Grade 4 Language: Self-Teaching Lessons (Model 2)

 

Grade 4 Language: Self-Teaching Lessons

This guide provides a mini-lesson for each of the 6 deficit areas identified in the language report. Each lesson explains the rule, shows examples, and gives you practice problems to test your skills. The goal is to help you understand why the rule exists and how to use it correctly every time.

1. Capitalization: Titles of People

• What It Is: This rule is about capitalizing titles of respect that are used with a person's name. Titles like Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., Captain, Senator, and Mayor should always be capitalized when they come right before a name, as they are considered part of the person's proper name. This also applies to family titles like Aunt, Uncle, or Grandma when they are used like a name.

• Why It Matters: Using a capital letter shows that the title is part of the person's official name and is a sign of respect. It separates a general job title (like "the doctor") from a personal title (like "Dr. Evans"). In formal writing, failing to capitalize a title can look careless or disrespectful. It creates clarity for the reader, showing we are talking about a specific, named individual.

• Examples:

  • Incorrect: We spoke to dr. evans about the project.

  • Correct: We spoke to Dr. Evans about the project.

  • Incorrect: My neighbor is mr. cheng.

  • Correct: My neighbor is Mr. Cheng.

  • Incorrect: We are visiting uncle david.

  • Correct: We are visiting Uncle David.

  • Incorrect: Let's ask professor plum in the library.

  • Correct: Let's ask Professor Plum in the library.

• Be Careful: Only capitalize a title if it's used with a specific name or in place of a specific name. If you are just talking about the job or role in general, it stays lowercase.

  • Correct: We are waiting for the senator to arrive. (No name, just the job)

  • Correct: We are waiting for Senator Smith to arrive. (With a name, needs a capital)

  • Correct: My aunt lives in Ohio. (Used as a general family member)

  • Correct: We are visiting Aunt Polly. (Used as part of her name)

• Practice: Rewrite the sentences below with the correct capitalization.

  1. Ask mrs. davis for the homework.

  2. The ship's leader was captain miller.

  3. We learned that governor smith will visit our school.

  4. The president will be speaking tonight. (Tricky one!)

  5. Did you see what officer chen did?

  6. My mom said to ask my grandma for the recipe.

  7. We told grandma sue we would be late.

  8. A doctor and a nurse both helped the patient.

• Answer Key:

  1. Ask Mrs. Davis for the homework.

  2. The ship's leader was Captain Miller.

  3. We learned that Governor Smith will visit our school.

  4. The president will be speaking tonight. (Correct as is! It's not used with a specific name like President Biden.)

  5. Did you see what Officer Chen did?

  6. My mom said to ask my grandma for the recipe. (Correct as is! These are used as general family roles, not as names.)

  7. We told Grandma Sue we would be late.

  8. A doctor and a nurse both helped the patient. (Correct as is!)

2. Punctuation: Question Mark

• What It Is: A question mark (?) is a punctuation mark that goes at the end of a sentence that asks a direct question. This is also called an "interrogative sentence." It signals that the speaker is looking for an answer.

• Why It Matters: A question mark tells the reader that a response is expected. It changes the tone of the sentence from a statement to an inquiry. Without it, a question can be misread as a statement. For example, "You're done" is a statement, but "You're done?" is a question expressing surprise or disbelief. The end punctuation changes the entire meaning.

• Examples:

  • Incorrect: What time is the party.

  • Correct: What time is the party?

  • Incorrect: Did you see that.

  • Correct: Did you see that?

  • Incorrect: How many are left.

  • Correct: How many are left?

  • Incorrect: Are we there yet.

  • Correct: Are we there yet?

• Be Careful: Do not use a question mark for an indirect question. This is a sentence that talks about a question someone asked, but it is not a direct question itself. These are statements. Look for phrases like "I wonder," "He asked," or "She wants to know."

  • Incorrect: She asked me what time the party was?

  • Correct: She asked me what time the party was.

  • Incorrect: I wonder if it will rain today?

  • Correct: I wonder if it will rain today. (This is a statement about what you are wondering.)

  • Incorrect: The teacher wanted to know who finished the test?

  • Correct: The teacher wanted to know who finished the test.

• Practice: Add the correct end punctuation (. or ?) to these sentences.

  1. Where did you put my backpack__

  2. I wonder why the sky is blue__

  3. Did you finish all of your lunch__

  4. He asked me where I put my backpack__

  5. Will you be at the game on Friday__

  6. I can't remember what he said__

  7. Stop that__ (Tricky one!)

  8. She asked if you were feeling better__

• Answer Key:

  1. ?

  2. . (This is a statement, not a direct question.)

  3. ?

  4. . (This is an indirect question, or a statement about a question.)

  5. ?

  6. . (This is a statement.)

  7. . (or !. This is a command, not a question.)

  8. . (This is an indirect question.)

