Capitalize names, places, days, months, and the pronoun I
When to use this goal
For students who capitalize sentence beginnings but write their own name, their town, or the pronoun I in lowercase. Present levels should show sentence-beginning capitals are mostly in place.
- Baseline
- Give two probes of 10 dictated sentences with a balanced mix of names, places, days, months, and I. Record which category each error falls in; the pronoun I and days of the week are often the last to be learned. Also tally common nouns the student capitalizes by mistake.
- Tips
- Teach one category at a time with examples from the student's life (their street, their friends, their birthday month). Over-capitalization is common once the rule is introduced; include common nouns in probes so it can be caught. Move to own writing as the third condition.
- Limits
- Dictated sentences tell the student where names are; own writing does not. Over-capitalization is not reflected in the percent unless tracked separately. Some categories (titles, brand names) are beyond this goal and can be added later.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID wr-mec-003.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, given 10 dictated sentences that each contain one or two proper nouns or the pronoun I, the student will capitalize each name, place, day, month, and the pronoun I independently with at least 90% accuracy on words that require a capital, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected weekly.
Baseline: 40% accuracy.
- Condition
- Observable behavior
- Criterion
- Measurement method
Measurability check11 of 11 met
Met: Observable behavior. Stated as an action.
Met: Condition. Stated.
Met: Unit fits the behavior. Percent accuracy fits this behavior.
Met: Explicit criterion. Number and unit stated.
Met: Mastery rule and schedule. Both stated.
Met: Method produces the metric. Work-sample analysis gives percent accuracy data.
Met: Review timeframe. Stated.
Met: Baseline and target compatible. Same unit, change in the right direction.
Met: Aligned with area of need. Still about Capitalization, Punctuation & Grammar.
Met: Level of support. Defined.
Met: Blanks filled in. Nothing left to fill in.
Checks structure and wording only. Whether the goal fits the student is the team's call.
Short-term objectives (optional)
When are objectives required?Required for students on alternate assessments (34 CFR §300.320(a)(2)(ii)); some states require them for everyone.
Paste into your IEP system
Most district systems have a separate box for each part of a goal. Copy them one at a time, or all at once as labeled text.
- Area of need
- Writing - Capitalization, Punctuation & Grammar
- Baseline
- 40% accuracy.
- Annual goal359 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, given 10 dictated sentences that each contain one or two proper nouns or the pronoun I, the student will capitalize each name, place, day, month, and the pronoun I independently with at least 90% accuracy on words that require a capital, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected weekly.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- Given 10 dictated sentences that each contain one or two proper nouns or the pronoun I
- Behavior
- The student will capitalize each name, place, day, month, and the pronoun I independently
- Criteria
- With at least 90% accuracy on words that require a capital, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes
- Evaluation method
- Work-sample analysis
- Schedule
- Weekly
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Matching data sheet
Accuracy tracker. Records number correct and number attempted.
Accuracy tracker
Percent accuracy- Student label:
- Target:
- with at least 90% accuracy on words that require a capital
- Mastery rule:
- in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes
- Collection schedule:
- weekly
- Method:
- Work-sample analysis
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, given 10 dictated sentences that each contain one or two proper nouns or the pronoun I, the student will capitalize each name, place, day, month, and the pronoun I independently with at least 90% accuracy on words that require a capital, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected weekly.
| Date | Task / materials | # correct | # attempted | % accuracycorrect ÷ attempted × 100 | Support levele.g., independent, 1 verbal prompt | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview shows 4 of 12 rows.
- Score only items the student attempted unless the goal defines a fixed set of items. Use the same denominator every session.
- Percent = numerator ÷ denominator × 100. Round to one decimal place.
- Record the support actually provided, even if the goal is independent performance.
The CSV opens in Excel or Google Sheets, with formulas. Sheets print blank; no student data is stored.