Reading Contractions
Read and understand contractions with apostrophes, knowing the apostrophe represents omitted letters
What a learner can do afterwards
- Read common contractions in text (e.g. 'I'm', 'we'll', 'don't')
- Match contractions to their expanded forms (e.g. 'I'm' = 'I am')
- Explain that the apostrophe shows where letters are missing
1 · Read
You already say contractions every day, like 'I'm hungry' or 'let's go'. A contraction joins two words into one shorter word. An apostrophe shows where letters are missing.
Try it together
Look at 'do not'. Together they become 'don't'. The apostrophe stands for the missing o.
Good to know
To read a contraction, say the sounds before and after the apostrophe. Blend them into one smooth word.
A contraction joins two words. The apostrophe shows missing letters.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Print a worksheetA4 with an answer key page for grown-ups. No screen, no internet.
Where it sits
Learn first
This opens up
Then practise
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.