3. Punctuation: Comma in a Compound Sentence

• What It Is: A compound sentence is two complete sentences (thoughts) joined together by a coordinating conjunction. A complete sentence (also called an independent clause) has a subject and a verb and forms a complete thought. The conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (you can remember them with FANBOYS). You must use a comma before the conjunction.

  • Formula: [Complete Sentence 1] + , + [FANBOYS Conjunction] + [Complete Sentence 2]

• Why It Matters: The comma separates the two complete thoughts, which makes the sentence much easier to read and understand. It signals to the reader that one complete idea is ending and another is beginning. Without the comma, you get a "run-on sentence," which forces the reader to slow down and figure out where one thought ends and the next begins.

• Examples:

  • Incorrect: I wanted to play outside but it was raining.

  • Correct: I wanted to play outside, but it was raining.

    • (Sentence 1: "I wanted to play outside." - Complete)

    • (Sentence 2: "It was raining." - Complete)

  • Incorrect: Maria likes soccer and her brother likes basketball.

  • Correct: Maria likes soccer, and her brother likes basketball.

    • (Sentence 1: "Maria likes soccer." - Complete)

    • (Sentence 2: "Her brother likes basketball." - Complete)

  • Incorrect: We should leave now or we will be late.

  • Correct: We should leave now, or we will be late.

• Be Careful: Do not use a comma if the part after the conjunction is not a complete sentence. This is a very common mistake.

  • Incorrect: I wanted to play outside, but got rained on.

  • Correct: I wanted to play outside but got rained on. ("Got rained on" is not a complete sentence; it has no subject.)

  • Incorrect: He likes to run, and jump on the trampoline.

  • Correct: He likes to run and jump on the trampoline. ("Jump on the trampoline" is not a complete sentence.)

• Practice: Add a comma to these sentences if it is needed.

  1. We can go to the library or we can go to the park.

  2. He did not study but he still passed the test.

  3. The cat ran up the tree and the dog barked at it.

  4. She sang and danced in the show.

  5. I built a sandcastle but the wave washed it away.

  6. It was cold so I put on a jacket.

  7. My mom cooked dinner and my dad washed the dishes.

  8. My mom cooked dinner and washed the dishes.

• Answer Key:

  1. We can go to the library, or we can go to the park.

  2. He did not study, but he still passed the test.

  3. The cat ran up the tree, and the dog barked at it.

  4. She sang and danced in the show. (No comma needed! "danced in the show" is not a complete sentence.)

  5. I built a sandcastle, but the wave washed it away.

  6. It was cold, so I put on a jacket.

  7. My mom cooked dinner, and my dad washed the dishes.

  8. My mom cooked dinner and washed the dishes. (No comma needed! "washed the dishes" is not a complete sentence.)

4. Usage: Subject-Verb Agreement

• What It Is: The subject (who or what the sentence is about) and the verb (the action) must "agree" in number.

  • If the subject is singular (one), the verb usually ends in -s. (Think: One = -s)

  • If the subject is plural (more than one), the verb usually does not end in -s.

• Why It Matters: This is a basic rule of sentence building. When subjects and verbs don't agree, the sentence sounds incorrect and can be confusing. It is one of the most noticeable errors in writing and can make your writing seem less professional or clear.

• Examples:

  • Incorrect: The dog run fast. (Subject dog is singular/one. Verb must end in -s.)

  • Correct: The dog runs fast.

  • Incorrect: The students walks to school. (Subject students is plural/many. Verb must not end in -s.)

  • Correct: The students walk to school.

  • Incorrect: Everyone are here. (Subject Everyone is tricky! It sounds plural, but it is treated as singular.)

  • Correct: Everyone is here.

• Be Careful:

  1. This is also true for verbs like is/are and was/were.

     • Singular: He is. She was. The cat is.

     • Plural: They are. They were. The cats are.

  2. Don't be fooled by words that come between the subject and the verb.

     • Incorrect: The box of crayons are on the table. (The subject is box, not crayons!)

     • Correct: The box of crayons is on the table.

     • Incorrect: The teacher, along with her students, are excited. (The subject is teacher, not students!)

     • Correct: The teacher, along with her students, is excited.

• Practice: Choose the correct verb for each sentence.

  1. My brother (like / likes) to play video games.

  2. The birds (sing / sings) every morning.

  3. She (is / are) my best friend.

  4. The people in the car (was / were) waving.

  5. Each of the cakes (look / looks) delicious. (Tricky: Each is singular.)

  6. My friends who live down the street (walk / walks) to my house.

  7. There (is / are) three cookies left in the jar.

  8. The list of chores (is / are) very long.

• Answer Key:

  1. likes (Subject brother is singular.)

  2. sing (Subject birds is plural.)

  3. is (Subject She is singular.)

  4. were (Subject people is plural.)

  5. looks (The subject is Each, which is singular.)

  6. walk (The subject is friends, which is plural.)

  7. are (The subject is cookies.)

  8. is (The subject is list, not chores.)

