Online GED Advice

Someone found my website searching for this phrase on the Internet…

How do you advise a high school dropout?

Advice Comes in Two Flavors

Unwanted and wanted.

Unwanted Advice for High School Dropouts

How do you feel when you receive unwanted advice?

You need to lose some weight.

That dress doen’t look good on you.

You need to stop drinking, it’s ruining your life.

Has anyone given you unwanted advice?  Did you enjoy it?  Did you listen or hate the advisor?

I’m not an advisor in a high school, or a social worker, but I do know something about teaching and learning.

The path to helping someone learn isn’t some magical teaching technique (or maybe it is).  The best path to helping someone learn is creating an environment where they want to learn.  I don’t know who first said this:

A great teacher doesn’t force someone to learn.  A great teacher makes someone thirsty for learning.  Then it’s much easier.

So if you’re looking to forcibly advise someone who is a high school dropout (your daughter, nephew, the young man who lives two houses away from you), don’t give them your advice.

I’ve never met anyone yet who accepted and followed unwanted advice.

High School Dropouts who Want Advice

This is different.  You can talk with someone, engage them in conversation, listen to them.

Then ask them if you can offer some advice.

If they say “Yes”, you’re having a great day.  If a high school dropout wants advice, what kind of advice will you give him?

Dropouts have low Self Esteem, Give them Hope

There, I said it.

You’re probably a high school dropout reading this blog.  And I just insulted you, or did I?

I have taught over 10,000 adults how to use computers (mainly college and high school graduates, perhaps a few high school dropouts in that group).  What’s the biggest problem you face when you teach adults how to use computers?  Low self esteem.

College graduates are more sophisticated in the classroom then high school graduates when learning computers.  College graduates are accustomed to hiding their fears in class.  You never show fear in a classroom.

But I came to know that the greatest fear of college graduates learning computers was probably the biggest fear of high school dropouts:  a fear of math.

What kind of advice would I give high school dropouts?

This example and advice is based on my experience with a Chicago high school dropout (name withheld).

The young man has high verbal skills and carries on great conversations when we meet.  He does feel sad that he fell behind academically at a local high school and then dropped out.   I don’t know his writing skills but I do know that he feels inadequate about GED math (many people do).

My advice to the young man?

1. You have excellent verbal skills, if you had a high school degree you could find a job involving customers or sales.
2. Your basic math facts seem OK (I’ve literally asked him to do multiplication facts for me).  I think you need help with applied math and “word problems”.
3. Take the GED practice test I gave you for math.  Face your fear, your math skills may not be as bad as you think.
4. I have faith in you.  There is no doubt in my mind that you could not only pass the GED with proper study, but that you could also earn an Associates Degree at a junior college.

I meant every word of advice I gave the young man.

How do you advise a high school dropout?

1. Give them advice if they seem open to the idea.
2. Don’t lie to the high school dropout about his/her situation.
3. Help them focus on their strengths, that will encourage them.
4. Ask them to commit to action, today.

How do you advise a high school dropout?  With honesty and an affirming nature.

 Thanks for visiting my online GED  site today, I hope my advice was useful.