In December 2007, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation gave MDRC a grant to conduct reconnaissance on promising strategies to reengage disconnected young people and improve their long-term outcomes. The primary objective of the grant was to identify key leverage points for future investment by government and foundations. MDRC consulted with…

Adults who have low levels of education often lack the skills needed to succeed in the labor market (OECD and Statistics Canada 2000). One way for adults to overcome this skill disadvantage is to participate in learning activities offered through the formal education system, at the workplace, or by other organizations. This Issue Brief uses data…

This article focuses on using writing activities in adult basic education/General Educational Development level classes to increase students' self-confidence, enjoyment of writing, and opportunities for group instruction. Suggestions are made for early writing experiences as well as later activities. The writing activities most enjoyed by other…

This paper suggests techniques that teachers who prepare adult students for the General Educational Development (GED) tests can use with students who have learning disabilities. The first part of the paper presents a brief overview of symptoms exhibited by students who are learning disabled. Symptoms are classified under general behaviors,…

This handbook is intended to provide teachers with background information about the writing skills needed by General Educational Development (GED) students as well as practical instructional activities for use in the adult basic education/GED classroom. A guide to using the ideabook explains the POWER format that involves Prewriting, Organizing,…

This booklet describes educational materials (developed by special projects funded under Section 309 of the Adult Education Act) which may be especially useful to adult education programs that are being developed around Adult Performance Level objectives. The products listed may be utilized or adapted by teachers without requiring special training…

The purpose of this booklet is to provide teachers of adult education students with a series of activities that use the newspaper as a learning resource to develop both reading and life skills. The booklet is aimed at adults who want to read on an intermediate level and pass the graduate equivalency diploma (GED). Vocabulary in the material is…

This handbook provides General Educational Development (GED) teachers with information on critical thinking and teaching ideas to support a commitment to the idea of critical thinking as an essential tool for adult basic education (ABE) students. The importance of critical thinking skills for GED students is emphasized. Sample questions from the…

This professional development package is designed to assist General Educational Development (GED) instructors in developing teaching skills to help them prepare students for the written essay part of the new GED exam. An introduction discusses some research and theory that support collaborative teaching situations that most efficiently and…

This guide provides ideas for using the book, "Anthony Burns," by Virginia Hamilton, in adult General Educational Development classes. The book tells the story of a slave who escaped to freedom, but because of the Fugitive Slave Act was returned to slavery until a benefactor bought his freedom. The paper first discusses general ideas for…

This manual was developed to help low-reading-level adults understand how the tax system works. It is not intended to teach them how to prepare their own taxes, but to be more familiar with the tax system and what is required of them. The manual is organized in 10 chapters that cover the following material: introduction to taxes; who files and who…

This book is a guide to teaching English vocabulary to second-language learners. The book is divided into 30 chapters that teach 240 critical words. This vocabulary includes what English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL), adult literacy, and pre-general equivalency diploma students need to get ahead in today's competitive world. The guide's distinctive…

This curriculum guide is intended to assist teachers in helping their adult and teenage students learn to cope with their test anxiety. The introduction examines some of the causes of test anxiety and its negative ramifications from the standpoint of class placement, class grades, employment opportunities, and job advancement. General guidelines…

These instructional materials provide reading materials, recipes, and exercises to help students prepare for the practical reading section of the General Educational Development (GED) Tests. The passages can also help students learn and practice some important life skills in the areas of nutrition and food safety. Basic skill improvement is in…

This course presents basic economic concepts and explores issues such as how goods and services are produced and distributed, what affects costs and profits, and how wealth is spread around or concentrated. The course is designed to be used with students enrolled in an adult high school diploma program; course content is appropriate to meet social…