How to teach a TEEL paragraph at home

Teach a TEEL paragraph by helping your child explain one point, then make it concrete with an example. Say the paragraph together before asking them to write it. The letters remind them of the jobs a paragraph needs to do; memorising the letters is only the beginning.

Understand the idea

Here, TEEL means Topic sentence, Explanation, Evidence or example, Link. Some schools put evidence before explanation. Use your child's classroom version so home practice supports what they are learning.

The topic sentence states one reason. The explanation answers why that reason matters. Evidence or an example shows what the reason looks like. The link connects it to the overall position.

Ask: "What do you want the reader to agree with? What is one reason?" If your child names several reasons, choose one to develop. Keep the others for another paragraph.

A link does not need to repeat the first sentence. It should show what the reader can conclude after hearing the explanation and example. A paragraph may need more than one sentence for a job, or combine jobs naturally.

See it worked through

One reason for keeping a playground seat

Imagine a school is deciding whether to remove a seat to make room for more games. This is an invented practice situation.

Topic: "The playground should keep a seat where children can rest."

Explanation: "Not everyone wants to run for the whole break, and a place to sit gives children a choice."

Example: "For example, a child who has just finished a chasing game could catch their breath on the seat before joining in again."

Link: "Keeping the seat would make the playground useful for resting as well as playing."

T · Topic

Keep a playground seat for resting.

E · Explain

Children need a choice about how to spend the break.

E · Example

After a chasing game, a child could sit and catch their breath.

L · Link

The playground would offer space for resting as well as playing.

Say: "Notice that every sentence helps explain the same benefit, having somewhere to rest." Changing the example to a seat's colour would lose that connection. Ask your child to explain why the chasing-game example fits.

Try it together

Build one paragraph aloud

Use this practice topic: "Should our classroom keep spare pencils?"

1. Ask your child for one reason. Write a few words rather than a finished sentence.
2. Say: "Who would that help, and how?" Listen for an explanation.
3. Ask: "Can you describe a situation where that would matter?"
4. Finish with: "What does that show about keeping spare pencils?"

Your child can dictate while you write. Read the paragraph back, then let them choose one sentence to improve.

Check the answer

One possible answer is: "Our classroom should keep spare pencils so children can start their work. A forgotten pencil should not stop someone from joining a lesson. For example, a child whose pencil snaps could borrow a spare while waiting to sharpen theirs. A small supply would help the class spend more time on the task."

The example explains the practical benefit named at the start. Other reasons can work if the explanation and example support them.

Check their understanding

Ask: "Which sentence explains why the example matters?" A child who only identifies the TEEL letters may still be repeating a pattern without following the argument.

If the explanation restates the topic, say: "You have told me it helps. Now tell me what changes for the child." Praise a specific improvement, such as naming the delay a spare pencil could prevent.

Make it easier or harder

For a child still building sentences, work orally and offer a starting phrase: "This would help because..." Stop after a reason and explanation if writing the whole paragraph becomes tiring.

For a confident writer, remove the labels. Ask them to decide whether the paragraph needs another explanation, and whether the final sentence adds something useful. Let them change the order when the connection stays clear.

Teaching notes

The NSW Department of Education discusses TEEL and other paragraph structures as teaching tools, including moving beyond a fixed template. The examples here are original home-practice activities, not official test questions.

Writing practice

Your child can try a writing prompt and receive feedback against the ten NAPLAN criteria.

Create a free account↗See how writing practice works

The platform is currently free. Create a parent account, then add your child to get started. Each child can start 1 new writing piece a day.