Adult Basic Skills (ABS)

NNLC offers four levels of Adult Basic Skills instruction for students who are functioning below a high school level.  Students are placed in the appropriate levels based on their assessment scores and English proficiency.  Adult Basic Skills classes at NNLC are multi-cultural, hosting both American-born and foreign-born students learning together in the same class setting.  ABS students “learn by teaching” as they accept the responsibility of helping fellow classmates learn in group activities.

When students achieve the required assessment score in their current level of instruction, they are eligible to advance to the next level of ABS instruction.  When they achieve the required assessment score in the fourth level of ABS instruction, they are eligible and have the choice of entering NNLC’s GED Preparation – “Give Yourself the Edge” program of instruction.

ABS classes include:

• Math – basic computations, fractions and measurements
• Reading – comprehension, identifying the main idea and the ability to re-tell
• Writing – basic grammar principles, sentence structure and paragraph structure
• Communication and Critical Thinking – written and verbal communications, problem solving

Math classes:

In these classes, students increase their computation skills in basic math problems – addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.  They develop skills in converting whole numbers to fractions and decimals, solving story problems, reading charts and graphs, and analyzing data.

Reading classes:

In these classes, students increase their ability to comprehend what is written by identifying the main idea and re-telling in their own words what they learned from what they read.  They develop the ability to form opinions about what they read and expand their vocabulary.  They also develop scanning and note taking skills.

Writing classes:

In these classes, students increase their understanding and usage of basic grammar principles and apply these skills in a variety of writing activities.  Writing activities include sentence structure, developing a paragraph, developing an essay, letter writing and filling out forms.  They also learn to use a dictionary and a thesaurus.

Communication and Critical Thinking classes:

In these classes, students increase their written and verbal communication skills through a variety of activities that teach them to clearly understand what is being stated to them and how to effectively respond and how to effectively get their point across to someone else both in written and verbal formats.  Communications include how to give and follow directions and instructions. Problem solving lessons include recognizing a problem and developing a feasible solution, sequencing, planning and goal setting.  Students are taught in a positive environment, and developing a positive attitude is a part of each lesson.