Lorena Alvarez

I agree! All exams are given in class before major breaks so that they have a reason to truly celebrate...but more importantly...so they don't forget the content.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Kimberly,
I agree with the need to "reteach" after a break. Not a lot we can do except to spend to time in review after the break so the students can see where they were and where they are going to go in the last phase of the course.
Gary

Dr. Gary Meers

Kimberly Keech

I have problems when we have a holiday break in the middle of a module, it interrupts their learning and it is like a brand new start when they get back, it has to all be retaught. The students get very frustrated with this.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Hi Tom,
Social events can really helps students to identify with their college and fellow students. Plus, a cookout is fun not to mention an opportunity to enjoy some really good cooking.
Gary

Tom Salomoni

our students like to have a cook out. helps retention and Motivates our students to return after holidays!

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Hi Marshall,
I like this approach as well. Contacts like this are good reminders to the students even when sent for another purpose.
Gary

Marshall Shafkowitz

One of the tool we have started using is our emergency broadcast system to contact students over the break. We send out two messages via text, email and voicemail to our entire body. This has been a great way to test the system and send important holiday messages; when school starts again; to our student body.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Hi Paul,
Good ideas on how to get the students engaged in the school setting. The use of parties on occasion in the class work as well. These parties would be to celebrate the end of a unit or completion of a major project. They don't have to last too long nor be too elaborate, just enough to get the students engaged in talking with each other and relaxing a bit. I use teams to compete at some of these parties as well and that really gets to students going plus they have a lot of fun in the process reviewing what they have learned.
Gary

Paul Zdanis

I agree that the faculty needs to create a reason for students to become excited about returning to school. The Party is a good idea , but may not spark the interest of some of the non- traditional students. I have scheduled special events prior to the break and immediately after, such as competitions and hobby classes. These have proven to motivate some of the students and test their competency level, reinforcing ther confidence.
Paul Zdanis
Director of Education

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Hi Jan,
Thanks for sharing these great ideas for ways of keeping students engaged.
Gary

Jan Meigs

Elisabeth, these issues happen at my school too, our week off for spring break does not coincide with their childrens' school schedule, so they take another week off; our week of summer break means families may try to go away on vacation sometimes forgetting to return to class on time.

We have encouraged students to share phone numbers the first day of class, so they can keep in contact when absent to find out the assignments. We encourage instructors to post assignments on-line so absent students have access and can return with completed assignments. We ask all instructors to try and contact absent students by phone with a message "missed you in class"; we ask academic mentors to speak to their advisees if we see attendance becoming a major issue. We have learned to be a bit more understanding if the student is upfront and pre-plans and can document upcoming absences. Life is interfering with education and the adult students honest answer is my family/children have to come first.

The one thing we can do is -if the student is going to fail the class due to attendance issues the student can drop the class and re-take it at another time. There are scheduling ramifications but when the student returns and are able to focus on class they are usually appreciative of our understanding and are a better student.

Jan Meigs

Hello,
We also have tried parties during the break and from our Student Services budget free movies, free bowling, and hands on creative activiites on campus. These activities do reach students who did not leave town for the break.
We also have done email blasts to all students; an automated phone message from the President to all students; mailing a postcard or newsletter to those that left real early for break; and prizes for the classes that have 100% attendance on the first day back.

Elisabeth Philemon

Hello Dr. Meers,

The issues regard family vacations, lack of summer child care which ultimately results in a higher absentee rate. I really have not experienced a rise in drop outs due to this, but the summers are certainly my most challenging times. Thanks, Elisabeth

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Hi Elisabeth,
Will be glad to answer your question if you can give me a little more information about the issues surrounding summer holidays. Also, are these issues of being absent, child care or dropping out?
Thanks.
Gary

Elisabeth Philemon

Hello Dr. Meers,

All of the suggestions and tips in this forum sound great, but what if your college is on a five week term schedule and the holiday falls during the summer or some other time than Christmas?

One of the most difficult challenges I face are the summer sessions. Since I mostly teach working adults, most of their children are out of school for the summer and this causes huge headaches for their parents (my students). Any advice? Thanks, Elisabeth

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Hi Kristin,
I think your timing is good. They get to finish the big project, rest up and then have a fun activity as they get settled back in after the holiday season. Thanks for sharing these strategies.
Gary

Kristin Sutherland

I would think that having students complete a project before a holiday break would let them have the "fun time" they need to relax and play during their time off. Also, this gives them the rest they need and will hopefully encourage them to want to come back to a fresh topic of discussion. I would also align a fun project for after the break, therefore the students will want to come back.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Hi Jon,
You all are using good approaches and striving to keep your students engaged. The facts are that about 10% of the students will not come back after a break, due to a variety of reasons. The majority of these reasons are out of the control of the college and not matter what approach you use they will not return. The key to these non-returning students is for them to have a postive impression about their last contact with the college. I have found that months, maybe years later they will see a need for returning to school and their positives experiences with your college(instructors) brings them to your door.
Gary

Jon Vecchio

We have students register for classes for the upcoming semster before they depart on break.
They have a copy of their schedule and can anticipate the upcoming semester.

During the long Christmas break we send all currently ebrolled students a X mas card with the standard holiday greeting and a see you back in class on January 7!

This helps but there always seems to be some Christmas casualties. We also now have instructors e-mail students and talk about the upcoming classes and what they will be learning.