5. Usage: Pronoun Case

• What It Is: Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns (like I, me, he, him, she, her, we, us, they, them). The "case" of a pronoun changes depending on its job in the sentence.

  • Subject Pronouns (do the action): I, he, she, we, they. These are the "do-ers" of the sentence. (Example: She is tall. He ran the race. We won.)

  • Object Pronouns (receive the action): me, him, her, us, them. These are the "receivers" of the action. (Example: Give the ball to me. He told her a secret. She saw us.)

• Why It Matters: Using the wrong pronoun (like "Me and him went to the store") is a very common error, especially in speaking. In writing, it's important to be correct to make your writing clear and sound educated. Using the correct case shows you understand the structure of the sentence.

• A Simple Trick: To check a pronoun in a pair (like "My mom and I"), take the other person out of the sentence. This trick works because your ear can usually tell which one is right when the pronoun is alone.

  • Example 1 (Subject):

    • Incorrect: Me and my mom went shopping.

    • Test: Would you say: "Me went shopping"? No.

    • Correct: My mom and I went shopping.

    • Test: Would you say: "I went shopping"? Yes.

  • Example 2 (Object):

    • Incorrect: He gave the snacks to my friend and I.

    • Test: Would you say: "He gave the snacks to I"? No.

    • Correct: He gave the snacks to my friend and me.

    • Test: Would you say: "He gave the snacks to me"? Yes.

• Practice: Choose the correct pronoun for each sentence.

  1. (She / Her) and I are in the same class.

  2. My teacher gave (we / us) a reward.

  3. Please share the drawing with (he / him) and (I / me).

  4. (Them / They) are coming over later.

  5. (He / Him) and his brother built a fort.

  6. My mom bought new shoes for my sister and (I / me).

  7. (We / Us) students are ready for the test.

  8. Can you play the game with (they / them)?

• Answer Key:

  1. She (Test: "She is in the same class.")

  2. us (This is an object, receiving the reward.)

  3. him, me (Test: "Please share with him." "Please share with me.")

  4. They (Test: "They are coming over." Not "Them are coming over.")

  5. He (Test: "He built a fort.")

  6. me (Test: "My mom bought new shoes for me.")

  7. We (Test: "We are ready for the test.")

  8. them (This is an object, receiving the action "with".)

6. Usage: Verb Tense

• What It Is: Verb tense tells the reader when an action is happening. The main tenses are:

  • Past: The action already finished (e.g., walked, ate, was).

  • Present: The action is happening now, or it's a general fact (e.g., walks, eats, is).

  • Future: The action has not happened yet (e.g., will walk, will eat, will be). You should keep the tense consistent and not jump around in time without a reason, especially within the same story or paragraph.

• Why It Matters: If your verb tenses are mixed up, your reader will be confused about when events are happening. A story that starts in the past should generally stay in the past. If the tenses jump around, the reader's "timeline" of the story breaks. It's like watching a movie that's edited out of order—it's confusing and hard to follow.

• Examples:

  • Incorrect (Mixed Tense): Yesterday I go to the park and played on the swings. (This mixes present tense go with past tense played.)

  • Correct (Past Tense): Yesterday I went to the park and played on the swings. (Both are past tense.)

  • Incorrect (Mixed Tense): Tomorrow we watched a movie. (This mixes future Tomorrow with past tense watched.)

  • Correct (Future Tense): Tomorrow we will watch a movie. (Both are future.)

  • Incorrect (Story): The dog barked at the mailman. He runs to the window and jumps up and down.

  • Correct (Story): The dog barked at the mailman. He ran to the window and jumped up and down. (All verbs are in the past.)

• Be Careful: Make sure your verbs match the time words in the sentence. These clue words tell you when the action is happening.

  • Past: yesterday, last week, a year ago, in 2010

  • Present: today, right now, every day, always

  • Future: tomorrow, next month, soon, in five minutes

  • Incorrect: Last week, he tells me a joke. (Time word Last week is past, but verb tells is present.)

  • Correct: Last week, he told me a joke.

• Practice: Fix the underlined verb to match the time of the sentence.

  1. Last night, my family <u>eat</u>\ pizza for dinner.

  2. Next week, I <u>visited</u>\ my aunt.

  3. She <u>runs</u>\ in the race yesterday and won!

  4. Right now, I <u>walked</u>\ to the store.

  5. Every day, my cat <u>sleeped</u>\ by the window.

  6. We <u>will go</u>\ to the beach two days ago.

  7. He is happy because he <u>will get</u>\ a new bike tomorrow.

  8. She <u>is</u>\ tired last night, so she went to bed early.

• Answer Key:

  1. ate

  2. will visit (or am visiting)

  3. ran

  4. am walking (or walk)

  5. sleeps (The clue Every day signals present tense.)

  6. went (The clue two days ago signals past tense.)

  7. will get (This one is correct! The clue is tomorrow.)

  8. was (The clue last night signals past tense.)