Contractions are when two (or sometimes more) words are combined into one word, an apostrophe taking the place of removed letters. We use contractions to say things in a shortened, quicker way.
Many contractions have gone out of common use and lend an antiquated sound to speech. English: ‘tis not a static language! Though these contractions are still important to learn for the purposes of reading classic literature, and potentially for students’ own creative writing.
Using the common modern contractions in writing often helps to make language sound more natural and informal. It’s even more important for your students to learn these well.
It also takes some effort to learn the difference between inserting an apostrophe for contractions, versus the apostrophes we use for possessives.
Between common and classic contractions, spelling contractions, and the confusion between contractions and possessives, it can get a smidge confusing for our students. But an anchor chart displayed in the classroom can help students gain a firm grasp on them.
Table of Contents
- Elements of a Good Contractions Anchor Chart
- Resources from Teach Simple
- Examples from Other Teachers
- Free Resources
- Outro
Elements of a Good Contractions Anchor Chart
A good anchor chart should always have a short but informative title. There is already so much stimulus in a classroom. You want students to understand at a glance what they can get out of lending their attention to any one visual over another. Something as simple as “Contractions” will get the job done. It may need to be more specific depending on the case, such as, “Contractions from A Christmas Carol.” A clever title is always good ,too.
A definition or further explanation is often a wise choice to include in an anchor chart. It may not be necessary depending on what the specific learning objective of your contractions anchor chart is. If it’s simply to teach students what contractions are however, a short and clear definition of contractions is smart to include.
Perhaps most importantly, include examples in your contractions anchor chart. Definitions are important, but we often learn best by seeing ideas in action.
Finally, make sure to make your anchor chart visual. That can mean fun illustrations, or drawings that help convey the concept. It also means making good use of color and fonts. The anchor chart should draw attention and be nice to look at, but make sure the information contained in it is still quick and easy to understand.
Resources from Teach Simple
Contractions Anchor Chart and Fill in the Blanks
First in Line
GRADE 1, 2, 3
This printable includes a construction-themed contraction anchor chart that gives a definition and examples. Also included is a matching anchor chart with blanks for the student to fill in the missing words.
Examples from Other Teachers
Contraction Action Anchor Chart
Margaux Langenhoven
First of all, “Contraction Action” is just a great title. The chart itself is simple and just lists a few examples of word pairings and the contractions formed from them. Color is used to demonstrate which letters disappear to form the contraction.
Surgeon Chart
My Broken Bootstraps
Surgery is a great analogy for forming contractions! This anchor chart shows the surgical removal of the letters “N” and “O” from the words “can not” to form the contraction “can’t.” A bandaid represents the apostrophe. So clever!
Karate Contractions
Bored Teachers
Another fun way to envision contractions is to picture the extra letters being kicked out by some tiny karatekas, such as we see in this anchor chart. It includes a few examples of common contractions underneath the illustrations. Bonus points go to this anchor chart for including the caveat that the exact same contraction can mean different things. The example given is “she’s,” which could indicate either “she is” or “she has.”
Common Contractions in Everyday Use
Teacher Superstore
This is a really lovely laminated contractions poster featuring a simple definition of contractions and a bunch of brightly colored balloons. Each balloon shows a different verb, how that verb is conjugated, and how those conjugations are then contracted. This anchor chart also features the commonly contracted adverb “not.”
Apostrophe Helper
Teach Starter
Always a sticky one–even for adults! This anchor chart clearly lays out the difference between apostrophes used for contractions and apostrophes that indicate possession. A fun and handy pneumonic device is used for each, painting the picture that a contraction apostrophe is hungry and chows down letters, while the possessives apostrophe is greedy and thinks everything belongs to it!
It’s a Filthy Animal… Its Name is Bob
Maria Guzman Soto
This one made the list simply for being fun! We see a strange, two-legged dog monster-type creature underneath succinct definitions for “it’s” vs “its.” Above our goofy little friend, the anchor chart states, “It’s a filthy animal.” Below the filthy animal, we see, “Its name is Bob.” No way will that not illicit a giggle from your students. Whenever you can teach with a laugh is a wonderful thing. This poster is effective and memorable.
Simple, but Bold
Second Grade Smiles
This anchor chart doesn’t waste one square inch of space, and not because it’s cluttered. There is simply a title, “Contractions,” on one small cutout, and another slightly larger cutout makes three points: “The first word stays the same,” “the second word pops out letters,” and “an apostrophe holds their spot.” Green marker on green paper done in bubbly cutouts gives this a bit of a St. Patrick’s vibe. An aesthetic like this would look great in a classroom that’s beginning to feel overcrowded. It looks great and makes its point clearly.
Free Resources
Contractions vs Possessive vs Commas
A Dab of Glue Will Do
These free anchor charts for younger students demonstrate the difference between apostrophes used in contractions and apostrophes designating possession. For good measure, you also get a corresponding anchor chart that differentiates commas from apostrophes, with several examples of where commas are used.
Shakespeare’s Language
This free presentation is an entire lesson on Shakespeare’s language. There is a section simply on common contractions and omissions used during Shakespeare’s time. You can print it out and use it as an anchor chart, or draw inspiration from it to create your own old-timey contractions anchor chart. That would be really helpful to your students learning Shakespeare, Dickens, or creative writing.
Outro
Contractions are an important part of our everyday written and spoken communication. But they can be a little tricky for students to spell or understand, let alone distinguish from possessives. Young students may even have trouble telling apostrophes from commas. Older students can get lost trying to decipher the contractions common in classic literature, but absent from today’s speech. There’s a lot to cover when it comes to contractions! But you can help your students out with a handy anchor chart on display in your classroom or in students’ binders.
