A growing interest in Adult Education programs across the country is attempting to increase retention and learner persistence. Adult learners often leave programs because of “life factors” such as problems with childcare, job, transportation, parking, schedule, moving, etc. But others leave because of program factors in the classroom, in the school community, and in the learning process. Researchers in the San Diego Continuing Education system surveyed high retention teachers and students, and found consistent themes. Classes with high retention rates had the following characteristics:
Structure – agendas, syllabi, routine, teams
Organization – Students are busy, active during entire class
Community – Teachers know students’ names and details about their lives
Examples and Explanations – Teachers know their material
(Jarrell and Pongsrikul, 2006 )
They established a collection of best practice Word documents that these high retention classes use, and some of these are shared below.
Retention Resources
Jan Jarrell & Barbara Pongsrikul Retention Powerpoint
Class Welcome
E. Schmitz Class Welcome
Useful Classroom Expressions
Week by Week Schedule
ESL Progress Chart for Students
San Diego Student Guide page 1
San Diego Student Guide page 2
L. Francis Class Syllabus
2005 Foundations Syllabus
Vocational ESL Syllabus
Class Information and Expectations
Student Class Options
Student Job List
Team Job Assignments
Jobs Calendar
Student Retention Questionaire
NCSALL’s Adult Student Persistence Study
Building Classroom Communities Strategies
Class Observer Worksheet
Retention Tips
Instructional Practices to Promote Retention
Student Retention Survey for Teachers
Retention Focus Group Questionaire
Student Progress Chart
Simple Progress Graph
Summer Learning Contract (Intermediate Level)
Student Survey of Reading Topics Interests
Sample Recommendation Letter
Beginning Needs Assessment
Advanced Needs Assessment
Advanced Level Worksheets & Student Guide
Intermediate Level Worksheets & Student Guide
Beginning High Level Worksheets & Student Guide
Recommended Reading and Resources
If you have similar documents you’ve used and found effective, MN would like to establish a similar collection. Please contact jbrazier@themlc.org to help share your knowledge.
| 
