, trying to see if I can teach rats to read. 

If my brain was made of trees, it would be a forest of ideas. Science is radical!

My buddy Randy is my hero. He has won many awards, ribbons, and trophies. But he doesn't care about all of that. He does what he does to help others. Here are a few things he has done that make him such a great guy. 

First of all, he is married and is an awesome dad. He has been a teacher for 15 years and has won teacher of the year three times! He volunteers to read to students at after school programs and pick up garbage on the side of the road on the weekends. 

He recycles paper, plastic, and glass which is good for the environment. He helps people with hearing aids get them for less money. He once saved a baby giraffe from drowning at the zoo. He is writing two books. One about ways to improve classroom education and another with fun short stories for kids. 

There are hundreds of other examples I could share with you. Randy puts his heart and strength into everything he does. He is a real role model and I try to follow the example he sets.

Pirate Fanatic

My sister has a friend who thinks he is a pirate. He wears a red bandana on his head, has a pet parrot that he keeps on his shoulder, and walks around saying, "Arrr matey." 

As if this wasn't strange enough, he also has a really big collection of earrings. Not normal earrings either, weird ones.

He has earrings that look like rocks, wrenches, raccoons, cameras, walrus, and even a pair that look like rakes. I understand that some pirates wear earrings, but I thought they would be scarier like hooks, or circles, or daggers. 

I feel like I should tell my sister's friend to research the type of earrings that pirate's wear. Without the right gear, a person who is trying to look like a pirate will just look strange. If he ever met a real pirate, the pirate would probably make fun of him for how he looked. 

Return to Top of R Words Page

Initial BR by Syllables

breast stroke

breathtaking

British Isles

broken down

Brooklyn Bridge

brotherhood

Brussels sprouts

Medial BR by Syllables

paint brush

white bread

gingerbread

London Bridge

paint brushes

scatterbrain

whole wheat bread

celebration

Golden Gate Bridge

Initial BR Phrases and Sentences

metal bracelet

smart brain

sliced bread

eat breakfast

long bridge

broken plate

big brother

fresh baked brownie

Her grandmother gave her the bracelet.

Her friends say she is a brain.

The bread was cut in slices.

I love bacon, eggs, and orange juice for breakfast.

The bridge connects the two cities.

The plate was broken.

He swept the area with a broom.

He loves his brother.

She had a fresh baked brownie for her treat.

Medial BR Phrases and Sentences

scary cobra

cornbread muffin

bushy eyebrow

fabric store

wood hairbrush

new paintbrush

orange toothbrush

piece of white bread

The cobra wanted to strike.

She had a cornbread muffin for dinner.

He had a bushy eyebrow.

She got her fabric at the store.

She just bought the hairbrush.

Grab a paintbrush and get started.

The dentist gave her a new toothbrush.

I bought a loaf of white bread.

We saw a zebra in the jungle.

BR Reading Paragraphs

Lucky bride.

My brother is getting married on Friday. He wants the wedding day to be perfect for his bride. He is planning to visit her house early and make her breakfast in bed. Two of her favorite things to eat are brownies and cornbread, so he is actually going to make her brownie oatmeal and cornbread muffins. 

She loves zebras and he bought her a picture of a baby zebra from a store, just east of the Brooklyn Bridge. He bought her a beautiful bracelet to wear at the wedding. 

He has other gifts that he wants to bring her, but I told him to wait until after the wedding for some of them. She is really smart so he is getting her a squishy foam brain that she can put on her desk at work. He also wants to give her a new set of paintbrushes for her studio. 

If he treats her this good all of the time, I'm sure she won't break his heart.

World Records

The Guinness Book of World Records is full of amazing facts that will raise your eyebrows. From broken bones to tiny brains, it covers the world's most interesting, fanatical, and dedicated people. 

Some records have never been broken even though many people try. There are records for people who own entire houses full of brown fabric, barns full of toothbrushes, and cars full of moldy white bread. One person holds a record for riding a broom over a thousand miles. 

Some records are held by more than one person. Like the four bread store owners who sold a bridge, or the three brothers who hold a record for having cobras on their head for the longest amount of time. 

Why would anyone wear a cobra on their head? Some might think that is brave, but I would think something was wrong with their brain. 

If you visit a city with a Guinness Book of World Records museum, I recommend getting up early, eating a big breakfast and spending all day in one. You will have fun and wild stories to bring home to your friends and family.

Initial DR by Syllables

drawing board

dressing room

dressing up

driver's seat

driving range

drummer boy

dry cleaner

dramatically

drastically

drawing table

Medial DR by Syllables

fruit drink

eye dropper

hair dresser

lemon drink

line drawing

orange drink

race driver

screwdriver

truck driver

driving safety

lemon-lime drink

overdrawing

pineapple drink

salad dressing

taxi driver

ambulance driver

hydrophobia

hypochondriac

quadrilateral

Initial DR Phrases and Sentences

chinese dragon

draw a picture

night dream

wood dresser

drink water

The statue was of a dragon.

