Mastering /er/ Spelling Patterns

The /er/ sound can be spelled in different ways: er, ur, ir, w+or

📋 Part 1: Word Sort

Sort the words below into the correct column based on how the /er/ sound is spelled.

Word Bank: bird, nurse, fern, worm, shirt, purple, work, thirst, person, world

er (e.g. her):

ur (e.g. fur):

ir (e.g. sir):

w+or (e.g. word):

Choose the correct spelling to complete each sentence. Circle your answer, then write the full word in the blank.

1. The nurse had to _________ hard all night. (work / wirk / wurk)

2. She wore a blue _________ to school. (skert / skirt / skurt)

3. The dog dug up a _________ in the garden. (wirm / worm / wurm)

4. He felt a burning _________ after the long run. (thirst / therst / thursd)

5. The _________ at the clinic was very kind. (nirce / nerse / nurse)

Write 3–4 sentences about a job or place. You must use at least four of the words from the box below.

Word Bank: work, person, bird, nurse, shirt, world, purple, fern, thirst, first

Example: "The person at the shop wore a purple shirt..."

Which /er/ spelling pattern do you find trickiest? Why?