Planning engaging, evidence-based literacy lessons is no small task — especially when you’re working to build decoding skills in tamariki who are just cracking the code of language. Structured literacy, with its explicit, systematic approach to phonics and morphology, is at the heart of the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum. But we know teachers are busy. This is where generative AI tools like TeacherGPT can step in.
Why Use AI for Planning?
Generative AI tools like TeacherGPT can:
Generate extensive word lists that match target suffix/prefix patterns
Suggest age-appropriate decodable texts for further study/reading
Help differentiate the lesson with leveled vocabulary (simplified, through to advanced)
Recommend culturally responsive contexts (e.g. kai-related vocabulary for integration with Te Ao Māori)
Now, let’s see it in action:
This example lesson focuses on decoding multisyllabic words
For Year 3 – 4 students, decoding unfamiliar words using syllable rules and morphological patterns is a key progression in structured literacy. A well-sequenced lesson might look like this:
Learning Objective: Students will use syllable rules and morphology (prefixes and suffixes) to decode unfamiliar words.
Lesson Flow
1. Warm-Up – Move with Morphemes
Students revise common suffixes (-ed, -ing) with whole-body actions. For example:
jumped → one jump
jumping → continuous jumps
This builds semantic awareness alongside decoding.
2. Guided Group – Deconstruct the Word Wall
Break apart complex words like:
unstoppable = un + stop + able
restarted = re + start + ed
unhappily = un + happy + ly
Students use colour-coded cards to physically segment and rearrange morphemes. Teacher notes decoding strategies.
3. Independent Task – Decode & Puzzle
Students complete a worksheet with decodable sentences featuring big words. Each puzzle involves:
identifying the base word
circling prefixes/suffixes
rewriting the word in syllables
Example: Unbelievable → un / be / liev / a / ble
Curriculum Links
NZ Curriculum Refresh – Literacy Progressions
Aligns with the English learning area
Supports knowledge of sounds, words, and sentence structure
Builds decoding, fluency, and comprehension
Te Ao Māori Integration
Incorporate kai traditions or kupu Māori with similar morphological structures (e.g. kaiako, wharenui) to explore compound word construction in both languages.
Assessment Opportunities
Formative: Observe students during guided reading as they break down unfamiliar words. Take notes on use of strategies like chunking, syllable division, and morpheme recognition.
Student voice: Ask ākonga to explain how they figured out a big word—can they articulate the strategy?
Supercharge Planning with TeacherGPT
When time is tight, AI can speed up planning by generating:
Custom decodable texts
Morphology-focused warm-ups
Quick assessments
Integration ideas tied to school-wide goals or local curriculum principles
It’s like having a co-planner who knows the NZ Curriculum, structured literacy best practice, and your learners.
Ready to crack big words wide open? AI tools like TeacherGPT make structured literacy not just doable—but delightful.
No more Sunday night scramble. Just smart, curriculum-aligned planning at your fingertips.