The drain was not clogged.

He started to draw a picture.

She had a happy dream.

The dresser is made of wood.

She wanted to drink water.

The faucet started to drip.

They went for a drive on a dusty road.

The snare drum is played in a marching band.

Medial DR Phrases and Sentences

new address

tidy bedroom

playing children

cherry cough drop

one hundred

laundry basket

heavy raindrops

high snowdrift

light sundress

Every home has a unique address.

I always keep my bedroom tidy.

The children are best friends.

The cough drop made him feel better.

He is one hundred years old today.

The laundry basket is full.

Raindrops are falling on her.

The car was covered by a snowdrift.

She wore her sundress to the beach.

DR Reading Paragraphs

Snowdrift drama.

In the winter, wind blows the snow to create snowdrifts. Some storms are so drastic that snowdrifts bury cars on our street in snow. 

Snowdrifts can be anything you can dream up. The neighborhood children and I always played in snowdrifts around our houses. We would dig the snow out and pretend to drive the drifts like cars. 

I would sit in the driver's seat and my friend Drew would be co-pilot. One time we shaped the snowdrift into the shape of a dragon. Another time, we shaped the snow into a bunch of little drums. 

We would also make snowmen. We took dirty laundry and clothes we found in our dresser drawers, and dressed our snowmen head to toe. 

Once we accidentally used my sister Drea's dress. Drea got pretty mad at us and took her dress to the dry cleaners right away. If you ask me she was a little too dramatic about the whole thing. 

I dreaded that she would tell my mom and I would get in a lot of trouble. I pictured my mom dragging me all over the store to help buy Drea a new dress. Luckily, Drea and I made a deal. I promised to bring her favorite drink to her anytime of the day for one month. 

Now I'm worried I will drop the drinks I take to her.

Unique Drummers

My cousin Drake is a professional drummer. He's not the typical kind of drummer though. At his shows, he and the other drummers will drum on almost anything. 

I have seen them drum on people's drink cups, drill bits, drain pipes, a washer and dryer, and a hundred other things. His drumming group is very entertaining to watch. 

They mostly perform on stage in concert halls. They perform outside concert halls too though. They have performed at a driving range, in someone's bedroom, at a drag race, and at a drugstore. 

The drummers usually don't ask questions about where they play, as long as they get paid for their time. They have dreams to play in New York City some day. The band is saving their money to drive there, but don't have enough yet. 

Next month they are holding a special performance at the drive-in theater. It is a Halloween based concert so one of the band members is going to dress up as Dracula and drum on a mummy. The drummers hope this concert will raise the extra money they need to drive to New York. 

As a band of drummers, they are very driven to meet their goals and dreams. 

That's what it takes to be a performer. 

Initial FR by Syllables

French fries

French toast

fresh water

friendliness

frontal lobe

front runner

frostbitten

fruitfulness

fruit salad

frustrating

frustration

fraternizing

frighteningly

Medial FR by Syllables

girl friend

Good Friday

infringement

refreshments

confrontation

infrequently

refreshingly

refrigerate

San Francisco

South Africa

unfrequented

unfriendliness

unfruitfulness

refractivity

refrigeration

refrigerator

Initial FR Phrases and Sentences

picture frame

freckle face

French fries and Ketchup

delicious french toast

Friday night

best friend

pink frosting 

Her picture was in the frame.

Her freckle face is gorgeous.

Give me a lot of Ketchup for my French fries.

She had French toast for breakfast.

Our date is on Friday night.

He is my best friend.

The frog caught the fly with its tongue.

She wanted pink frosting on her cupcake.

They had their choice of fruit.

Medial FR Phrases and Sentences

kind boyfriend

ugly bullfrog

deep-fry food

cute girlfriend

cut grapefruit

play leapfrog

refresh yourself

beautiful sea front

The thunder scared me and I was afraid.

Her boyfriend is very kind and respectful.

A bullfrog is gross.

Deep-fry foods for a better taste.

I like being with my girlfriend.

I eat grapefruit in the morning.

They are playing leapfrog.

She used the water to refresh herself.

Their house was right on the sea front.

FR Reading Paragraphs

Freaky french toast.

Fran's boyfriend, Fred, enjoyed making her breakfast on Friday.

This Friday he said he would make her French toast with frosting, fruit, and whip cream. Fred's French toast recipe was amazing. It had been passed down from his great grandmother who made French toast in France.

Fred never told anyone the recipe.

All Fran knew was that he deep-fried the bread in a special mixture that had frozen grape juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg in it. The French toast was so good it was freaky.

Being Fred's girlfriend was great and getting French toast every Friday was a huge perk. Fran hoped that Fred would tell her the secret French toast recipe one day.

Until then, she would just enjoy how frequently she could eat them.

Freckle Watcher

In my free time I like to freckle watch. Freckle what? I know, it sounds like a weird hobby. I tried to refrain from it, but the truth is, I can't. I think freckles are so cool.

