What is 'Let's Grow!'?
The video (currently no video but a letter) below explains the basics of what you need to know about ‘Let’s Grow!’
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Its characteristics
Focus on Process
Let's Grow! works with several task phases. These phases provide structure, help students give peer feedback, reflect on their work and undertake action accordingly.
Self-Paced
There are several periods in which students work at their own pace. This means a student can be on schedule, fall behind on schedule or be ahead of schedule. In the remaining periods (start, middle and near the end of the year) students work in groups on projects.
Task-Based
The
tasks students work on are complete tasks that may require a bunch of
sub-tasks. It may also require practicing things like vocabulary, grammar or
learning about certain aspects of the English speaking world. Examples of tasks
are: make a brochure, write an essay, write instructions for a game and
complain to the school about the heat.
Tasks and Projects instead of Tests and Grades.
We barely have any traditional summative tests. Instead, we do projects and tasks for XP in which we formatively evaluate the student's output, set a new course based on areas that need some work and finally award the XP necessary to continue onto a next task.
Writing and Speaking through Reading and Writing
Listening and Reading are passive skills. Writing and speaking are active skills. Corresponding (writing / reading) is a combination just like having a conversation (speaking / listening). The tasks and project are output (active) based. This means you will speak and write based on read or heard input from other sources or each other.
Never skip another step
In 'Let's Grow! students never stop working on a task before they master it and have proven so. Students ought to ask questions, get help, do research and use all the sources we have made available to practice until they grow enough for the next task.
Higher Order Thinking
'Let's Grow!' lets students use higher-order thinking skills. They will be actively thinking alone and together to solve problems and come up with written and spoken products. examples of higher-order thinking skills that students will exercise are induction, comparing, analyzing and classifying.
XP and Grades
In 'Let's Grow!' you get XP for doing 'small things' and you get XP for proving that you are able to do 'larger things'.
These 'larger things' are tasks and the 'small things' are practice activities that help you grow so you can prove that you're able.
XP is necessary for a good grade as it is converted into a grade based on a calculator. Sufficient XP results in 6.0 on your list. Hence you started with a 6 in magister.
To keep your 6 you need to stay on schedule. Getting behind means dropping to lower grades like a 5.9, 5.8, and so on. If you want a higher grade you will have to stay ahead of schedule. The more you're ahead, the higher your grade will be, starting at a 7.0, 7.1, 7.2 and so on.
In addition to the XP-based grade there are two more grades. One based on reading and one based on listening. These skills will be summatively tested at the end of the year. Students are given insight into their current level at the start of the year so they can prepare for the tests at the end.
Language Speaking Games
Similar to 'Drama in the English Speaking Classroom' but mainly focused on acquiring new vocabulary through fun board games. A game of Taboo, Route 66 and more are all 'Let's Grow! Classics'.
Vocabulary and Grammar as a means to an end
You don't get summative grammar tests or vocab tests. We will, from time to time, check how much you've grown 'organically' through working with the tasks. You will study vocab and grammar whenever necessary in order to complete tasks and projects.
Coaching
What is the easiest / most interesting / most difficult about the assignment you're currently doing? What am I going to see you do in the next five minutes? You're going to make a planning? > What does a good planning look like? Which steps are you going to take in order to write this paragraph? Where can you find the sources to help you if you get stuck? Describe what I can see you do if you get stuck somewhere. Make a list of five things you need to do to finish this on time and order them from most important to least important. These are all things your teacher will say and ask to get you to think about what will help you grow. If you get stuck somewhere we will notice because you will get behind on schedule. A conversation like this is never to punish you but always to help you grow.
ERK levels
'Let's Grow!' is build using The European Frame of Reference (CEFR/ERK). Students do tasks based on their goaled level working on tasks that are built around the ERK's 'can-do statements'. For more information about the ERK, visit their website: http://www.erk.nl/
Formative Cycles
Let's grow is a formative method. This means that all student language production is repeatedly reflected upon and changed accordingly to grow several skills. Doing a test, be it a task, project or an actual test, is rarely the end, simply the beginning.
Focus on Communication
Language is used to communicate. Especially in speaking output, an emphasis is placed on fluency and communicative effectiveness rather than grammatical correctness. Speaking English continuously is encouraged. It even results in 6GEMS each period if consequently done. This method is English-English to contribute to the immersion.
Drama in the English Speaking Classroom
Role
plays and other fun drama related activities like playing the weakest link,
becoming a shared consciousness in answering questions word by word, help
students forget that they're practicing with a language. It is fun, it helps
you grow as a person and it helps you grow language wise. We will often do
drama related activities in the classroom based on projects and tasks.
LOB (COG), Process and Learning Goal Reflections
Reflection is a great tool to grow. We offer reflection tools focused on how the process went, what you've learned English wise and how your efforts relate to your ideas of yourself in an academic or profession related sense (COG).
Student focussed
In 'Let's Grow!' students work at their own pace. Giving them more time to slow down if they find something difficult and accelerate when something is easier for them. Another way in which it's student focused is the role of the teacher. The teacher facilitates learning by providing materials, asking questions (coaching) and answering questions. This does mean that the student needs to actively pursue learning.
A great number of sources was used to make Let’s Grow! possible. From free icons to H5P software. Click the button on the right to receive credit where it’s due or to see who made Let’s Grow! possible.
