Students who are able to write well have mastered one of life's most
essential skills. To do so, they must assimilate the complex acts of
analysis, synthesis and the clear and convincing expression of ideas.
In 1993, MKA faculty instituted the Writing Challenge to help students
become better writers. This unique program has achieved measurable
success, most notable through the reports of MKA graduates who
consistently remark on their success with writing at college.
The Writing Challenge clarifies expectations for students in grades
Pre-K - 12 and helps students to better understand the strengths and
weaknesses in their writing. It places a consistent emphasis on writing
as a cumulative, continuous process that includes pre-writing,
drafting, revising, editing, and sharing, and encourages students to
strive for excellence as they hone both the technical and stylistic
aspects of their writing. Using specifically defined criteria, groups
of teachers formally assess students' writing at three benchmark
grades: 3, 7 and 11. Students take time to reflect on their writing
products and their progress and, as a result, are able to set
pragmatic, effective goals for improving their writing.