I have seen freckles that look like frogs, French fries, and even Africa. I get different responses when I ask to see people's freckles. Unfortunately, people aren't always the most friendly when you ask if you can look at their freckles.

Sometimes I go days without looking at any. It can be frustrating. Most people are friendly and unafraid and will show theirs to me. I have made good friends with complete strangers because I asked to see their freckles.

I was introduced to my girlfriend, Francesca, by one stranger. He said Francesca was interested in art and thought freckle shapes would be a fresh idea for one of her projects.

I wouldn't give up my hobby of freckle watching for anything. 

Initial GR by Syllables

grade school

grass snake

ground floor

grandchildren

granddaughter

grandfather

grandmother

grasshopper

Great Britain

grizzle bear

Ground Hog Day

grounds keeper

ground zero

grammatical

grandfather clock

grand piano

great-grandparent

group therapy

Medial GR by Syllables

concord grapes

disgraceful

study group

underground

aggravation

agriculture

congratulate

congregation

disagreement

ingratitude

photographer

ungraciously

agricultural

bibliography

disagreeable

disintegrated

geographical

oceanographer

topographical

undergraduate

ungrammatical

Initial GR Phrases and Sentences

her grandpa

tiny grasshopper

green crayon

brown grizzly bear

cute groundhog

She loves her grandpa.

Grapes come in many colors.

I need to cut the grass.

The grasshopper has big legs.

I always color the grass green.

It is fun to grill in the summer.

The grizzly bear is hungry for fish.

The groundhog came out of its hole.

Medial GR Phrases and Sentences

Let's agree

blue-green feathers

one hundred degrees

white egret

hand engrave

flowery fragrance

hungry birds

migrate north

You shake hands when you agree.

You can see when she is angry.

The bird has blue-green feathers.

One hundred and six degrees is hot.

The egret was walking in the water.

He learned how to engrave from his father.

The perfume had a flowery fragrance.

The baby birds are hungry.

Every year they migrate north.

GR Reading Paragraphs

Hungry grizzly.

My grandpa and I ran away from a grizzly bear in the woods. We were camping near a stream. We had caught some fish and put it on the grill for dinner. When the grizzly ran toward us, grandpa said he could tell it wasn't angry. It was just hungry.

We both agree that the fragrance of the fish was strong and was all the grizzly wanted. We are grateful he wasn't hungry for us and that the fish and our other groceries were enough to gratify his hunger. We are also grateful that we parked our truck close to camp so we could get in it for protection.

It is the best camping story my grandpa and I have together and, even though it was scary, I don't regret going.

Phil the Groundhog

I grew up in a town that has a large group of people who are passionate about our town groundhog Phil.

During the year, Phil meets and greets people at our local library. He lives there in his groundhog habitat. Our town has Groundhog Phil statues all over it to show our pride for Groundhog Day - a bagpipe playing groundhog, statue of liberty groundhog, a mayor groundhog, and a firefighter groundhog to name a few. Phil even has his own official souvenir shop.

Every year on Groundhog Day, we all meet at Gobbler's Knob to see Phil predict the weather. The town officials go on the grandstand and have a ceremony where they talk to Phil and see if we will have a long or short winter.

We have a great time and look forward to it every year. 

Initial CR/KR by Syllables

cream cheese

crow's nest

cruise ship

crackerjack

craftsmanship

crop duster

cross-country

crystallize

chrysanthemum

cracker barrel

cranberry tree

creativeness

credit rating

credit union

critical mass

cross-country skis

cross reference

crossword puzzle

Medial CR/KR by Syllables

bike crossing

double-cross

handcrafted

water craft

increasingly

microscopic

railroad crossing

aircraft carrier

incriminating

micro detector

Initial CR/KR Phrases and Sentences

hard shell crab

start to crawl

box of crayons

crave chocolate

busy crosswalk

start to cry

I think a crab just pinched me.

The wall had a big crack.

The baby just started to crawl.

He shares his box of crayons.

They were acting crazy in the kitchen.

Our crib was hard to put together.

I crave a big chocolate bar.

Cross the street at the crosswalk.

The baby started to cry.

Medial CR/KR Phrases and Sentences

broke and bankrupt

gross cockroach

wet concrete

cold ice cream

messy packrat

soft pie crust

garden scarecrow

tell the secret

fluffy whip cream

The company went bankrupt last month.

Do you see that cockroach?

Sidewalks are made out of concrete.

Here is your bowl of ice cream.

He is a packrat, he keeps everything.

Wrap the pie crust around the dish.

The scarecrow keeps birds away from the garden.

She is telling her a secret.

May I have some whip cream on my pie?

CR/KR Reading Paragraphs

Ice cream cake.

The ice cream cake was melted all over the floor. Kristina's party had gone perfectly until her friend, Crystal, had forgot to put the ice cream cake in the freezer. Kristina wanted to cry! She had been craving ice cream cake for days. It was her favorite ice cream cake - mint with cookie crust, topped with whip cream and cherries.

