D E W Getting Started Guide

D.E.W. Guidelines Drop Everything and Write

D.E.W
Drop Everything &
Write

10 Minutes a Day to writing fluency

Created in collaboration with Deb VanSumeren
&the Bay City Public Schools Curriculum Coaches
VanSumeren/Young Updated 2/2010


Planning on
“Doing the
DEW”

Getting started…


DEW is
data-driven &
research based

Disaggregate your School/Class
MEAP Item Analysis for Writing
**as an entire staff**



Possible Timeline-measure twice, cut once:
November 2006-Verellen Elementary School (E-HPS)
• Gained knowledge of D.E.W. format through Deb VanSumeren
(Linsday Elementary Principal/previously BCPS Curriculum Coach).
It is a format that Handy Middle School created based on Collin’s
Writing. It promotes daily, all-school, timed writing in response to
different prompts. This process encourages students to write often,
write more and write on topic while using supporting details.
• Literacy Specialist piloted DEW process with most “at-risk” students
with great success. They became the experts in the field of DEW
before anyone else in the school.
• SVSU Leadership in Literacy seminar-our focus on MEAP writing
scores determined that our students need to become more
comfortable with writing, specifically adding details and do it on a
regular basis in all content areas. DEW came up again.
• Invited Deb to present the “what and why” of D.E.W. to staff.
• MEAP writing data drove us to do something different in the area of
writing-DEW was adopted as our idea to try.
• Ordered a journal & pencil for each student to use during D.E.W.
time.
• Collaborated with all staff to create a 15 minute writing window
three times a week and writing prompts.
January 2007
• Literacy Specialist modeled a 30 minute, TYPE I, D.E.W. lesson in
all classrooms. Journals and pencils were used for this first
modeling session to promote excitement and interest. IT
WORKED! 
• 1/17-Launched DEW process using a script
• 1/29-Requested feedback from staff (attached)-very positive!
• 1/30-Writing Prompt meeting for February & March PROMPTS
o Open to anyone who wishes to attend.
February 2007-May 2007
• Continued writing three times a week
• Monthly prompt meetings
• Feedback at staff meetings



I Do,
We Do,*
You Do
(The DEW-get it?!?!)

*Repeat until ready



D.E.W. Feedback Sheet
Please complete the attached FEEDBACK SHEET and return so that we can
further support you.

Name _______________________________________________________________________

What is working well so far:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

What surprised me most was:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

I still need help with:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

D.E.W. Feedback Sheet
Please complete the attached FEEDBACK SHEET and return so that we can
further support you.

Name _______________________________________________________________________

What is working well so far:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

What surprised me most was:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

I still need help with:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________



TYPE I
LENGTH FOCUS
BEFORE:
1. Distribute DEW journals and sharpened pencils
2. Post prompt for the day in a visible spot for students
3. No bathroom, pencil sharpening, getting out of seat, etc.
DURING:
1. Model EVERYTHING on the Overhead.
2. Label papers with “X’s” every ______ line depending of grade level
recommendations. K-2-do not skip lines, 3rd-5th grade-skip lines for editing
and revising at a later date.
K-1: 2 lines (do not skip lines)
2nd: 3 lines (do not skip lines)
3rd: 5 lines
4th: 8 lines
5th: 10 lines
6-8: 10-20 lines depending upon topic
3. Draw a short wavy line under your last “X”
4. Listen to announcement and model directions (see attached script)
5. Immediately following announcement, begin writing on the overhead or
ELMO for students to see that you are writing too.
6. After 5 minutes of writing, start to circulate around the room to stamp
papers.
7. If a child has met the length requirement, stamp the paper and encourage
them to continue writing until they are done saying everything they need to
say.
Three SILENT choices when finished.
• Illustrate with a text matching illustration, AFTER receiving a stamp
• Rest
• Keep writing
8. If a child is stuck, guide them gently:
a. Read what you have so far to me
b. I want to know more about…have that be your next line
c. Let’s just talk about ________ first, then you can write what you said
9. NEVER discuss spelling, word choice, punctuation, grammar, type I is just
for length.

AFTER:
1. Share if you would like
2. Collect journals and DEW pencils for next time



TYPE II
CONTENT FOCUS

BEFORE:
1. Distribute DEW journals and sharpened pencils
2. Post prompt for the day in a visible spot for students
3. No bathroom, pencil sharpening, getting out of seat, etc.

DURING:
4. Model EVERYTHING on the Overhead.
5. Label papers with “X”’s every other line the length of paper.
6. Listen to announcement and model directions
7. Immediately following announcement begin writing on the overhead for
students to see that you are writing too.
8. After 5 minutes of writing, start to circulate around the room to stamp
papers. You are checking for CONTENT with a TYPE II. Look for the
circled responses that were required for the day.
9. If a child has met the CONTENT requirement, stamp the paper and
encourage them to continue writing until they are done saying everything
they need to say.
10.If a child is stuck, guide them gently:
a. Read what you have so far to me
b. I want to know more about…have that be your next line
c. Let’s just talk about ________ first, then you can write what you
said
11.NEVER discuss spelling, word choice, punctuation, grammar, type II is
just for CONTENT.

