Stage 2 Year 3 English Explicit Teaching Mini Unit - Prefixes and Suffixes

Strengthen students’ morphological understanding with this research-based, fully explicit Stage 2 (Year 3) mini unit. This comprehensive 5-lesson program teaches prefixes and suffixes through high-impact, evidence-informed practices grounded in:

• Explicit Instruction
• The Gradual Release Model (I Do → We Do → You Do)
• CESE’s What Works Best
• PETAA language and literacy guidance
• The Science of Reading
• Cognitive Load Theory
• High-impact instructional routines
• Modelled → Joint → Independent writing cycles
• Feedback and revision cycles
• Structured retrieval practice

Every lesson is designed for clarity, consistency, and maximum student learning.

What’s Included

A Complete 5-Lesson Explicit Teaching Program

Each lesson is written using a research-aligned structure that incorporates:

• Explicit Instruction, ensuring clear modelling, guided practice, and supported independence
• Gradual Release of Responsibility, with Review → I Do → We Do → You Do phases
• CESE What Works Best practices, including checking for understanding, effective feedback, and explicit teaching
• PETAA best practice for vocabulary, morphology and writing instruction
• Cognitive Load Theory (sequencing, worked examples, visual clarity, manageable steps)
• High-impact routines that build automaticity and deep thinking
• Modelled → Joint → Independent writing, embedded in every lesson
• Feedback cycles, giving structured opportunities for improvement
• Retrieval practice, woven into warm-ups and consolidation tasks
• Use of engaging, age-appropriate modelled texts rich in prefixes and suffixes

Each lesson includes:

• Learning Intention
• Success Criteria ("I can…" statements)
• Warm-Up / Activation of Prior Knowledge
• I Do (explicit teacher modelling with think-alouds)
• We Do (joint practice with scaffolds)
• You Do (independent practice with clear expectations)
• Extension tasks (table format)
• Differentiation (Support/Core/Extended using the bee icon system)
• Reflection & consolidation routines
• Assessment opportunities
• Teacher evaluation checklist

Teaching Slides

Aligned with explicit teaching, cognitive load principles and high-impact modelling strategies, the slide deck includes:

• Definitions of prefixes, suffixes, and base words
• Anchor chart
• Sequential modelling using mentor texts
• Worked examples with teacher think-alouds
• Vocabulary exploration
• Joint annotation tasks
• Retrieval practice prompts
• Use of age-appropriate, engaging mentor texts
• Links to videos and online digital practice
• Modelled → joint → independent writing templates

Differentiation System – Bee Level Coding

The unit uses a discreet icon system so task levels remain unidentifiable to peers:

• 1 Bee = Support (one year level below)
• 2 Bees = Core (Year 3 expectation)
• 3 Bees = Extended (one year level above)

Supports mixed-ability classrooms and maintains learner confidence.

Student Workbook + Answer Key

The workbook contains:

• Guided tasks
• Retrieval practice
• Cloze passages
• Modelled → joint → independent writing scaffolds
• Differentiated Support | Core | Extended pages
• Full answer key

Assessment Tools

• Pre-Assessment
• Post-Assessment
• Includes observable behaviours
• “What to Look For” descriptors
• Links to NSW English outcomes

Aligned With:

• Explicit Instruction best practice
• Gradual Release Model
• CESE What Works Best (effective feedback, explicit teaching, student understanding)
• PETAA literacy principles
• Science of Reading (morphology + decoding + meaning)
• Cognitive Load Theory
• High-impact teaching routines
• Modelled → joint → independent writing sequences
• Feedback and revision cycles
• Retrieval practice for long-term learning

Why Teachers Love This Unit

• Crystal-clear explicit instruction
• Fully scaffolded lessons requiring no additional preparation
• Engaging mentor texts and examples
• Robust differentiation without stigma
• Assessment tools built in
• Research-based, classroom-ready, and NSW-aligned