She wanted to try and save the cake, but a cockroach had crawled into it and then hid in a crack in the wall. Cockroaches drove her crazy and it made her feel worse about losing the ice cream cake.

"I'll go buy another one," said Crystal. She ran outside, crossed the street, and went to the cake shop. She was back in minutes with a new ice cream cake - mint with cookie crust, topped with whip cream and cherries. It was exactly like the one that melted.

"How did you get another one so fast?" Kristina asked.

"I have a secret to tell you," Crystal responded, "I had two cakes made just in case something like this happened. I forget to do stuff like this all the time. I would probably go bankrupt if I bought ice cream cakes all the time. Thank goodness I don't!"

Crystal, Kristina, and their friends laughed and all enjoyed a slice of ice cream cake.

Creative Uncle Creed

People I know say my Uncle Creed is crazy. He lives across from the beach. Every day he goes to the beach and finds crabs. Then he takes them home and puts them in a crib.

Not a box, not a cage, a crib.

Then he takes crayons and colors the tops of their shells.

"When the crabs move around they create what I call 'moving art'," he says. Some call it crazy, I call it creative.

He also collects scarecrows, broken pieces of concrete, crumbs, and fake crystals. He keeps them all in crates in his front yard, but I don't know where he gets them all from. People call him a packrat, but they shouldn't criticize. We all collect "stuff."

He has done some pretty incredible things. He has given a crow a bath in a creek, fed a cricket cream cheese, and crawled on cranberries to make his own cranberry sauce.

He is amazing at crossword puzzle. It has never taken him more than two minutes to finish any crossword.

He is building his own spacecraft too - not to go to space, just to learn how to build one.

People call me crazy, but I want to be like my Uncle Creed some day.

Initial PR by Syllables

prescription

practical joke

practically

praying mantis

prehistoric

preparation

preposition

presentable

presentation

professional

proposition

prehistorical

preparatory

prepositional

probability

productivity

pronunciation

Medial PR by Syllables

sound proof

fingerprint

improvement

low pressure

mispronounce

appropriate

approximate

April Fools Day

disapproval

life preserver

vice president

word processor

appreciation

impressionable

inappropriate

interpretation

representative

uncompromising

unprecedented

Initial PR Phrases and Sentences

pray quietly

fierce predator

nice present

salty pretzel

cute princess

desk printer

win the prize

She kneeled by her bed to pray.

Predators are animals that hunt for their food. 

He has a small present.

We bought a pretzel at the store.

This coat has a high price.

She is wearing a princess crown.

Will you please fix our printer?

He won the prize.

He is proud of his paper.

Medial PR Phrases and Sentences

approved message

ripe apricot

month of April

cook's apron

architect blueprint

ink fingerprint

making a footprint

be surprised

waterproof boots

The business request was approved.

An apricot is delicious.

My birthday is in April.

The cook had an apron on to keep clean.

The architect created the blueprint.

Security clearance requires a fingerprint card.

She left a footprint in the sand.

He was surprised when he opened the gift.

His yellow boots are waterproof.

PR Reading Paragraphs

Pretzel prank.

You have heard the story of the princess who pricked her finger. This is the story of the prince who ate a pretzel.

Everyone in the kingdom loved the prince. He was proud of his kingdom. He protected the people and ruled with humility. The people gave him presents. The people in the kingdom rarely had any problems with one another.

Once when the prince was in the marketplace, he bought and ate a pretzel from one of the shops. While eating the pretzel, there was a puff of smoke, and then the people saw a prune on the ground. The people gasped and didn't know what to do. They asked the man who sold the prunes what they could do, but he didn't know.

Finally, someone stepped out of the crowd revealed the prince high up on the castle wall. "It was just a prank," he said, "The prince is not a prune. We played a magic trick on you."

The people all breathed a sigh of relief and were happy to have their prince back.

Predators and Prey

Predators are animals that hunt for their food. Prey are the animals that predators try to eat.

Typically, predators will prowl around and watch their prey to see what kind of movements they make. Even though prey are the animals being hunted, they are not dumb. Many types of prey are pretty smart.

For example, prairie dogs use a variety of pitched, warning barks to warn each other of different predators. Some birds will protect their eggs by pretending to be hurt. This lure predators away from their eggs.

Both predators and prey have their own problems. Predators don't always know if they will eat and prey don't always know if they will live. Personally, I'm glad I can go to the store to get my food. 

Initial TR by Syllables

train station

transcribing

transferring

translation

transmission

treacherous

treasure chest

treasure hunt

trustworthy

traditional

tranquility

transatlantic

transferable

transitional

transparency

transportation

tribulation

traditionally

transcontinental

triangulation

trigonometry

Medial TR by Syllables

concentrate

country club

railroad track

rainbow trout

state trooper

subtraction

catastrophe

concentration

contribution

controversy

electronics

entrepreneur

extravagant

illustrated

introduction

no trespassing

remote control

St. Patrick's Day

ventriloquist

electricity

metropolitan

pediatrician

Initial TR Phrases and Sentences

red tractor

horse trailer

hidden treasure

silver truck

loud trumpet

The tractor helps plant the crops.

