Improve students’ writing skills and boost their assessment scores with lessons that are aligned to state and Common Core State Standards for English language arts. Students learn how to use acting and visualization as prewriting activities to help them produce lively, personalized responses. Easy-to-use checklists guide students to include specific elements in their writing and to demonstrate skills that are assessed on standardized tests. Add fun while infusing 21st century skills such as critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, collaboration, and communication. A detailed chapter on differentiation helps teachers reach all students, and dozens of complete writing prompts and reproducible forms make this a ready-to-use resource for anyone charged with preparing students for state-mandated standardized tests. Digital content includes all of the customizable reproducible forms from the book.