Informational/Prompt Writing: Middle/High School: Cross-Curricular, Organization

"I teach Science, not writing." Well, not according to the Common Core Standards! We must all incorporate writing into our curriculum. What we NEED to be successful is a common language and a common set of expectations for writing in every subject area for consistency and success - both for students AND for teachers.

This download will walk you through how our school adopted a common language of using writing models, scaffolding grids, and the TEL-Con writing structure. It immediately put teachers at ease, and was instantly incorporated into all subject areas across our school. We have seen an enormous amount of success with this method, and we have had nothing but positive feedback from students, parents, and future teachers.

This download includes:
* 6 page handout with detailed explanations of using writing models, developing scaffolding grids for struggling writers, and using the TEL-Con writing structure
* A TEL-Con poster
* Two Sample 'Tier 1' and 'Tier 2' writing interventions
* 14 pages total - ready to be copied and disseminated at your next in-service

The TEL-Con poster is hanging in every single room in our middle and high schools. It is a reminder of the steps we teach students for responding to a prompt / writing an essay response.

Scaffolding grids have been met with enormous success in our middle and high schools. Students benefit from explicit, step-by-step directions for tackling the seemingly insurmountable task of responding to a prompt or writing an essay. These steps allow students to achieve independence, and build confidence in their writing abilities.

This organizational technique is inspired by the Common Core Standards as well as many years of tweaking and modifying writing for students. This general formula works for ALL subject areas. Perfect for Cross-Curricular Writing!


Tips on printing the poster:
I brought this file to Kinko's and had them made into 12 x 18 posters, in color, for about $2 each. I had one made for each teacher. Then, we held an in-service and discussed how this organizational structure can be used in each of the subject areas, from the core (math, science, language arts, social studies) to the applieds (music, art, physical education, technological education, family and consumer education, etc.). The staff was extremely receptive and grateful for a common language for teaching and talking about writing. Students also benefit from the consistency of seeing the same language and expectations in every room.


All of the writing assignments in my store follow the TEL-Con model. Students are amazingly successful with these easy-to-follow steps.

Please download! Email me if you have any questions, or would like further information/explanations. Thank you!

© 2012 Kristen Dembroski. All rights reserved. Purchase of this unit entitles the purchaser only the right to reproduce the pages in limited quantities for classroom use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system or commercial purposes is strictly forbidden.

Copying any part of this product and placing it on the internet in any form (even a personal/classroom website) is strictly forbidden and is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). These items can be located in a Google search and then shared worldwide for free.