<p>Odyssey,</p>
<p>The approach you suggested works wonderfully! Last year we gave our third graders a writing prompt and had them do an extemporaneous sample. We then had them score their paper 1-4 with 4 being the highest. These kids are used to doing well, so they naturally scored themselves 4. Then we put up a transparency of the anchor paper representing a 1 from the state benchmark test. A few students saw their own writing reflected in the sample. We went up through the anchor papers and by the time we got to a 4, everyone agreed that their writing needed a lot of work. </p>
<p>It was so much more powerful for them to come to the conclusion than for someone else to lecture to them. They can’t know what they don’t know! 
Once they knew better they worked their behinds off and all scored advanced on the state benchmark tests. </p>
<p>I know that y’all are talking about older kids, but I do believe that they need to start early, be explicitly taught and practice, practice, practice!!</p>
<p>Also, please support your local teacher who is trying to offer a rigorous course of study! </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>