CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.2a

ELA3rd GradeConventions of Standard English

The Standard

Capitalize appropriate words in titles.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify which words in a title need capital letters. They capitalize the first and last words, plus major words, while usually leaving short connecting words lowercase.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students capitalize the first and last words and all major words in a title. They usually leave short articles, conjunctions, and prepositions lowercase unless one begins or ends the title.
Common Misconceptions: Students may capitalize every word, including short articles, conjunctions, and prepositions. They may also leave the first or last word lowercase or copy title capitalization inconsistently.
How to Assess It: Give students the title “the mouse and the motorcycle” and ask them to rewrite it correctly, then circle each word they chose not to capitalize.

Lesson moves

Give pairs word cards from a book title and have them arrange the title, then mark which words need capital letters.
Ask students to explain why “The Cat in the Hat” has some words capitalized and others lowercase.
Play Title Fix-It by displaying five incorrectly capitalized titles and awarding points for each accurate correction and explanation.
Have students choose three classroom books and copy each title with correct capitalization on a library recommendation card.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.2a, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Learning progression

If students are struggling here, check these first.

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

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