CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.2a

ELA4th GradeConventions of Standard English

The Standard

Use correct capitalization.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students apply capitalization rules when they write and edit. They identify words that need capitals in sentences, titles, quotations, and names of specific people, places, organizations, and events.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student independently capitalizes sentence openings, proper nouns, titles, and the first word of direct quotations. The student also corrects errors without adding capitals to common nouns.
Common Misconceptions: Students may capitalize every important-looking word or every word in a title. They may leave names, languages, holidays, and quotation openings lowercase, or capitalize common nouns such as school and teacher.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Correct the capitalization in these sentences: “we visit aunt rosa on monday.” “ben said, ‘let’s read charlotte’s web.’”

Lesson moves

Sort word cards into always capitalized, sometimes capitalized, and usually lowercase groups, then have pairs explain two choices.
Ask students to write three sentences explaining why some words in a favorite book title need capitals and others do not.
Play Capitalization Detective by projecting flawed sentences and awarding teams one point for each error found and correctly fixed.
Have students edit a mock school event flyer, correcting capitals in dates, names, places, titles, and headings.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.2a, 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.

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