Arlene's R is designed to contrast the consonant and vowel “r” sounds. Just looking at Arlene, you know she is a fierce controlling girl with her flaming mane of hair and sharp teeth. Watch Arlene transform herself into an entire zoo of different animals, some that make her roar like the lion, walrus, and hippo, and some that make her growl like the tiger, gorilla, and bear. Help children distinguish between the roaring /r/ versus the growling /er/. Listen to words in the stories such as “tired” and “transform.” Which kind of “r” do you hear? Where does the r sound occur in the word? Add your own page to the story by drawing your favorite zoo animal. Does your animal make a roaring /r/ sound or a growling /er/ sound?