AFTER:
12.Share if you would like
13.Collect journals and DEW pencils for next time

EXTENSION:
When students begin to feel very comfortable with both a TYPE I and a
TYPE II, it is time to take a piece through the writing process using SIX
TRAIT LANGUAGE for Publication.



Sample
Announcement
Scripts



Drop Everything & Write
SAMPLE SCRIPT- Verellen Elementary School E- HPS

$ Good afternoon this is __________________ and it is D.E.W. (Drop Everything &
Write) time.

$ An adult in the room will model all parts of the DEW process. You may look at
their writing at any time if you have questions.

$ Please open your DEW journals to a clean page. Today we will do a TYPE ___
writing, please label your paper with a _____. Fill in your name and date, today=s
date is ________________. (PAUSE-count to 10)

$ Second graders-please place THREE X=s down the left hand side of your journal
page. Third graders-please place FIVE X=s down the left hand side of your journal
page. (PAUSE-count to 10)

$ Draw a short, wavy line under your last X. When you are writing, you may stop at
the X if you have said all you need to say, or keep writing if you have more to add.
If you reach your goal you will get a stamp from an adult in your room.

$ Your DEW prompt for today is: (read twice, SLOWLY)

____________________________________________________________



$ Your teacher has also put the prompt up in the room for you to refer to.

$ You will have ten minutes to write-you may begin.(SET A TIMER FOR TEN
M INUTES)

Start to monitor classrooms. Take journal with you and drop in to write or help stamp in
five of the classrooms.

After ten minutes:

$ DEW time has now ended. Please finish the line you are working on and your teacher
will give you further directions. Have a great day!

SAMPLE DAILY GENERIC -Announcement Script
T.L. Handy Middle School

Mrs. Young MONDAY

Monday DEW prompt:

Good Morning Staff and Students, It is Drop Everything and Write Time. The purpose of
DEW time is to teach you to write more details to a prompt, for a longer amount of time.

Today is a TYPE 1 day so place a TYPE 1 in the top left hand corner of your paper and
place ten X’s down the left hand margin, skipping every other line.

Write your name and date in the top right hand corner of your paper. Today is Monday,
__________ or ___/____/07.

Today’s DEW Prompt was submitted by ________________________________.
Prompt is taken from student suggestions-see POWERPOINT in DEW Notebook:


You may now begin writing.

STOP AT 7:42 on Monday-SAY: DEW time has now ended.

Mrs. Young TUESDAY

Tuesday DEW prompt:


Please write your name and date in the top right hand corner of your paper. Today is
TUESDAY, _____________ or ___/___/07.

Today is a TYPE 2 day so place a TYPE 2 in the top left hand corner of your paper. TYPE 2
writing is built on what you are learning in your CORE classes. Please direct your
attention to your teacher for today’s prompt and further instructions.

STOP AT 7:42 on Tuesday.
SAY: DEW time has now ended. Please turn to your teacher for further instructions.

Mrs. Young WEDNESDAY

Wednesday DEW prompt:


Please write your name and date in the top right hand corner of your paper. Today is -
WEDNESDAY, ________________ or ___/___/07.


STOP AT 7:44 on Wednesday.

SAY: DEW time has now ended. Please turn to your attention to your teacher for
further instructions.

Mrs. Young THURSDAY

Thursday DEW prompt:


THURSDAY, ________________ or ___/___/07.


STOP AT 7:42 on Thursday.
SAY: DEW time has now ended. Please turn to your attention to your teacher for
further instructions.

Mrs. Young FRIDAY

FREE-WRITE FRIDAY DEW Prompt:

Good Morning Staff and Students, today is FREE WRITE FRIDAY. To help guide you with
some suggestions, I will be sharing some of our DEW Prompt suggestions that were
submitted by students.

FRIDAY, _______________ or ___/___/07.

Today is a TYPE 1 day so place a TYPE 1 in the top left hand corner of your paper and
place ten X’s down the left hand margin, skipping every other line.

Today is FREE WRITE FRIDAY, so may write about anything that you wish. If you are
stuck, you may refer to your Authority List or use one of the following student
suggestions.

Prompt is taken from student suggestions-see POWERPOINT in DEW Notebook:

You could write about _____________________________________________as
suggested by _____________________________________________________.

You could write about _____________________________________________as
suggested by _____________________________________________________.

Perhaps you could write about _______________________________________as
suggested by _____________________________________________________.

Or you could write about ____________________________________________as
suggested by _____________________________________________________.

Whatever your choice of writing prompt, you may now begin writing.

STOP AT 7:42 on Friday schedule day.

SAY: DEW time has now ended and I hope you all have a FABULOUS FRIDAY and SAFE
weekend.

D.E.W.



