Sorting or Sounds

At Smart Boarding School we’ve put together a free phonics worksheet that lets early readers explore four common spellings of the /or/ sound—like in fork, shore, author, and claw.

Say hello to the “Sorting /or/ Words” worksheet—ideal for Grade 1 and Grade 2 literacy centres, small‑group lessons, or at‑home practice.

What’s inside?

A list of 15 /or/ words ready to read, sort, and discuss.
A four‑column sorting chart where learners organise words by spelling pattern:
- or as in fork or storm
- ore as in shore or more
- au as in author or sauce
- aw as in claw or straw

Why teach the /or/ spellings?

Knowing that one sound can be written in different ways helps students:

Spot and apply reliable spelling patterns in their own writing.
Read more fluently by quickly decoding familiar vowel teams.
Build stronger phonemic awareness—essential for tackling new and multisyllabic words.

How to use the worksheet

Print & Prep – Provide each student with the worksheet plus pencils, markers, or highlighters.
Read Aloud – Say each word together, emphasising the /or/ sound, and highlight the letters that spell it.
Sort – Students write or cut‑and‑paste each word into the correct column on the sheet.
Review – Check the answers as a class and talk about why the /or/ sound can be spelled four different ways.

Extension ideas

Sentence Builder – Challenge students to write one sentence for each spelling group.
/Or/ Word Hunt – Have learners search classroom books or signs for more /or/ words and add them to the chart.
Illustrate & Label – Let students draw a picture of a favourite /or/ word and label it clearly.

Why teachers and parents love this resource

No prep—download, print, and teach.
Appeals to visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic learners.
Perfect for whole‑class instruction, guided reading groups, literacy stations, or homework.