[NIFL-FOBASICS:1118] RE: GED vs. ABE programs/Bringing up GED pass rate

From: Bennett, Gina (BENNETT@cotr.bc.ca)
Date: Thu Aug 12 2004 - 13:16:20 EDT


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From: "Bennett, Gina" <BENNETT@cotr.bc.ca>
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Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:1118] RE: GED vs. ABE programs/Bringing up GED pass rate
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Hi Michele, you asked:

>>At our school, though, ABE is considered the "low" 
class and few students want to be there or to stay long. So please tell
me 
more about your program's structure.

Our ABE program is based on the Canadian model so it may not correspond
to what you do... In our province, ABE is organized into 4 levels: the
lowest level meets the needs of literacy learners, & the highest level
is composed of courses that are accepted as equivalent to the
corresponding Grade 12 curriculum in the K-12 system. The minimum
requirements for formal Grade 12 (Adult) Graduation are successful
completion of Math 11 & English 12, plus 3 other courses at the Grade 12
level. In comparison, the GED curriculum is roughly equivalent to our
Grade 10 program. We use the CAAT (it's a Canadian test) to recommend a
starting place for new students. 

I like your approach to GED instruction & I agree with the utility of
helping students 'fill in the gaps' by working on only the areas of
learning in which they are lacking. Again, I think this is appproach
provides a very positive 'hook': students are empowered to see how much
they already know. I have had many students start out with a 'filling in
the gaps' approach & then tell me, a little further along in the
process, that they want to go back & start at the beginning, because by
then they are enjoying the learning & realize the value of strengthening
their foundation.

Thanks for sharing!
Gina



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