Mia says, I am ready. She can also say, I'm ready. I'm is two words squeezed into one short word. That short word is called a contraction.
I'm
The little mark
When the words squeeze, a letter drops out. A small mark takes its place. It is called an apostrophe. In I'm, the apostrophe stands for the a in am.
don'tdo notisn'tis notdidn'tdid not
Not becomes n't
Many contractions use not. Do not becomes don't. Is not becomes isn't. Did not becomes didn't. The n't always stands for not.
it'sit isthey'rethey arewe'llwe will
More squeezed words
Some contractions use is, are or will. It is becomes it's. They are becomes they're. We will becomes we'll. Say both ways. They mean the same thing.
She's my sister.
Try this
Read: She is my sister. Can you make it shorter? She's my sister. Now try: We are late. We're late!
For parents
Goal: Your child learns that a contraction joins two words into one, with an apostrophe where letters were left out.
Say a sentence both ways: I do not like rain, I don't like rain. Ask: do they mean the same?
Point to the apostrophe and ask: which letter is hiding here?
Watch for look alikes: they're and their, it's and its, we're and were.
Away from the screen: Write do and not on two strips of paper. Fold the o in not under and add an apostrophe to make don't. Try is not and can not too.