The task of earning a diploma is particularly difficult for adults with low literacy skills, known as low-literate adults. More than 30 million adults cannot read, write, or have math skills above a third-grade level in the United States. Being aware of where they are starting from, it’s difficult for these adult learners who often don’t see a clear path to passing a five-part test which includes a tough math section. After working with a number of programs which are moving learners all the way from basic literacy to diplomas, I have seen first-hand these four keys to success.
A Visual Pathway to a Diploma
Learners need to develop a mental map with steps to reach their goal of passing the equivalency exam. There is no advantage to hiding the length of the journey. If someone is doing math at the 4th-grade level, they need to see the courses and lessons needed to make it all the way to algebra so they can pass the test. This can be done with tables, diagrams, or pictures. The key is being able to check off things as they are completed and be able to see where they are in the overall journey.
I visited a refugee center recently where women non-literate in any language had made significant progress, and they were pointing to me on a map of courses how they were going to reach all the way to high school and earn diplomas. They already had a mental map of their future and were determined to make it happen.
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