Thank you Hugh.  You comments are well taken.  So true about many social agencies... They actually schedule appointments with clients during class time.

Nicole Graves


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Hugh D. Snow 
  To: specialtopics at nifl.gov 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 8:05 AM
  Subject: [SpecialTopics 113] Re: Persistence Strategies


  In response to Bruce Comer,

  Hello everyone I am the new comer to the chat room. My name is Hugh Snow and I have been a college professor for more than twenty years. My envolvement with specific /special programs is less than five years,however,I have experience in dealing with students/adults in such programs is quite extensive.

  Bruce,I enjoyed your two observations, and I concur. I would also like to add the following:

  I agree challenging curricular is a must,but if it does not meet the needs of the participants it simply is an exercise in futility. I also understand why students don't show up everyday,even when they are benefitting from the material. Economic and social problems abound in these communities, sometimes its a matter of not having carfare; or a babysitter, or the significant other tells them to stay home,or they don't have food.I have also seen examples where some of the social agencies that are designed to help them,act more as a deterrent for reasons known only to them.

  I believe a better system of interviewing potential students will in the long run provide us with better outcomes. Thus enhancing the persistence strategies.

  Regards,

  Hugh



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  I agree with you, Bruce.  High-quality instruction in a supportive environment is key and has many components.  We may have to re-define success for funders but for students feeling successful NOW is a key element of persistence.  We evaluate every activity and every class.  All students should leave every class with a feeling of success.  I try my best to have students leave, even the first class, with something they can use now.

  Nicole B. Graves
  South Deerfield, MA
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Bruce Carmel 
    To: specialtopics at nifl.gov 
    Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 12:25 PM
    Subject: [SpecialTopics 91] Persistence Strategies


    Dear John,
    I've been working in adult literacy since 1989, and student persistence (and retention) has been a challenge in every setting I have known. Students' dropout or irregular attendance makes educational gain difficult and really frustrates teachers. I learned a lot when you and I worked together on the Wallace Funds project, where we focused on persistence among library literacy students.  There are two main strategies I have found helpful:
    1) Offer high-quality instruction in a supportive environment (There are many components of this.)
    2) Re-define success. Accept that students are going to attend classes in a way that fits into their lives and satisfies their needs.  This might not fit into staff's concept of intensity and duration of instruction--so staff have to accept a new, irregular, sporadic model of participation. 

    What do you think?  What do you think are the key issues, strategies, suggestions for programs and staff struggling with student persistence?

    From Bruce Carmel
    Turning Point
    Brooklyn, NY 



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. 


----------------------------------------------------------------------------


    -------------------------------
    National Institute for Literacy
    Special Topics mailing list
    SpecialTopics at nifl.gov
    To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/SpecialTopics


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  -------------------------------
  National Institute for Literacy
  Special Topics mailing list
  SpecialTopics at nifl.gov
  To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/SpecialTopics



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  -------------------------------
  National Institute for Literacy
  Special Topics mailing list
  SpecialTopics at nifl.gov
  To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/SpecialTopics
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/specialtopics/attachments/20060711/e1053533/attachment.html