The importance of the starting a GED class correctly to reduce attrition.

2. PERCEPTION

3. PERCEPTIONS

4. PERCEPTION

5. NEGATIVE FORCES
Life demands
Relationships
Sense of self

6. WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS
NCSALL Persistence study
Helping Students Stay
http://floridaliteracy.org/literacy_resources__webinars.html

7. FORMING A BOND
Research suggests that the first three
weeks are key in terms of forming
bonds between students and their
learning programs (Quigley, 1987).

8. POSITIVE INFLUENCES TO PERSISTENCE
RELEVANCE OF
INSTRUCTION………………….…63%
RELATIONSHIPS
………………………….………….…63%
HAVING A GOAL
………………………..……….57%
TEACHER AND
PEERS……………..………51%
SENSE OF SELF (SELF EFFICACY) …44%

9. MAIN TOPICS
1. Getting to know your student
2. Relationships
3. Goals
4. Relevance of instruction

10. GETTING TO KNOW YOUR STUDENT
Interview
 Questions
 Immediately (One 0n one)
Information Sheets (getting to know you)
Learning style questionnaire

11. SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What is your name?
2. Why did you leave school?
3. Where were you born?
4. How long have you lived in …?
5. What are your plans AFTER you get your GED?
6. What is your best subject?
7. Parents? Siblings?Hobbies?

12. LEARNING STYLE
I feel the best way to learn something is to picture it in my head
I follow oral directions better than written ones
I usually prefer to stand while working
I am excellent at finding my way around even in unfamiliar surroundings
I frequently use musical jingles to learn things.

13. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
Cooperative learning
 Small group
 Discuss goals
Biography
News
Writing component
Bring a family picture
Humanize the teacher
Recognition: certificate, awards, birthdays

14. GETTING TO KNOW YOU
1. Full name, Your “nickname”
2. Best advise ever given?
3. Any pets?
4. Dream car?
5. Coolest experience?
6. Scariest moment?
7. Jobs you’ve had?
8. What do you like to do in your free time? If you had a choice to come to school, would you come? Why or why not?
9. What classes do you love and hate most in school? Why? Do you get good grades in school? Do you think you could do
better? Explain.
10. Describe your favorite teacher. What types of things did you do in that class?
11. Are you an organized person? Are you
12. If school could be about any one thing, and it would be my job to design all the subjects around that one thing, what would
you want it to be and why?
13. What sports or activities have you participated in in the past? What do you plan to join in this school?
14. What are your greatest talents? If I needed your help to do something, what would it be?
15. Do you like group work or individual work?

16. GOALS
Choices
Essays short term, long term goals
Talk about it
listening
Reinforcing
 Phone calls; can also use case managers*
 Online: text =) email edmodo
Research job
 Presentation about career

17. RELEVANCE OF INSTRUCTION
No busy work!
Explain TABE, CASAS, GED exam
Real world experience
Use student reference
Base on students interest
Age appropriate
Build on Life skills
Make it personal

18. CAREER INTEREST
1. Conduct a search of various careers
2. After your research, select one that interest you.
3. Prepare a VISUAL list which will include:
a. Occupational title
b. Average income
c. Requirements for job
d. Companies that you could work for ______________
e. School they will attend
4. Prepare a 5 minute presentation

19. CONCLUSION
Show you care
 Ask about family
 Establish a Personal connection
Care
Humanizing
Recognition: certificate, awards, birthdays

20. FLORIDA LITERACY COALITION

21. FLORIDA LITERACY COALITION

22. FLORIDA LITERACY COALITION

24. YOU DON’T KNOW ME
You don’t know me.
You watched me come to your class just like any other student. You greeted me with a warm smile and
caring eyes. You asked me to have a seat in your inviting classroom. I watched you speak words I didn’t
understand. I watched as the other students raised their hands to question your words. I sat in the cold seat
as the minutes went by like hours. I heard you call my name, and I waited for you to ask me, who I was.
You don’t know the painstaking ordeal it took for me to get here this morning. You don’t know how it feels to
wake up in the dark or the fear in my heart when I have to wait for the bus. You don’t know that I have no
umbrella, or why my clothes are wet and unkempt when I enter your class. You think I can’t feel your
disappointment in me.
You don’t know I am grateful that I have an opportunity to learn. You don’t know that despite my
appearance, my color, my imperfections, I choose to look beyond your quizzical gaze.
You don’t know that last night’s cold dinner was from the dumpster outside that fancy restaurant, the one
near the bridge where we sleep.
You probably wonder why I stare at you as you eat in front of the class. You don’t know the noise in my
stomach is because I didn’t have enough change in my pocket for breakfast this morning.

25. YOU DON’T KNOW ME
You don’t know why I come to your class half-asleep. You don’t know how uncomfortable it is for three
people to sleep in a car, to sleep with one eye open, just in case.
You don’t know how lucky I feel that, at least, we have a car.
You don’t know I am listening, I do care, and I do want to learn.
You don’t know the tremendous courage it takes to raise my hand to answer your questions. You don’t
know the last time I was in a classroom and how they ridiculed me for not pronouncing the words correctly.
You don’t know that in your classroom, I am the luckiest person in the world.
You don’t know that I am your student.

26. RESOURCES
• Florida Literacy Coalition Training
• Continue the discussion: twitter @lamugs
• Documents available on Scribd
http://www.scribd.com/collections/3853667/Webinar-materials
• http://floridaliteracy.org/literacy_resources__webinars.html
• Getting To Know Students Starts With Asking The Right
Questions
• http://miamiged.com/

28. MORE INFORMATION
Dr. Armando Gutierrez
305.324.6070 ext::8053
agutierrez@dadeschools.net
Twitter : @lamugs
http://successpathwaysblog.wordpress.co
m/