How to Teach R Blends: Science of Reading Activities That Really Work
- asgurukul15
- Sep 20, 2025
- 3 min read
Teaching blends is one of those pivotal moments in phonics instruction. After students master their letter sounds and short vowels, blends like br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, and tr are the next big hurdle. And let’s be honest R blends can be tricky. That little “r” changes the sound just enough to trip kids up.
But here’s why blends matter: without them, students often feel stuck. Words like frog, crab, trap, and drum stay out of reach. Reading becomes choppy, spelling is inconsistent, and confidence dips. Once students crack the code on blends, though, the growth is incredible, fluency improves, spelling patterns click, and vocabulary explodes.
After 16 years in the classroom, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to teach blends with a structured, Science of Reading approach. Kids don’t just need to memorize blends they need explicit instruction, repeated practice, and multiple chances to hear, see, say, write, and play with blend words. That’s what makes the learning stick.
Best Activities for Teaching R Blends
Over the years, I’ve created and refined activities that work again and again with my students. They’re systematic, decodable, and multi-sensory exactly what the Science of Reading tells us our students need. Here’s a closer look at what works in my room:
1. Blend Word Lists
Start with carefully chosen decodable words. These lists keep the focus on the R blend without overloading students with tricky vowel patterns or advanced spelling. It builds confidence and accuracy step by step.
2. Flash Cards with Pictures
Flashcards may sound simple, but when paired with visuals, they’re powerful. Seeing a picture of a frog next to the word helps students connect sound, print, and meaning all at once. I use them in small groups, for quick drills, or as a game of “memory.”
3. Match the Word to the Picture
This activity strengthens both decoding and comprehension. Students don’t just sound out the word—they attach meaning by finding the matching picture. It’s a small shift that deepens understanding.
4. Roll and Trace
This one is always a classroom favorite. Add dice to the mix, and suddenly reading blend words feels like play. Students roll, read, and trace words—getting in decoding, handwriting, and repetition in one go.
5. Read, Color, and Write
Here’s where students start applying blends in context. They read the word, color a related picture, and then write it themselves. It’s engaging, and it hits multiple pathways: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.
6. Cut and Paste
Hands-on learners thrive with this. Sorting and building blend words helps students process the sounds at a deeper level. Plus, scissors and glue are always a hit in the primary classroom.
7. Find and Write
This activity encourages word hunting, which is fantastic for orthographic mapping. Students search for blend words, then spell and write them—reinforcing decoding and encoding at the same time.
8. Color the Pictures
Sometimes simple works best. Coloring blend-related pictures keeps students engaged while reinforcing recognition. It’s perfect for independent work, early finishers, or review days.
Why These Activities Work
Every one of these activities is grounded in the Science of Reading. They’re explicit, systematic, and multi-sensory. They provide multiple, meaningful exposures to R blends in different formats, which is exactly what our students need to move toward automaticity.
And most importantly? They work. I’ve watched hesitant readers go from stumbling over drip to confidently reading entire sentences with blends in just a few weeks of consistent practice.
Teacher-Tested, Student-Approved
I created these R blend worksheets and activities because I needed resources that actually worked in my own classroom. After years of tweaking and improving them, I bundled everything into one R Blends Resource Pack. It’s the exact set I’ve used with my students and the same ones that have helped them grow into more confident, fluent readers.
If you’d like to save yourself prep time and know you’re using activities that work, you can check it out here. Whether you use them all or pick and choose based on your students’ needs, you’ll have engaging, systematic practice ready to go.
Blends may be small sounds, but they open big doors. 🦉
👉 Click on any image below, and it will take you straight to that individual resource in my TPT store.
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Anju
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