They pulled the trailer into the yard.

The train was moving fast.

Take the trash out today.

The pirates found the hidden treasure.

The tree was 50 feet tall.

He rode his trike in the driveway.

A silver truck drives by.

He practiced the trumpet in the living room.

Medial TR Phrases and Sentences

stage actress

red fire truck

good orchestra

short pinetree

horse race track

down the railroad track

old remote control

subtract numbers

nice waitress

The actress rehearsed for her performance.

The fire truck was standing by in case of a fire.

The orchestra will perform tonight.

The snow had fallen on the tree.

The horses ran fast down the race track.

The railroad track turns at the mountain.

I use the remote control to fly the plane.

You need to subtract for these problems.

The waitress took her order.

TR Reading Paragraphs

Tracy's training.

Tracy was an actress and she was going to be in a movie about farms. To play her role, she had to learn to drive a tractor, clean a pig trough, take out trash, and hike on trails during short camping trips. But that was just the beginning of the things she needed to learn.

She put a lot of trust in Troy, the farmer who taught her how to do these things. She grew up in a big city and never had the type of training that Troy gave her.

In the beginning, Tracy thought living on a farm in the country, driving a truck, and living in a trailer would be a tough transition. It didn't take her long to realize how much hard work living on a farm was.

She learned how to trust others, work hard, and even jump on a trampoline. After she finished filming the movie, she had a lot of great memories and thought to herself, "I wouldn't have traded anything for this experience."

Caution! Train Tracks

Tre rode his trike all over the neighborhood. He did just what his mom asked. "Stay in control, don't do tricks, and never go near the train tracks," she said.

One day when Tre was out riding, he heard the siren on a fire truck. Tre rode his trike as fast as he could toward the sound. Just before he got to the train tracks, he saw the fire truck. Then he saw another thing that looked like a truck. It was smashed everywhere.

Tre saw someone close by and asked what had happened.

"The truck got stuck on the train tracks," the man said. "Luckily he got out before the train hit the car," he continued, "That would have been tragic."

Tre realized right then why his mom had warned him to stay away from the train tracks.

He had wanted to try and ride over the tracks just to see if he could, without getting into trouble. He was glad he had listened and not tried.

"Train tracks are dangerous," Tre said. From then on Tre watched the train go by from the tree house in his yard. That was close enough for him.

This list of functional words was professionally selected to be the most useful for a child or adult who has difficulty with producing the "R" sound.

We encourage you to use this list when practicing at home.

Home practice will make progress toward meeting individual language goals much faster.

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are only able to see students/clients 30-60 mins (or less) per week.

This is not enough time  for your child to overcome an articulation disorder with the "R" sound. But with high caseloads...

...it's all SLPs can do.

There's  only so much time  in the day.

Every day that your child goes without practice  it becomes more and more difficult  to correct an "R" error because he/she continues to say it incorrectly. 

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Free Vocalic r Worksheets for Articulation Therapy

If you’re looking for free and editable vocalic r worksheets and activities, then check out all the resources available in Canva! Keep reading below to get all the links to the freebies.

Here are some quick links to all the resources mentioned in this post:

Free Resource Library for SLPs

• Roll and Cover Vocalic r Worksheets
• Vocalic /r/ bingo games
• Vocalic /r/ Go Fish flashcards
• Booger Card Game

What is Vocalic r?

Vocalic R sounds, also known as ”r-controlled” or “r-colored” vowels, are vowel sounds that are influenced by the letter “r” in a word. Examples include words like “car,” “bird,” and “Earth.”

Several variations of the vocalic R sound can be found in the initial, medial, and final positions of words.

Each speech variation presents unique challenges in pronunciation.

I have some Canva worksheets that will target each of these sounds in all of their positions!  

Check out these free vocalic r worksheets today!

Download these free worksheets, games, and posters to help your students improve their /r/ sound today!

Why Target Vocalic /r/ in Speech Therapy?  

Mastering vocalic /r/ can significantly improve a student’s overall intelligibility and confidence in speaking. However, mastering the vocalic r sound can be tricky.

Vocalic r Tips

There are a variety of techniques that speech pathologists can use to teach vocalic /r/ to their students with an articulation disorder.

I always start with teaching the /r/ sound in isolation, without any surrounding vowels or consonants.

This helps the student focus on the specific tongue placement and resonance needed to produce the sound correctly.

Once the student has mastered the isolated /r/ sound, I typically teach the vocalic /r/ in the context of syllables, words, and phrases.

One technique that I find helpful is to use carrier phrases. A carrier phrase is a short, simple phrase that contains the vocalic /r/ sound in a natural context. Some examples of carrier phrases include “I see a ___” and “Can you ___?”

Vocalic r Techniques

Other techniques that may be used to teach vocalic /r/ include “shaping” the sound by gradually moving from a similar sound (such as /eee/) to the desired /r/ sound, or using tactile feedback tools such as tongue depressors or mirrors to help the student feel the correct tongue position.

