The Advantages of Remedial Activities in the Classroom

Remedial activities may benefit learning.

A remedial activity is one meant to improve a learning skill or rectify a problem area. The purpose of remedial teaching involves individualized teaching of students who are experiencing difficulties in specific subject areas. Remedial instruction might be taught individually or in groups and targets academic weaknesses that potentially hinder learning. The benefits of remedial teaching activities can include forming the foundation for learning a subject in greater detail. These skills must be learned before students can develop a detailed understanding of the topic of study.

1 Importance of Remedial Teaching

Students who do not have basic math and reading skills at grade level may benefit from attention to remedial activities related to those subjects in the classroom. Using phonics, Dolch vocabulary words or basic multiplication tables as teaching tools can give students the basic skills they need to advance to a higher academic level. By focusing on the importance of remedial teaching in these basic subjects, students may be better prepared to grow skills in those areas.

2 Avoiding Learning Attrition Through Remediation

Students who have been out of school over summer, winter or spring breaks may benefit from the advantages of remedial teaching. Continuing remedial lessons over an extended time reinforces skills that may have been lost due is one way remedial lessons benefit students. Teachers looking to reinforce skills through remedial learning can use flashcards, games or fun activities involving phonics and basic math to help students get back on the learning path after a summer or other extended time away from the classroom.

3 Remedial Learning for Dyslexic Students

Another advantage of remedial teaching can be to help students with dyslexia to overcome reading difficulties by helping rewire brain connections. Studies have shown that extended hours of remedial instruction can help students with reading deficits related to dyslexia. Benefits can include increased neural connections and increase reading proficiency over the long term.

4 Improving Communication Skills

Students with speech disorders may have difficulties with communication in the classroom. Speech disorders are often developmental and may also respond to remedial reading instruction. Teaching reading with remedial phonics and other verbal activities may help students with communication issues from speech-related problems become more academically proficient.

5 Behavior and Motivation

Students who fall behind in completing basic classroom tasks may develop behavior problems because of their frustration levels. This can also lead to a lack of motivation and the desire to give up altogether. The advantages of remedial teaching can help students gain general knowledge to apply to all subject areas. The instruction may also help reduce feelings of inadequacy that can lead to behavior or motivation issues.

Robin McDaniel is a writer, educator and musician. She holds a master's degree in higher educational leadership from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton as well as a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in adult in community education. McDaniel enjoys writing, blogging, web design, singing and playing bass guitar.

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