Review Mistakes
Learn
Making mistakes is how we learn! The key is to understand WHY you made a mistake so you don't make it again.
The 3-Step Mistake Review
- What did I miss? Look at the sentence again. What was wrong?
- Why did I miss it? Did you rush? Did you not know the rule?
- How can I do better? Make a plan to catch this next time.
Common Mistakes to Watch For
| Mistake Type | Why It Happens | How to Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| Missing capital at the start | Rushing to read the whole sentence | Always check the first letter first! |
| Missing period at the end | Focusing only on the words | Look at the very last character |
| Wrong punctuation mark | Not noticing if it's a question | Ask: "Is this asking something?" |
| Lowercase names | Not recognizing names | People, places, days, months = capitals |
| Saying correct is wrong | Looking too hard for errors | Some sentences ARE correct! |
Examples
Let's practice the 3-Step Mistake Review with some examples:
Example 1: Missed a Capital Letter
Sentence: "my brother plays soccer."
Your answer: "Correct - no errors"
Right answer: Needs fix - "my" should be "My"
Step 1 - What did I miss? I didn't see that "my" needs a capital M.
Step 2 - Why did I miss it? I started reading in the middle of the sentence.
Step 3 - How can I do better? Always start by looking at the very first letter!
Example 2: Wrong Punctuation
Sentence: "What is your favorite color."
Your answer: "Correct - it has a period"
Right answer: Needs fix - should be "?" not "."
Step 1 - What did I miss? This is a question but has a period.
Step 2 - Why did I miss it? I only checked IF there was punctuation, not WHAT kind.
Step 3 - How can I do better? Read the sentence out loud. Does it sound like a question?
Practice
For each question below, pretend you got it WRONG. Then use the 3-Step Review to understand the mistake.
1. Sentence: "do you have a pet."
Pretend you said: "Just needs capital D"
Correct answer: Needs capital D AND question mark
Use the 3 steps to review this mistake.
2. Sentence: "I went to the store on saturday."
Pretend you said: "Correct, no errors"
Correct answer: "saturday" should be "Saturday"
Use the 3 steps to review this mistake.
3. Sentence: "The cat is sleeping."
Pretend you said: "Needs a fix"
Correct answer: This sentence IS correct!
Use the 3 steps to review this mistake.
4. Sentence: "we visited grandma in texas"
Pretend you said: "Just needs capital W and period"
Correct answer: Needs capital W, capital T in Texas, AND period
Use the 3 steps to review this mistake.
5. Sentence: "Is that your book"
Pretend you said: "Correct, starts with capital"
Correct answer: Needs question mark at the end
Use the 3 steps to review this mistake.
6. Sentence: "My friend emma likes to draw."
Pretend you said: "Correct, no errors"
Correct answer: "emma" should be "Emma" (it's a name!)
Use the 3 steps to review this mistake.
7. Sentence: "We had fun at the party!"
Pretend you said: "Needs a period instead"
Correct answer: This sentence IS correct! Exclamation points show excitement.
Use the 3 steps to review this mistake.
8. Sentence: "january is very cold here."
Pretend you said: "Correct, no errors"
Correct answer: "january" should be "January" (months need capitals!)
Use the 3 steps to review this mistake.
Check Your Understanding
My Mistake Review Checklist
After doing practice problems, ask yourself:
- Did I check the first letter for a capital?
- Did I check the last character for punctuation?
- Did I check if it's a question or statement?
- Did I look for names of people, places, days, and months?
- Did I consider that the sentence might be correct?
Personal Mistake Tracker
Think about the mistakes you've made in this unit. What type do you make most often?
- Capital letters at the start
- Capital letters for special words (names, days, months)
- Ending punctuation (period, question mark)
- Thinking correct sentences need fixing
My most common mistake is: ________________
My plan to fix it: ________________
Next Steps
- Keep a "mistake journal" when you practice
- Review your mistakes before doing new practice
- Move on to Mixed Set for a final challenge!