Why Canva is Perfect for Vocalic r Worksheets

Canva is a graphic design platform that offers a wide variety of tools and features that can be used to target articulation therapy for the vocalic /r/ sound. 

There are many worksheets, infographics, and games in Canva that you can use to work on their targeted sound.

Have you ever purchased a worksheet only to find words pronounced differently than how you usually say them?

For example, one articulation workbook contained the word “vase” on the final /s/ page. However, in northern New Jersey where I’m from, we say vase with a /z/! 

When you use these Canva worksheets, you can edit the words included easily and personalize the worksheets for your students.  

You can even add words that are frequently said by your student!

Free Canva Educator Resources

If you want exclusive access to all my FREE Canva resources, then join the newsletter. You'll get immediate access to 100s of free resources for SLPs in one place. (Unsubscribe any time!).

Free printable vocalic R worksheets and Activities

Vocalic r worksheets.

If you want some low prep, low ink, vocalic r worksheets, then check out the links below:

• Prevocalic r Worksheet
• Prevocalic r Bingo

Articulation Cards

One way to target the vocalic /r/ sound using Canva is to use these free vocalic /r/ articulation cards . These cards help students practice saying words that contain the vocalic /r/ sound in a fun and engaging way. 

Here are some different ways you can use these articulation cards:

• Pair these articulation cards with fun games (like, Pop the Pirate!). For example, you could play a game like “Pop the Pirate!”. Students take turns picking cards and saying a vocalic /r/ word correctly before popping the pirate. 
• Print out two sets of cards and use them for a memory-matching game.
• If you use the 5-minute therapy technique, then use these flashcards for quick articulation drills. 
• You can even use these articulation cards to monitor progress!

The vocalic /r/ articulation cards can be customized to include both words and images, which can help students associate the sound with a visual.  

Sentence Level Practice

In addition to practicing at the word level, it is also important to practice using the vocalic /r/ sound in sentences. Have some articulation fun by combining these articulation activities with Canva. 

To start, open a new worksheet document. Then, have your students find clipart for each of the words they need to say.  Have them create silly sentences by adding text boxes to the worksheet document.  

You could also have your students create silly sentences using different /r/ words, such as “The retired rabbit could read rapidly.”

They could input this sentence into Canva’s Magic Image editor and create the image for the silly sentence. 

They’ll have so much fun creating their own picture cards/worksheet with the magic of Canva! Read more about the new Canva Magic Editor Studio in my blog post !

The New Canva Magic Editor Studio is Here!

Story Creation

Creating stories is a different way to practice using the vocalic /r/ sound in a more natural context. You can create a story with your students using the articulation cards above.  

• Lay out all the cards and have a student pick a card.
• Then, they have to create a line in the story.  
• The next person then creates another line in the story, and so on. 

When creating stories, include words that contain the vocalic /r/ sound in different positions.

For example, a story about a car race might include words like “start”, “participate”, “drive”, and “trophy”, all of which contain the vocalic /r/ sound in different positions.

Once the story is complete, students can practice reading it out loud while focusing on the correct production and articulation of the vocalic /r/ sound.

Vocalic /r/ Articulation Therapy Games

Vocalic /r/ games provide a fun and engaging way for students to practice their vocalic /r/ sounds in a natural and relaxed setting. This is the perfect way to make speech therapy fun!

Why Games Work

Firstly, games provide a relaxed and fun setting that reduces the pressure and stress of traditional therapy sessions. 

Secondly, games provide a natural way for students to practice their vocalic /r/ sounds in context.

Additionally, incorporating games into vocalic /r/ articulation therapy sessions can make therapy more fun for you and your students. 

Which Vocalic /r/ Sounds are Targeted with these Free Activities?

• Prevocalic r (initial r)
• /er/, /ire/, /or/, /ear/, /air/, and /ar/

Free Vocalic /r/ Games to Try

There are many games that a speech therapist can use to help their students with vocalic /r/ articulation therapy.  Students in the 1st grade and older will have a great time working on their target sound.

Here are some examples:

1. Roll and Cover /r/ Worksheets

Check out this FREE resource: vocalic /r/ roll and cover worksheets on TPT:  

• /r/ articulation worksheets (Free on TPT!)
• small objects to use as markers (e.g., beans, pennies, or chips)

Directions:

• Each player takes a turn rolling the die. 
• Then, they have to cover the number of pictures that correspond to their roll. 
• The player says the correct word on the picture using their best vocalic /r/ articulation. 
• If the player says the word well, they get to keep their marker on the picture. 
• If the player does not say the word correctly, they must return their marker to the starting position.
• The first player to cover all of their pictures wins the game.

2. Vocalic /r/ Bingo

Need free vocalic /r/ bingo boards?  Check these free Canva bingo games here: vocalic /r/ games .

