
Identifying Common Contractions
3/30/2026 | 1m 4sVideo has Closed Captions
This activity focuses on learning the predictable patterns used in common contractions.
This activity focuses on learning the most predictable patterns in common contractions. Learning contractions enhances comprehension and fluency. The adult demonstrates how two words become one by replacing a letter or two with an apostrophe. The child is encouraged to follow the pattern and make contractions. Next, the adult and child read a book together, noting the contractions.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Learning to Read is a local public television program presented by WNPT
Funding for LEARNING TO READ is provided by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation

Identifying Common Contractions
3/30/2026 | 1m 4sVideo has Closed Captions
This activity focuses on learning the most predictable patterns in common contractions. Learning contractions enhances comprehension and fluency. The adult demonstrates how two words become one by replacing a letter or two with an apostrophe. The child is encouraged to follow the pattern and make contractions. Next, the adult and child read a book together, noting the contractions.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- Sight words are whole words learned by sight rather than sounding them out.
And, the, and is are common sight words.
- Baby llama stomps- - And- - Pouts.
Baby llama jumps- - And- - Shouts.
What's the sight word?
- And.
- And, that's right.
- For a fun way to practice sight words, try forming each word letter by letter with Play-Doh.
Not only does this activity help your child learn, they'll also develop their fine motor skills by squeezing and rolling the dough.
- [Mom] So what sight word is this?
- This.
- And how do you spell it?
- [Child] T-H-I-S.
- [Mom] Good.
- [Host] Sight words make up a large percentage of all texts.
Being able to recognize these words automatically will help your child read faster and boost their confidence.
- What does this say?
- This is fun.
- [Mom] This is fun.
- [Child] This is fun.
(gentle music) - [Narrator] Sponsored by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, helping build literary skills and encouraging parents and children to spend 20 minutes a day reading together.

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Learning to Read is a local public television program presented by WNPT
Funding for LEARNING TO READ is provided by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation