Hi everyone,

I run a small business, I read the Wall Street Journal, and I will post 
a list of "Tips" from today's journal.  They are strikingly like the 
remedies below.

5 Tips form Atsutoshi Nishida on Overcoming a Crisis:

1)	Keep in mind that business without risk is business without growth.
2)	Work with the facts.  Listen to the market, not your ego.
3)	Act quickly and decisively.  Delay makes things worse, not better.
4)	Be a proactive leader and clearly communicate your decisions.
5)	Be resilient and continue to innovate.  Success is not forever, nor 
is failure.

Andrea


On Mar 3, 2008, at 11:30 AM, Molly Elkins wrote:


> I recently attended a workshop on student retention in adult education

> programs.

>

> Here are the top 6 reasons that students report that they drop out in 

> the

> first 3 weeks:

>

> 1) confusion about classroom location and teacher

> 2) confusion about classroom procedures

> 3) misjudgment of time and scheduling requirements

> 4) failure to understand classroom rules or expectations

> 5) failure to identify barriers to attendance and community resources 

> that

> could help

> 6) a belief that the teacher has no interest in them as individuals

>

> And the top 5 reasons that students drop out after the first 3 weeks:

> 1) the belief that the program has not met or will not meet their 

> personal

> goals or interests

> 2) lack of social interaction/ feeling of isolation

> 3) a belief that the teacher ahs no interest in them as individuals

> 4) work schedule changes

> 5) misunderstandings about homework or expectations of class work 

> outside of

> class time.

>

> As a result of this study, the woman who was teaching the workshop 

> shared

> what they did in their program to help increase student attendance.

>

> Teachers decided in advance of starting the class rules, 

> responsibilities,

> schedules, procedures, homework policies, activities, books, goals, and

> orientation information, and then KEPT it consistent for the entire 

> duration

> of the class. On the first day of class, teachers handed out an 

> orientation

> packet that explained the rules, expectations, dates and times of the 

> class,

> holidays, etc. for students to take home; these packets included many

> pictures for those learners who did not speak any English. If the 

> teacher

> discovered that there was a problem with some classroom procedure or

> activity, they did not change it until the next semester or class 

> break.

> Teachers stood outside the classroom on the first few class sessions to

> welcome and greet students. Teachers kept their name and professional

> contact information on the board at all times, along with the day's 

> agenda

> and learning goals. Teachers discussed goals with their learners, as 

> well as

> what motivated them and what kept them from learning. Teachers called

> students who missed a class. She said that they had seen a rise in 

> student

> retention as a result of these actions.

>

> Hope this helps!

>

> Molly Elkins

> Literacy Specialist

> Douglas County Libraries

> Phillip S. Miller Library

>   100 S. Wilcox Street

>   Castle Rock CO 80104

>   Map

> Phone: (303)791-READ

> Fax: (303) 688-7655

> Email: melkins at dclibraries.org

> Web: www.DouglasCountyLibraries.org

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov

> [mailto:povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Shoshanah Dean

> Hilmer

> Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 11:33 AM

> To: The Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy Discussion List

> Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1803] Attendance

>

> I would like to pose a question for the group to see if I can get 

> ideas on

> how to improve program attendance.  How do you increase adult learner

> program attendance short of charging (which I'd like to do, but then 

> the

> learners won't come)?  We offer a program that is for women 18 and 

> above.

> We offer a secure environment, free babysitting and transportation.  

> Really

> the issue boils down to the fact that learning literacy skills is hard 

> work

> and many of our students are surviving (some just barely) and the the

> commitment to learning is too much for them.  We offer self esteem 

> classes

> and a motivation class.  Does anyone else have suggestions on how to

> increase motivation and attendance?

>

> Thanks,

> Shannie

>

>

>

>

>

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