I used to teach 4th grade and they had a writing test every year...

Honestly, I think you *have* to read aloud to them (approx. 20) and write with them....

...I also used to use some guides by Ralph Fletcher and by Suzy Red (suzyred.com)

or you could collaborate with another class and share writing...kids ALWAYS do a better job when they know another kid is going to read

their work

I know the English teacher in my school went over all of the essay response ?'s with her students (in detail)

Essay response questions? Is that old test prompts, or something else?

I'm hitting this hard. I've got 8 days. Trying some new things this year. I can only hope. But I'm getting some new ideas.