Connections

Connections is a supplemental vocabulary intervention for at-risk kindergarten English learners that provides explicit instruction in high-frequency decodable root words. The intervention targets kindergarten students with limited English proficiency (averaging in the 10th percentile in receptive vocabulary). Students receive small-group instruction (2-3 students per group) for 30 minutes per day, four days per week, for approximately 20 weeks (averaging 73 days total). One new target word is introduced each day, along with 2-4 related words and review of previously taught words. Instruction includes word blending and spelling, word meaning instruction with pictures and definitions, reading decodable passages, sentence completion activities, word meaning matching with pictures, and independent sentence generation. Tutors (paraeducators) receive day-long initial training and ongoing coaching visits during the first three weeks, with monthly observations and feedback throughout the intervention period.