DO THE

WRITE THING

National Campaign to Stop the Violence

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Teacher Introduction

Agenda

1. Overview of 2024 Contest
2. Why? Background on the contest and how it supports our students
3. When? Write, write, write! Rigorous writing builds the essential skills for success
4. How? Implement in the 2024 contest in your classroom

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OVERVIEW &

DtWT IMPACT

What is DtWT?

Through students engaging in thoughtful classroom discussions about bullying, youth violence and family abuse and its impact on their lives, the challenge seeks their opinions of the causes and solicits their thoughts for solutions.

Students formulate their submission around the answers to these three questions:

• How has violence affected my life?
• What are the causes of youth violence?
• What can I do about youth violence?

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2024 Contest Details

• Submission Window: January 3 - March 8
• Parent Permission forms will be signed and turned in on paper
• Entries will be submitted digitally through Google Form
• Counselors & Community members will be available to provide direct support for classrooms participating in DtWT
• DTWT Website

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Why is DtWT important for our kids?

• Social Emotional Awareness
• Builds Empathy
• Creative Thinking for Solutions
• Supports Multiple Threads of Standards
• Freedom to Write Authentically

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The "Challenge" helps young people in a variety of ways:

1. It gives youth the opportunity to express their feelings and thoughts through writing, which can be cathartic and empowering for the participants.
2. It helps to "give voice" to these young people and lets them know that adults are listening and want to hear from them.
3. The classroom discussions and writings help teachers form bonds with their students while establishing trusting relationships and opening up new lines of communication.

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DtWT Data - Top Themes

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Top 5 2022

1. Bullying - 19%
2. Community Violence - 14%
3. No Theme Detected - 11%
4. Domestic Violence - 10%
5. Depression/Anxiety- 8%

Top 5 2023

• Community Violence - 23%
• Bullying - 15%
• School Violence - 13%
• Gun Violence - 11%
• No Theme Detected - 7%

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DtWT Data - Top Solutions

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Top 5 2022

• No Solution - 23%
• Talk with Trusted Adult or counselor - 17%
• Be an activist - 10%
• Befriend others - 8%
• Provide additional mental health services - 7%

Top 5 2023

• No Solution - 25%
• Be an activist - 12%
• Talk with Trusted Adult or counselor - 11%
• Become a positive role model - 10%
• Personal commitment to not engage in violence - 9%

THE PROCESS

Build Quality Writing Products

• Provide time to write & offer feedback
• Teach through practice, review, and revision
• Provide exemplars to students

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Build writing skills beforehand

• Poetry (cloze), Spoken Word, Lyrics
• CER paragraphs (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning)
• Narrative Memoirs
• Peer editing and review with rubrics
• Storyboards for logical sequencing of ideas
• Presentations
• Basic grammar practice
• Writer’s resources aka SAS Editor, Grammarly
• Exemplar samples as guides for expectations & excellence

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Basic overview of the DtWT writing contest

In the classroom

1. Build writing skills beforehand (all year)
2. Introduce contest
3. Facilitate discussions on youth violence
4. Invite guest speakers; SRO, counselors
5. Use graphic organizers to generate ideas
6. Share resources for additional research
7. Teach how to format formal writing
8. Let go

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Basic overview of the DtWT writing contest

Local Finalists

1. Recognition Dinner
2. National Ambassadors announced

In Washington DC for National Ambassadors

1. Student, 1 parent, and teacher attend in mid-July. Expenses covered. 4-5 days.
2. Life changing experience for students
3. Parents and teachers have free time to visit museums, but are also included in daily activities.

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Submission Process

STEP 1

Complete the Student and Parent/Guardian Consent form.

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STEP 2

Student uploads writing to Writing Submission Google Form. It is encouraged that all students, even those who do not enter the contest, submit student writing on the DTWT or alternative prompt.

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Website Educator Resources

• Educator Toolkit
• Sample Lesson Plans
• Educator Letter
• Exemplar Writings
• SEL Resources
• Writing Rubric
• Alternate Prompt
• Cover Letter

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QUESTIONS?