Connectors
Also known as Key Links Peer Reading the Connectors books use the small group peer reading approach and are based on the foundation of the reciprocal teaching. Into Connectors introduces this peer-to-peer learning approach to a younger audience. This approach looks at predicting, clarifying, questioning, and summarising, with additional comprehension strategies — giving opinions, making connections, and visualising. Reciprocal teaching has been shown to increase both reading and listening comprehension and has demonstrated that students transfer the learning into other contexts. It has also been effective in improving the achievement of learners from diverse backgrounds.
Reciprocal reading stimulates children and raises reading standards fast. Each book explores a topical issue that gets children thinking and sharing ideas. Children work in small groups taking turns to read and lead a discussion about each text.
Children build their oral language and listening skills, develop a range of thinking strategies and gain confidence working in teams.
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A proven and cost effective way to narrow the attainment gap
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Formal classroom trials of Connectors show student's reading age leaping forward by 9.1 months in just 12 weeks
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Case studies show particular benefits for disadvantaged learners
Every Connectors book has a What to do spread at the front to explain how the books should be used.
How does Connectors work?
Students work in small independent groups of up to six, each with a copy of the same book, taking turns to be the leader as they read and discuss a book together — predicting, questioning, summarising and evaluating. This collaborative approach builds oral language and listening skills, develops a range of thinking strategies and teaches students to work in teams.
Each student picks a coloured smiley face icon. When a student's coloured icon appears on a page that student leads the discussion.
Into Connectors introduces small group peer learning to a younger audience.
Colour bands as follows:
ORANGE
Year 3–4
Grade 2–3
TURQUOISE
Year 3–4
Grade 2–3
PURPLE
Year 3–4
Grade 2–3
GOLD
Year 3–4
Grade 2–3
SILVER
Year 4–5
Grade 3–4
EMERALD
Year 4–5
Grade 3–4
RUBY
Year 4–5
Grade 3–4
SAPPHIRE
Year 4–5
Grade 3–4
Connectors I and Connectors II help semi-fluent and fluent readers develop their thinking and reading comprehension skills through small group peer learning.
Year 5–6
Grade 4–5
Year 5–6
Grade 4–5
NOTE: Although the resource of Connectors I and Connectors II is the same, colour bands may very depending on the publishing distributor, e.g. Scholastic UK use ages 9+, 10+ and 11+ splitting the books into three groups of 22 and Abrams Learning Trends under the Key Links Peer Reading brand use Mango, Lime and Raspberry again splitting the resource into three groups of 22:
Age 9+
Age 10+
Age 11+
Mango
Lime
Raspberry