Capitalization 8 - Holidays & Events

Holidays and special events are capitalized.  
Daily Grammar Lesson 315

Example:
Christmas
Fourth of July
Bar Mitzvah

Teaching Ideas:

• Make a list of favorite holidays and why they are each special.
• Make a list of special events in the child's life.

Copywork Ideas:

• Build on discussion from above and write one sentence in the following manner:

I like the Fourth of July because fireworks are exciting.

Capitalization 7 - Seasons

Seasons are not capitalized; the exception to this rule is when the season is personified.  

Daily Grammar Lesson 306

Example: 

My favorite time to swim is summer.

The leaves were touched by Autumn's hand.

Copywork Ideas (younger):

• Frog and Toad

Copywork Ideas (older):

Over the land freckled with snow half-thawed The speculating rooks at their nests cawedAnd saw from elm tops, delicate as flower of grass,What we below could not see, Winter pass.(Edward Thomas)

Capitalization 6 -Days and Months

Names of days and months are always capitalized.  If the day or month is abbreviated, it is followed by a period.    
Daily Grammar Lesson 306

Example: Monday, Tue., April, Dec.

When writing a specific date, place a comma and a space after the day.
Daily Grammar Lesson 343

Example: July 1, 2001

Teaching Ideas:

• Spend as much time as needed on this lesson.  If the child has not already learned the days and months, take the time to learn them.
• Circle of Months (game for 2 or more people):  Write each month's name on a card.  Arrange cards in a circle, in order.  One person holds a ball, and calls out the name of a month.  The other person hops to that month, and catches the ball.  Repeat.

Copywork Ideas:

• Write the date on each day's work.

Capitalization 5 - "I"

Always capitalize the word, "I."  

Copywork Ideas:

• Make a list of "I like...."
• I like cookies.  I like cake.  I love birthday parties.

Capitalization 4 - Common Nouns as Names

Capitalize common nouns if they are used as names. Do not capitalize them if they are preceded by a possessive pronoun such as my, our, his, her, etc.
Daily Grammar Lesson 303

Examples: Mother, Father, Son, Daughter, Grandmother, Grandfather

I love to play games with Grandmother.
My grandmother is a fun lady.

Examples: Nature, Love, Truth ... when they are personified

"We by art unteach what Nature taught" (Dryden)

Teaching Ideas:

• Look for examples in books; childrens' books tend to have a lot of these names.  The Dr. Seuss books and Little Bear books are a good place to start.

Copywork Ideas (younger):

• But there was Grandfather, fast asleep! (Lobel)

Copywork Ideas (older):

No tears
Dim the sweet look that Nature wears
(Longfellow)

"Frog" and "Toad" are examples
of common nouns used as names.

Capitalization 3 - Name Prefixes/Titles

A title is added to a person's name to show respect. Sometimes the title is written out, but usually it is abbreviated. Titles are always capitalized; they are followed by a period when abbreviated.  The exception to this rule is military titles; they are written in all caps, with no punctuation.
Daily Grammar Lesson 316
Daily Grammar Lesson 337

Examples:
Mrs. Sue Taylor (married woman)
Mr. Bob Bush (married or unmarried man)
Miss Sarah Smith (unmarried woman)
Ms. Sally Pope (married or unmarried woman)
Dr. Henry Jones (doctor)
LT Jean Long (lieutenant)
CDR Steven Short (commander)
Aunt Bess
Uncle Bob
Grandmother Mildred (some families use formal titles such as this for the oldest members)

Teaching Ideas:

• Point out to the child that "Miss" is not abbreviated.  "Ms." can be used when you do not know the marital status of a lady.
• This lesson can be combined with name suffixes (Capitalization 2).

Copywork Ideas:

• Make a list of family, friends, and professionals known by the family.

Capitalization 2 - Name Suffixes

Suffixes that follow names are set off by a comma and a space. They are always capitalized.  If the suffix is initials, it follows the rules for initials. If the suffix is abbreviated, it is followed by a period.
Daily Grammar Lesson 317
Daily Grammar Lesson 341

Junior/Senior -- Charles Smith, Jr., is my grandfather.
Academic Degrees -- Mary Kaplan, M. D., is our family doctor.

Teaching Ideas:

• Notice name suffixes in in advertisements, on billboards, etc.
• This lesson can be combined with name prefixes (Titles) in Capitalization 3.

Copywork Ideas:

• Practice copying names on business cards.
• Make a list of family, friends, doctors, and dentists used by the family.

Capitalization 1 - Initials

Initials are the first letters in a name. They are always capitalized, followed by a period and a space.
Daily Grammar Lesson 336

Alexander Graham Bell -- A. G. B.

Teaching Ideas:

• Notice initials in business names, such as accountants and attorneys.
• Look for monogrammed items in the home.  (Point out that there is no period used on monograms).

Copywork Ideas:

• Write initials for family members.