Capitalization in Titles – The Best Guide for Elementary Teachers

Picture this: I was sitting at my desk as a brand new 4th grade teacher, coffee piping hot, contentedly grading my students’ latest essays. That is, content until I noticed a pattern emerging… the capitalization in titles was way off! 

Either they only capitalized the first word of the title, or they capitalized ALL of the words, even minor ones.

Ugh, I had just taught them the rules for capitalization in titles. How could I help them “get it”?

I wish I had this method YEARS ago! Read on to find out how to help your students master & apply grammatical rules the right way.

Why Capitalization in Titles Matters 

Capitalization in titles may seem like a small detail, but it makes a big impact on your students’ writing:

• Expresses Importance:
  • Guides the reader’s attention to the key elements of the story/essay. 
• Shows Attention to Detail:
  • Quality writing is a desirable skill in both academic and real-life settings.
• Proves Grammar Mastery: 
  • Demonstrates that a student has a firm grasp on grammar and the parts of speech.

Four Capitalization Rules in a Title

Mastering titles will give your students major confidence as they write. Luckily, it’s pretty straightforward! Let’s break down capitalization rules in titles with some explanations and examples. 

Psst… if you need to brush up on the parts of speech (verbs, adverbs, prepositions, articles, etc.), here’s a quick guide from Grammarly!

1.) Capitalize the First and Last Word:

When crafting a title, always give prominence to the first and last words by capitalizing them. This rule applies even when the first or final words are minor, such as “a” or “the”.

Example: “The Journey to the Enchanted Forest”

2.) Capitalize Major Words:

Be sure to capitalize major words within the title, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs— we want to draw the reader’s attention to the powerhouse words that convey meaning.  

Example: “Dancing Gracefully: The Inspiring Tale of Anna Pavlova”

3.) Capitalize Proper Nouns:

Because proper nouns represent names of people, places, and concepts,  we show respect by capitalizing them at all times, including in titles. 

Example: “Adventures in Paris” 

4.) Lowercase Minor Words:

While major words take the spotlight, minor words like articles (a, an, the), conjunctions (and, or, but), and prepositions (in, on, at) don’t draw attention to themselves, and are generally lowercase. 

Example: “The Song of Wind and Rain”

Capitalization in Titles Activities for the Classroom

Based on my experience, the best way to teach capitalization in titles is by practicing the skill in the context of writing. Over the years I’ve perfected a proven 5-day grammar routine that can be used to teach any grammar skill in the context of writing. 

The routine consists of five mini-lessons that only take 10 minutes a day. By the end of the week your students will be using the new skill in their own writing independently. Here’s what the 5-day grammar routine looks like in action: 

Day 1 Mini-Lesson: Introduce the grammar skill with a mentor sentence.

Inspire your students to use grammar correctly through mentor texts (quality literature that exhibits the grammar skill). 

Day 2 Mini-Lesson: Create an anchor chart for the grammar skill.

Summarize the lesson and provide a visual reference for students through a well-designed anchor chart.

Day 3 Mini-Lesson: Practice the grammar skill by writing imitation sentences.

Provide guided practice in applying grammar skills in writing based off quality examples.

Day 4 Mini-Lesson: Reinforce the grammar skill with Boom Cards.

Students still need repetitive practice to master skills and to prepare them for standardized testing. It’s important that supplemental practice is given to students after they have a firm conceptual understanding. These boom cards are a fun, easy way to reinforce the skill! 

Day 5 Mini-Lesson: Revise and edit for the grammar skill.

Now that students have had plenty of guided and independent practice with the skill, it’s time for them to be held accountable for it in their own writing. This lesson gives them the chance to revise their own writing for the target skill using a self-assessment student rubric. 

You can try out this free 5-day grammar routine for yourself! Use it to teach capitalization in titles in the context of writing. It only takes 10 minutes a day and is super easy to implement! Students love it, and so do teachers. 

I’m sure that your students will master title capitalization using these methods and activities! Knowing how to title their papers will give students such a confidence boost as they begin each writing piece. It’s a vital skill that will set them up for long-term success in their writing journey! 

Related Articles: 

Best Practices for Teaching Elementary Grammar 

A 5-day Grammar Routine Proven to Enhance Writing 

FREE Workshop to Transform Your Grammar Instruction

Why Mentor Sentences are Essential for Grammar Instruction

Resources Related to this Skill: