We use contractions in our everyday speech. Contractions are like a ‘short-cut’ in the way we use words. Think about this. If you were to tell a friend that you couldn’t join her for lunch, would you likely say, “I cannot go to lunch today,” or “I can’t go to lunch today.”? Because we use these ‘short-cuts’ so often in our speech, it’s important that we teach students how to use the words in their everyday writing. This deck is comprised of cards in three different formats, illustrated for additional support and engagement, that encourage students to learn and practice contractions.