• Vocalic /r/ bingo games (Free Download on TPT!)
• Bingo chips, erasers, or tokens
• Includes everything you need to target the vocalic /r/ sound in every position.
• Students will listen to the clues to guess the word that has the vocalic /r/ sound in it.
• Then, they use a dot marker or bingo chip to mark each word as it is called out. 
• To end a turn, the student says each word 5 times with the correct /r/ sound. 
• Whoever gets 3 in a row first wins. 

3. Vocalic /r/ I Spy

This game is a great way to practice vocalic /r/ in a natural and conversational way. Check out this freebie on TPT. 

Materials: Vocalic /r/ I Spy Posters

• To play, one player “spies” a word on the vocalic /r/ poster that contains vocalic /r/. 
• They can use this phrase: “I spy something that eats carrots.” 
• The other players then take turns trying to guess the word.
• The first player to guess the word wins the round. 

Additional Tips: 

Here are some additional tips for playing I Spy with vocalic /r/:

• Encourage your student to use complete sentences when giving clues to help them practice their grammar skills.
• Make the game more challenging by using more complex clues.
• Have fun! I Spy is a great way to practice vocalic /r/ words and help them practice their speech sounds.  You can also check out my summer I Spy speech therapy worksheets here! .
• You can also use these posters to target auditory discrimination!

4. Go Fish with Vocalic r

Go Fish is another classic fun activity that can be adapted to practice vocalic /r/. This is a great game to practice vocalic /r/ in a fun and competitive way.

These Vocalic /r/ flashcards are available for FREE on TPT : 

• Vocalic /r/ flashcards (get it for free on TPT!)

• Print out two sets of each vocalic /r/ flashcard. 
• Each player is dealt 5 cards. 
• The rest of the cards are placed face down in a pile in the center of the table. 
• On their turn, a player asks another player if they have a card with a matching vocalic /r/ sound. 
• For example, they might ask, “Do you have the carrot?” 
• If they do not have a card with that sound, then they say, “Go fish for a carrot!!” 
• The player who asked must draw a card from the pile. 
• The first player to collect 3 cards of the same vocalic /r/ sound wins the game.

Additional Tips

• There are a set of flash cards for each /r/ sound. Mix and match the different vocalic /r/ sounds or just focus on one type. 
• Each player must use the vocalic /r/ word in a sentence.

5. Booger or Burger Game

This game is available in Teachers Pay Teachers and is one of my best-selling products.  

This Booger Card Game is a fun, gross-out game that will engage your students while targeting their goals. 

This booger game will be a hit in your classroom because it “snot” your typical board game.  

Your students will laugh out loud while working on their vocalic /r/ goals or enjoying a brain break with this game.  

Additionally, the game is open-ended, so you can target any goal with this great activity:  vocabulary, grammar, describing, expanding utterances, following directions, social skills, and more!

What’s Included in this fun boogers game?

• Printable version and digital download
• Google Slides™ version
• Boom Cards™

Who can use this Booger or Burger articulation game?

This booger game is a fun way to target the vocalic /r/ sound (no matter how old a student is!) 

The booger game can be used in preschool, elementary school, middle school, and even older students!  

• Teachers – Brain breaks, homework assignments, and class rewards.
• Social Skills Groups – Use this game to work on expected vs. unexpected behaviors.
• Speech-Language Pathologist- This can be used in articulation therapy sessions with groups and individual students.  You can get tons of practice when working on the vocalic /r/ sound.  Your students will love saying the word “booger” over and over! 

How to play the Vocalic /r/ game :

• Choose a booger game board based on the level you want to play: Easy, Medium, or Hard. 
• The students will call out the numbers on the tissues and then check to see if there is a burger, booger, or tissue underneath.

• If they find a burger, then play continues until they find five burgers.
• However, if they find three boogers, the game is over.
• If they find a wipe, they can “wipe” away the boogers on the screen.

Get the Free Canva Templates to Target Vocalic /r/ Today!

In conclusion, there are a variety of fun and engaging vocalic r worksheets and games available in Canva that can be used to target words. These games can be used in the classroom, at home, or in therapy sessions. By playing these games, students can improve their pronunciation of vocalic /r/ sounds and have fun at the same time.

Related Posts

• How to Use Canva for Education
• Resources to Target Speech Therapy Goals and Objectives
• Adapted Books for Autism: The Ultimate Guide for Engagement!
• Canva Q&A: Your Top 5 Questions Finally Answered Here
• The Difference Between Speech vs Language Disorders

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R Word List Speech Therapy Materials

If your child is having trouble saying the sound R, my R Word List page can help you!

If you are a speech therapist and you need some R speech therapy materials, you have come to the right place!

Below you will find lots of free materials!

• First, there is a FREE worksheet (for non-members) and link (for members) to access new articulation materials.
• Second, there is a word list for  quick viewing .
• Next, you can sign up for a FREE newsletter and receive  A LL THE WORD LISTS in one Folder in your Google Drive.
• After that, check out a brief explanation on how to say the target sound.
• Last, there are ideas for  articulation practice that do not require flashcards or word lists. This is the most functional option and appropriate for children working on generalization.

