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The 6 Anchors of Student Retention

Proven Strategies for Long-Term Student Success & Engagement in Adult Education

The culmination of a year-long initiative led by Essential Education to address the complex questions surrounding adult student retention, this guide provides insights, strategies, and resources to support educators in keeping adult students engaged and on track toward their goals. 

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Retention Anchor 1

Knowing Your Audience: Who is the Adult Student?

Sample from the Retention Guide

Deepen your understanding of your adult students with specific examples of the impact of demographic factors on student retention and completion. Receive a case study with materials you can use to learn about your own students. 

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Retention Anchor 2

Capitalizing on the Now: Applying Just-In-Time Learning

Sample from the Retention Guide

Learn to apply Just-in-Time learning in your classroom. Get practical strategies to prime your students' brains for "aha" moments that inspire and motivate them to keep working toward their goals.

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Retention Anchor 3

Creating Culture: Fostering an Environment for Student Success

Sample from the Retention Guide

Learn more about the importance of adult classroom culture with specific findings from real adult education classrooms. Find unique ways to assess and adjust your classroom culture by replicating the case study included.

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Classroom Handout

Evaluate classroom culture and survey students about their experience. Use the results to identify the aspects of your classroom culture that positively impact students and pinpoint areas to improve.

Group Discussion

Join the discussion in Padlet. Find ideas and thoughts from your fellow adult educators about their experiences with classroom culture and share your own.

Retention Anchor 4

Getting Connected: Creating Relationships for Continuance

Classroom Handout

Use the Curiosity = Connection Generator for ideas on the questions to ask to build relationships between yourself and your students.

Retention Anchor 5

Measuring Progress: Tracking, Improving, and Celebrating Gains

Webinar Replay

Explore the close connection between adult learner progress and retention. Learn how to measure students’ skills gains and celebrate their wins to keep them coming back to class.

Duration: 60 minutes
Speakers: Jen Denton and Charlie Weeks

Classroom Handout

Get an overview of identifying where your students are according to the National Reporting System Learning Levels. Use the Goal Navigation Worksheet with your students to identify milestones and carve out opportunities for celebration.

Retention Anchor 6

Growing Professionally: Continuing Education for Program Retention

Webinar Replay

Explore best practices for finding and planning quality professional development, applying professional development to improve student retention, and strategies to maximize the value of any professional development opportunity.

Duration: 60 minutes
Speakers: Jen Denton and Charlie Weeks

Classroom Handout

This professional development note-taking worksheet will help you make the most out of any professional development course you attend.