PRIMARY SPELLING & PHONICS • CURRICULUM ARCHITECTURE TEACHER MASTER KEY INSTRUCTOR REFERENCE • PAGE 2 OF 2
LESSON 69 TEACHER GUIDE & ANSWER KEY CONTRACTIONS
Wheeler's Elementary Speller — Page 39
Category Full Word Form Omitted Letter(s) & Phonology Contraction & Usage Note
Pronoun + Be I am, he is, it is omits a (/æ/), omits i (/ɪ/) I'm, he's, it's, 'tis (colloquial & poetic)
Pronoun + Modal I will omits wi I'll (future intent)
Verb + Negative do not, cannot omits o in not; omits no in cannot don't, can't (high frequency negatives)
Poetic Elision over, ever omits medial consonant v o'er, e'er (syllable reduction in meter)
Complete Answer Key & Solutions WHEELER'S PAGE 39 EXERCISES
Ex. 1: 9 Target Contractions Orthography

1. I am → I'm
2. I will → I'll
3. it is → it's
4. it is → 'tis
5. he is → he's
6. do not → don't
7. cannot → can't
8. over → o'er
9. ever → e'er

Ex. 2: Apostrophe Detective Solutions

• In don't: replaces letter o.
• In I'll: replaces letters wi.
• In can't: replaces letters no.
• In o'er: replaces letter v.

Ex. 3: Sample Exemplary Sentences

• I'm: “I’m so glad that spring has come at last.”
• It's: “It’s time to begin our spelling lesson.”
• Don't: “Please don’t walk upon the tender young grass.”
• Can't: “A bird with an injured wing can’t fly high.”
• I'll: “I’ll help you carry the heavy basket home.”
• 'Tis: “’Tis a sweet and sunny morning in May.”
• O'er: “The white clouds drift softly o’er the hills.”

Socratic Guiding Prompts & Pedagogical Insights INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES
  • The Physical Role of the Apostrophe: Guide the student: "Look at the word 'cannot'. When we squeeze it together into 'can't', two letters get pushed out! What mark steps in to hold their place?" Emphasize that the apostrophe is not a decoration; it is a placeholder.
  • The Two Forms of 'It is': Point out: "Notice how 'it is' can become 'it's' by dropping the 'i' from 'is'. But in old poetry, people also dropped the 'i' from 'it' to make ''tis'! Where does the apostrophe go in ''tis'?" (At the very front!).
  • Crucial Distinction (It's vs. Its): Train students early: "If you can substitute 'it is', use an apostrophe (it's). If the dog is wagging its tail, there is no 'it is', so never use an apostrophe!"
Dictation & Oral Application Sentences (Read slowly at normal speaking pace):
1. “I’m sure that he’s ready to read his lesson aloud.”
2. “If you don’t hurry, I’ll walk to school alone.”
3. “We can’t cross the river while it’s running so fast.”
4. “The soft wind blew o’er the fields, and ’tis warm today.”
Wheeler's Elementary Speller • Lesson 69 • Teacher Master Key Page 2 of 2 (Instructor Reference)