Difficulties with Adult Learners
I have found as an adult educator the most of my students have difficulties balancing household stressors and continuing the educating. Most of my students are single mothers and need to work in order to take care of their families. So often times they have to choose between school and work. I wonder how other edcuators help to encourage their students in similar situations?
Joseph,
Like your approach because you are showing understanding for their situations but you are still maintaining the standards of your field so when your students do complete the course they know they have knowledge and skills that will be of help to their career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I struggle with the same problem and I have quite a few single mothers who are barely out of high school. Like the other instructors who have commented, I act as a sounding board for their problems and then do my best to work with them on assignments etc. by allowing them to email me pictures of homework or sending it in early when they can because of a conflict with work or childcare. I also constantly remind them to get notes from schools/doctors/etc. if their children cause them to miss a class, because I will work with them as much as possible within the rules but they have to do their part too. I tell them just like their employer I have to follow the rules and since they are here to get a better job I hold them to the standards of that better job. Most appreciate the effort and understand the situation.
Troy,
So true because these two issues are the most common ones to be raised as to reasons for not being able to attend classes. We can provide understanding and support as much as possible but there is a limitation as to the amount of direct help we can provide in these two areas. Until we do get a auto tech program started that is located next to the child care center which is located next to our classroom the best we can do is try and refer them to sources that can provide the needed assistance and hope the students stay with us for the duration of their program.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree. We often joke that if we had a day care center (must include before/after school programs as well) and an automotive program (automotive students could repair the other students' cars as part of their training) then most of our attendance problems would go away. Life truly is a struggle for many of these students. I wish there was more that we could do to help them.
Joseph,
This is part of the human factor as an instructor. Being a good listener helps students see that you value them as individuals and what to provide support so they can be successful.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Unfortunately due to outside stresses to the adult learner, I find that in order to calm the stresses of everyday life I often act a sounding board for there life. Sometime just listening to there immediate concerns be it in the class or their private live is all they need to continue.
Traci,
It is sad when we lose some of our students but that is reality. For those that get your message they are going to impact not only their lives but the lives of their children. Being a part of this is what makes being a teacher well worth it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I completely agree with you. I also work with mostly adult learners that are single mothers with no help. I usually speak to all of them as a whole and encourage them to continue coming to school to better their children's lives. Most of the time this works, although there are a few this just does not work with.
Ashley,
This is a very common situation and it is an ongoing challenge for most educators. Helping these students to see the value of what you are teaching when they have a sick child at home or there is a crisis that needs to be resolved is tough. The more mentoring and support you can provide the better because this personal attention may be enough to help keep the student in school and moving forward in his or her career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
