Getting started with Tweens

Roadmap

To make a smooth start, follow the steps below:

Administrator

1. Create student accounts, via a ParnasSys link or read a student list. If necessary, turn on the extra support for dyslexia for certain students. 
2. Teacher accounts and link them to the correct class.
3. Link the classes to the subscription via Administration > Subscriptions.

Teacher / Student

4.     Start with students; login via https://learning.holmwoods.eu. If necessary, adjust the course settings.

Students start with a level assessment test and work at their own level.
For group 5 students: Prepare them for the level assessment, entirely in English.
The level determination test takes about 5-15 minutes and the student can immediately continue practicing.

5.     Let the students complete about 33% of the unit each week (the first week 33%, the second week 67%, the third week 100%, etc.). For level Beginners: about 1 unit per week. 
6.     Adjust the level of a student for red scores.

Classroom lesson

The classroom lessons only start when the students can work online smoothly and are at the right level.

If you have purchased Tweens, now is the time to call off the adventure books. Need advice, email or call us.

7.     Start classroom lessons using the paper manual and the adventure book. The lessons for the level Beginners can be found in the learning environment.

During the trial period, copy the pages of the adventure books for all students. When purchasing Tweens, each student receives their own adventure book.

Storyline and levels

A fun and interesting storyline takes the students to America and England. Places like the Grand Canyon and Route 66 suddenly come very close and pique the student’s curiosity. In addition to immersion in the language, students also become acquainted with American and British culture.

We have chosen to assign our own names to the levels that partly correspond to the international names. In addition, we use an indication that has to do with the European Reference Framework (CEFR), such as A1, B1, and so on.

Outflow level

The Beginners level overlaps with Kids (gr 1-4) and level B2 is comparable to English in havo/vwo 5. Our advice for outflow to secondary education is:

• vmbo students: Finish Pioneers
• havo students: Breakthrough, unit 6
• vwo students: Elementary, unit 6
• vwo+/gymnasium students: Elementary afmaken

NB. These are guidelines. Every student is different. Where desired, offer customization. Tweens has been developed for this purpose.

Preparing the lesson

• 2 students on Beginners
• 8 students on Discoverers
• 5 students on Explorers
• 2 students on Pioneers
• 2 students on Breakthrough or higher

You then teach at the Discoverers level. For each lesson it is indicated how many % the students must have completed in order to (effectively) teach this lesson. This percentage is especially important for the 8 students who also work online on Discoverers. The other options to differentiate will be discussed during the training.

Differentiate in class

Read the learning objective, the required materials and the Dutch explanation in the manual. The pages of the adventure book are next to it. Differentiation is also possible with the classroom lessons. The students who work online at the level of the classroom lessons (in the example Discoverers) do the ‘road sign’ exercises, the students who are one level further online (Explorers) do the ‘treasure map’ exercises and the students who are even higher (Pioneers and above) do the ‘compass’ exercises.

If you have questions about the right level for the classroom lesson, feel free to ask us for advice.

Teaching the lesson

The students have already prepared online. During the lesson, the students use their adventure book. The two pages that are made in class are placed next to each other. The lesson consists of an introduction, core activity and conclusion. The smartboard supports lessons with native speakers. Let the students work in pairs as much as possible to provoke speaking and, above all, have fun during the lessons!

Goals / Smart Goals

When do you chooce a ‘regular’ goal or a smart goal?

If the students are all on the same level and unit, then a ‘normal’ goal is easier to use.
When you work in a differentiated or personalized manner in the classroom, you can make better use of the ‘smart goals’.

View detailed information about setting goals/smart goals here

Alerts

When you have several classes with dozens of students under your care, it is sometimes difficult to keep track of all progress and achievements. You are especially curious about deviating patterns, poor performance, slow progress, but also exceptionally good performance.

That’s why we’re introducing alerts that let you know when a student shows a deviating pattern.

View the information about how to set the alerts here.

Tests

While working in Holmwood’s online learning environment, continuous “assessment” takes place.

De (online) unittest

Each unit is completed with an online test. This can be done by the student when:

– he has completed all exercises sufficiently (orange or green).

– the teacher releases the test  More info…

If the student passes the test, he moves on to the next unit. If the student fails the test, he is given a number of extra exercises followed by a second test attempt. If the student fails the test for the second time, he must retake the unit. Usually there is something going on, so for the teacher a signal.

Contact details

Holmwood’s Onderwijs
Kazemat 29
3905 NR Veenendaal

Phone
085 303 8478

Sales
sales@holmwoods.eu

Support
support@holmwoods.eu