Writing
Prompt
Structure
& Ideas


DEW Authority List
YOU are an AUTHORITY on your life. Write about what you know!
Place a check by each writing topic after you write about it.

Think & write about…
If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be?
Your grandma
Your grandpa
Vacations
Pets
Who do you love?
Siblings
A time you got hurt
A time you were angry
A time you cried for a happy reason
A time you cried for a sad reason
A time you are proud of
A time you aren’t proud of
Your lifetime goals
Your dreams
Your hopes and desires
Think about your favorites….
Movies
Music
Videos
Foods
Desserts
Hang Outs
What are you afraid of?
What do you look forward to?
Who do you miss?
Who do you worry about?
What do you worry about?
What’s your greatest accomplishment?
List a few childhood memories.
Other ideas:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________



DEW PROMPT IDEA :
Submitted by _______________________________________ Type I or 2
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

DEW PROMPT IDEA :
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

DEW PROMPT IDEA :
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________


Additional Prompt Structure Ideas
Verellen Elementary School E-HPS

Monday- Kid Friendly Prompts: TYPE I
Length requirement only

Wednesday- Content Area Prompts: TYPE II
No length requirement, content focus, circle content parts
of response
EX. “Write about three kinds of habitats that you have
learned about in Science, and circle them.”
(A generic prompt will be provided by the committee
through March. At that point, teachers are encouraged to
start coming up with a content prompt that focuses on
something that you are actually teaching. Support will be
provided at that time to help come up with prompts)

Friday- Lifeskill Prompt: TYPE I
Based on Life-skills, character development, etc.


January
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
D.E.W. 1 2 3 4 5 6
PROMPTS Drop
Everything &
Write

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Write __ Write __lines
lines telling about telling about how
Winter. to be a good
friend.

21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Write __ lines Write ___ lines Write ____ lines
telling about what telling why you telling why it is
makes you would rather visit good to be a kid.
happy. a mountain, a
desert or a beach.
28 29 30 31
Write ____ lines Write __ lines
describing your telling what you
perfect day. would do if you
were President.

2007

February
D.E.W. Drop 1 2 3
Write ____ lines
PROMPTS Everything &
telling how you
Write
should behave on
the playground.

4 5 6 7 TYPE II 8 9 10
TYPE I If animals could TYPE I
3-5 lines about the talk, write and 3-5 lines about
kind of animal you circle 3 things how to properly
would like to be. they might say care for animals.

11 12 13 14 TYPE II 15 16 17
TYPE I Write about and TYPE I
In 3-5 lines how circle 3 ways to 3-5 lines
you would use one show people that describing how you
magic wish. you love them. would help a new
student.

18 19 20 21 TYPE II 22 23 24
TYPE I Describe and circle NO SCHOOL
3-5 lines about the name of a Mid-Winter Break
your favorite places you have
cartoon character. been to or would
like to go to.
25 26 27 28 TYPE II
NO SCHOOL Write about and
Mid-Winter Break circle 2 of the
four seasons.

2007


March
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
GENERIC CONTENT LIFE LESSON
TYPE I TYPE II TYPE I
1 2 3
Write 3-5 lines
telling why it is
important to tell
the truth.
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
NO SCHOOL Where would you If you were a
Professional go on vacation? teacher, what kind
Development Day Tell us 3 things of student would
you would do. you enjoy having in
your classroom?
11 12 13 14 15 16 TYPE II 17
If you could have Write about 2 Describe & circle 3
any animal for a things that you places a leprechaun
pet, what would it have read that are might hide their
be and why? not books. gold.
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
What would you do Pick 3 words to Write about a time
for entertainment describe yourself when you did
if you did not have and explain why something good for
electricity at you chose those someone else.
home. words.
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
What would you Name 2 kinds of Describe rules
put on your most weather in that you should
creative sandwich? Michigan and follow when you
explain each with are working in a
supporting details. group.
2007

April
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Describe 3 things Write about a time
you did over Spring when it is
Break. important to be
patient.
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Write about your Write about 3 nice What qualities do
favorite activity things Mrs. Dostal you need to be a
during Spring does for our good teacher?
Break. school.
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Tell about your Name your 3 Write about how
favorite video favorite foods and you could help the
game and why you tell what you like Earth.
like it. about them.
29 30
Describe what you
think outer space
might be like
(sounds,
sights, smells).

2007

May
1 2 3 4 5
Write about 2 or 3 Write about a goal
things that you you have or have
have seen that are had and what you
signs of Spring. would do or did to
achieve this goal.
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Write about what Name a special
you would like to person in your life
be when you grow and circle 3
up. reasons they are
special.
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Explain why we use Write about 3 What could you
Accelerated things you would have done
Reader everyday? like to do on differently in
summer vacation. order to be at
Eastland Lanes
today?
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
What are some No D.E.W. – No D.E.W. –
things you like Verellen Field Day. Verellen field trip
about D.E.W.? – all students.
What are some
things you didn’t
like about D.E.W.?
27 28 29 30 31

2007

D E W Getting Started Guide

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