Virginia SOL 4.LU.2.C

ELA4th GradeLanguage Usage

The Standard

Use apostrophes to form contractions and to show possession in writing.

Virginia Standards of Learning for English · Mechanics

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students combine two words into shortened forms and mark the missing letters with an apostrophe. They also place apostrophes to show that one or more owners have something.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students correctly write forms such as can't, Maria's notebook, and the players' bench in complete sentences. They can explain why each apostrophe belongs in that spot.
Common Misconceptions: Students often use apostrophes for ordinary plurals, writing apple's, or place every possessive apostrophe before the s. They may confuse its with it's or leave apostrophes out of shortened forms.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Rewrite, "The two girls backpacks arent by Mr. Lees desk." Circle each apostrophe and label it missing letters or ownership.

Lesson moves

Give pairs word cards such as do not, the dog's bowl, and the dogs' bowls; students build each form with apostrophe tiles.
Ask students to explain how the apostrophe changes meaning in the dog's bowls and the dogs' bowls, then write one matching sentence.
Run an apostrophe sort relay with sentence cards labeled contraction, singular possession, plural possession, and no apostrophe.
Display photos of store signs, menus, and ads; students correct apostrophe errors and explain each edit.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 4.LU.2.C, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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