Understanding and Using Contractions
Understanding and Using Contractions Objective: Students will be able to identify contractions and understand how to form them by combining two words and using an apostrophe to replace omitted letters.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize common contractions in reading and speech.
- Understand the function of an apostrophe in contractions.
- Form contractions correctly by combining two words and using an apostrophes.
Materials Needed
- Whiteboard or paper
- Markers or pencils
- List of common contractions
- Flashcards with pairs of words and contractions
- Worksheet for practice
Key Vocabulary
- Contraction
- A shortened form of two words combined into one, with an apostrophe showing where letters have been left out.
- Apostrophe
- A punctuation mark (‘) used in contractions to show where letters are missing.
- Omitted Letters
- Letters that are left out when two words are combined to make a contraction.
Detailed Activities
Introduction to Contractions
- Begin by explaining what contractions are and why we use them in everyday language.
- Show examples on the board, such as ‘do not’ becoming ‘don’t’ and ‘I am’ becoming ‘I’m’.
- Discuss the role of the apostrophe and which letters are left out.
Matching Game with Flashcards
- Provide students with flashcards showing pairs of words and their contractions.
- Ask the student to match the two words to their correct contraction card.
- Review matches together and correct any mistakes, reinforcing the concept.
Worksheet Practice
- Give the student a worksheet with sentences containing two-word phrases that can be contracted.
- Have the student rewrite sentences using contractions.
- Review the worksheet answers together, focusing on correct apostrophe placement.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- This lesson focuses on helping your child understand and use contractions correctly, which is essential for reading fluency and writing.
- Encourage your child to listen for contractions in everyday conversation and practice using them in sentences.
- Be patient and offer lots of praise as your child learns to form contractions, as this can be tricky at first.
Assessment Questions
- What is a contraction and why do we use it?
- Where do we put the apostrophe in a contraction?
- Can you write the contraction for ‘she is’?
- Which letters are left out in the contraction ‘can’t’?
Extension Ideas
- Read a short story or passage aloud and have your child raise their hand whenever they hear a contraction.
- Practice writing sentences using new contractions and share them with a family member or friend.
- Create a contraction chart together with new contractions your child discovers in books or around the home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apostrophes are used in contractions to show where letters have been left out when two words are joined together.
No, contractions show missing letters in combined words, while possessive apostrophes show ownership (like ‘dog’s toy’).
Practice regularly with flashcards, reading aloud, and writing exercises to make contractions familiar and easy to recognize.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students may confuse apostrophes in contractions with plural forms.
- Some may think apostrophes are used to make words plural instead of showing omitted letters.
- Children might overuse contractions or use them in formal writing where they are not appropriate.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Provide extra one-on-one practice with simple contractions first.
- Use visual aids like color-coded letters to show missing letters and apostrophes.
- Allow oral practice before writing contractions.
For Advanced Students:
- Introduce less common contractions and have students create sentences using them.
- Explore contractions in different dialects or informal speech.
- Challenge students to write a short story using as many contractions as possible correctly.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend the first 10-15 minutes introducing the concept and examples of contractions.
- Use 15 minutes for interactive matching and practice activities.
- Use the remaining 15 minutes for worksheet practice and review.
Standards
- 5.RF.4c — Use combined knowledge of all letter-sound correspondences, syllabication patterns, and morphology to read accurately unfamiliar multisyllabic words in context and out of context.
Printable Worksheet
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