FCAT writing scores are up
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May 08, 2008

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Kathy

I've asked repeatedly why not give kids something interesting to write about, or read about in the FCAT reading prompts, it all boils down to having to be so ridiculously PC because some overly sensitive moron out there will get offended if the dare to put something more interesting than the migratory patterns of birds.

Casie Pease

Kids at our school hated the topic - Favorite classroom job. Many teachers don't have classroom jobs. I was lucky because I do. It was a very difficult topic for them to write an entire essay on.

DMJ

Prompts are different for grade levels. That prompt fits right in with 4th graders who love classroom jobs.

Writing about things you like is easy.
The SAT/ACT does not let you write about what you want either.

Frances

Writing is probably one of the more difficult subjects to test, as it not easy to become passionate about a writing prompt that is shown to you at the beginning of the test. Add to that the subjective nature of these selected prompts ("Your Favorite Classroom Job"-- please, how could anyone, never mind a 4th grader, spend 45 minutes writing about that?) and the results year to year will always be in flux.
If you want students to demonstrate their best writing abilities, don't hamstring them with ridiculous prompts - give them something that will resonate with them!

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