If you need a more in-depth explanation of R and how to say:

• prevocalic R

R Worksheets and More!

We have BRAND-NEW articulation worksheets for teaching, drill practice, generalization, and language based articulation games! 

• If you are a member, log in, download, and you are ready to roll here.
• If you want to join,  sign up here. 

Just fill out the form below to grab your free worksheet!

21 free smashmats.

Sign up below to receive your free materials.

R Word List

Google drive word list.

Sign up with your email address to receive all the word lists instantly! They will be yours now and forever!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Google Drive. I can access my word lists from any device; laptop, desktop, or phone. 

If you want a copy, fill out the form above. I put all the word lists in one folder.  Once you receive your email with the materials, make a copy of the files and they are yours to use and tweak as needed.

• If you need help saving the word lists to your Google Drive, click here:  Save Google Document
• If you LOVE Google Drive as much as I do, check out our  Speech Therapy Documentation Page. 

R Packet Using High-Frequency Words

This is MY FAVORITE NEW RESOURCE! I HONESTLY use it all the time for each articulation session and handouts for home practice.

The words chosen for speech therapy can make all the difference between a good therapy program and a great one! For the generalization phase, it is crucial to use high-frequency words!! It only makes sense to use words that the client will actually say outside of the therapy room. Right?!

For only $5, you will receive  35 pages  of materials including:

• Flashcards that can be used as Cariboo Cards too, yeah!
• Flashcard free games that can be used as home practice
• Dot sheets, smash-mats, and/or coloring pages
• Articulation warm-up sheets which can be used as a goal review sheet
• Flashcards which contain word, phrase, and sentence level practice
• Cut/paste sentence level worksheets
• Self-assessment sheets
• Parent handouts

Read more about it  here. 

Articulation Games for R

The R sound is a later developing sound, usually mastered by age 5. R is also one of the hardest sounds to master in ANY language!

Take turns with your child saying the desired words. It is important to practice  hearing and   saying  the words.

• Write - Say “write” as you take turns drawing on a piece of paper
• Race - Say “race” as you and your child run across the yard
• Ready - Say “ready” before you start your race
• Read - Say “read” as your child reads a sentence in a book
• Fork - Say “fork” during meals
• Shirt - Say “shirt” as your child helps you with the laundry
• Sorry - Say “sorry” while playing the board game, Sorry
• Car - While talking about your favorite car, say “car”
• Hair - Say “hair” while your child combs her hair
• Wear - Say “I’m wearing” while describing what clothes you are wearing

Membership Site

If you are a parent and your child

• has trouble saying multiple sounds 
• needs to work on vocabulary development
• is working on improving grammar
• is working on narrative structure
• needs to work on social skills

AND you want

• a step-by-step guide to help your child 
• ideas on how to improve all language skills at home
• functional games

Then, our  members site might be just what you need. 

If you are a professional and you want: 

• Articulation Screening Tools
• Data tracking sheets
• Templates in Google Drive for easy data tracking and graphing
• Homework sheets/parent handouts on articulation therapy
• General flashcard games
• 36 flashcards for each sound: B, D, F, G, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, Z, SH, TH, CH
• 8-10 functional games for each sound
• Language based worksheets to spice things up!
• Picture description tasks
• Short story stimuli

Our  membership might be just what you need.

Example of Vocalic R Materials

When teaching prevocalic and vocalic R, we need the right cues and teaching materials. I added the new materials to the membership site.

Animated Cue Cards

• animated cue cards for OR, AR, IRE, EAR, EAR, ER, AND RL
• Great for teaching and providing the specific feedback each child needs (not too much or too little)

Printable Cue Cards

• Printable cue cards for OR, AR, IRE, EAR, EAR, ER, AND RL
• These are great handouts and help to keep all caregivers on the same page!

Teaching Material

• visual cues for how to combine the vowel to R
• use for teaching phase and review as needed

Specific Vocalic R Warm Up

• Warm-Up for: OR, AR, IRE, EAR, EAR, ER, AND RL
• Use for goal review, anatomy review, and to "warm up" muscles
• plus get quick drill practice

Prevocalic & Vocalic R Practice

• If a child can either say the prevocalic R but not the vocalic R (and vice versa), you can use that!
• Use phonetic placement to facilitate the needed R. 
• I LOVE THESE!

New Print and No-Print Materials

• web memory game
• no-print flashcards
• print flashcards
• leveled flashcards

About the Author

Bridget giraldo, ms  ccc-slp .

Hi, I’m Bridget! I’m a speech-language pathologist from Illinois, USA. I’ve worked with children and adults of all ages in schools, preschools, hospitals, rehab facilities, and now in my own private practice. My expertise is my ability to create effective, research-based materials and speech therapy techniques that streamline and simplify our professional lives!  I graduated from University of Wisconsin, Madison with my masters degree in Communication Disorders. 

• Word Lists For Speech Therapy
• R Word List For Articulation Practice

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