Good writing is essential to children's success in school. Writing is the major means by which students demonstrate their academic knowledge, and the primary instrument that teachers use to evaluate scholastic performance (Graham & Harris, 2002). It is used as a tool for gathering, remembering, and sharing subject matter. It serves as an instrument for exploring and refining ideas about topics, allowing children to form new insights and more complex understandings. Writing also provides a medium through which children can explore their interests, feelings, and experiences as well as a mechanism for artistic self-expression.

Despite its importance, many children have difficulty mastering this basic skill. On the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (Greenwald & colleagues, 1999), only approximately 25% of the students in grades ...