Here in past years FL has had formal state level writing tests in 4th, 8th and 10th grades. You had to pass 10th grade to graduate or keep taking it until you do. Fourth grade test was a Very Big Deal in the eyes of the school (but doesn't hold you back or anything if you don't pass). So the kids start a prescribed writing program (in addition to a more developmental approach that they use when they write in journals) and the strict program begins in 1st grade and gradually gets more and more intense to 4th grade. So I certainly can believe the expectation of a 5 paragraph essay in 4th. In my son's class last year they had to include anecdotes, examples, transitions from paragraph to paragraph, etc. He came home from school with such gems as "said is dead". The writing (when posted class assignments) and I read it over looks so formulaic, forced, and fake. And the prompts are stupid.
This year they have restructured the entire testing so I don't know what they are doing.
Last edited by Cookie; 11/15/14 09:58 AM.
