back vowels [u], [ʊ], [o], [ɔ], [ɑ]

[u] Sample: He was too late to go on the cruise as a crew member. Spellings: o as on to oe as in shoe u as in tuba ew as in crew oo as in too ue as in true ou as in you ui as in cruise eau as in beauty

Practice words Beginning Middle End Ooze pool blue Oodles soup flew Oolong tube who coupon true

Practice sentences We found a coupon for a soup spoon. Newton booed while the crooner sang the blues. Should you pay the dues so soon? The huge shadow grew in the moonlight.

[ʊ] Sample: I wish she would put the book in the wooden box. Spellings: oo as in book ou as in would u as in put

Practice words [ʊ] does not occur in the beginning and end positions. wood book could put look sugar shook good cookie wool pull push hood wooden bush stood

Practice sentences The bully stood still against the pull. I couldn’t push the wood through the bush. The horse splashed his hoof in the brook. Wouldn’t you like a woolen hood?

[ʊɚ] The vowel [ʊ] is frequently combined with the [ɚ] to produce a diphthong, [ʊɚ], as in the word lure. PRACTICE WORDS: poor lure sure cure tour moor

[o] and [o ʊ] Sample: So, I asked him to row the boat home. Spellings: o as in so oa as in boat ow as in row oe as in toe ough as in dough oo as in brooch eo as in yeoman eau as in beau

Practice words Beginning open ocean own oak Middle road bowl pole sewing End throw grow toe dough

Practice sentences Put the oatmeal in the bowl next to the stove. It’s hard to follow such a glowing show. I know you would like some stone-ground whole wheat toast. The roly-poly roll baker was rolling in dough from years of rolling dough.

Contrast [o] and [o ʊ] [o] rope dose coat gross [oʊ] robe doze code grows

[ɔ] Sample: I thought the laundry did an awful job in a short time. aw as in awful o as in wrong Au as in laundry ough as in thought oo as in door augh as in taught

Practice words Beginning often also awkward always Middle fought stall long fawn End straw jaw raw thaw

practice sentences I bought the wrong kind of coleslaw. Dawn often colors her hair auburn. The score was fourteen to four. The law office was ward despite the strong autumn storm of the morning.

[ɔɚ] Diphthong The vowel [ɔ] is often combined with the [ɚ] to produce the diphthong, [ɔɚ]. Practice words: Beginning Beginning Middle Middle oar orphan snore horse orbit order torn story orchestra organ warm floor orchid ordeal fourth ward ornament orator store glory

[ɑ] [ɒ] [a] Sample: It didn’t bother him as he calmly locked the car. a as in calm ea as in heart e as in sergeant al as in palm o as in lock ow as in knowledge aa as in bazaar

Practice words Beginning Beginning Middle Middle art alarm smart guard army argue spot heart olive arm bomb follow Art almond father modern Article occupy frog calm

Practice sentences Watch them stop the cars at the top of the yard. Stopping is the obvious response when the guard is armed. The palm trees arched in the sky over the dark oasis. The arson squad turned the bomb over to the army.