Remedial education is assigned to assist students in order to achieve expected competencies in core academic skills such as literacy and numeracy.
Remedial Teaching is an alternate approach for the regular classroom teacher in instructing the slow learner/ learning Disabilities. Remedial teaching is the use of activities, techniques and practices to eliminate weaknesses or deficiencies that the slow learner is known to have.
Objectives of Remedial Teaching
• Each child is different in terms of learning ability, academic standards, classroom learning and academic performance and each has his own in learning. The aim of Sparsh Special School is to provide learning support to children who lag far behind their counterparts in school performance. By adapting school curriculum and teaching strategies, teachers can provide learning activities and practical experiences to students according to their abilities and needs. They can also design individualized educational programmes with intensive remedial support to help child consolidate their basic knowledge in different subjects, master the learning methods, strengthen their confidence and enhance the effectiveness of learning.
• Teachers should provide systematic training to develop children' generic skills, including interpersonal relationship, communication, problem-solving, self-management, self-learning, independent thinking, creativity and the use of information technology.
Remedial Teaching Strategies
Individualized Educational Programme (IEP)
Individualized Educational Programme aims to reinforce the foundation of learning, help children overcome their learning difficulties and develop their potentials. Individualized Educational Programme should include short-term and long-term teaching objectives, learning steps, activities and reviews to ensure that the programme is implemented effectively. Remedial teachers hold meetings regularly to evaluate the effectiveness of work and gather opinions for refinement.
Peer Support Programme
Remedial teachers may train up children who perform better in a certain subject to become ‘little teachers’ and who will be responsible for helping schoolmates with learning difficulties in group teaching and self-study sessions as well as outside class. Peer support programme helps childs reinforce their knowledge, and develop their communication and cooperation skills as well as good interpersonal relationship.
Reward Scheme
The reward scheme has positive effect in enhancing child’s motivation. It aims at guiding children to set their own objectives and plans, and positively reinforcing their good performance. When designing the rewards offered, remedial teachers should take note of the following:
• Set clear and specific targets
• Set achievable objectives
• Give diversified rewards (including verbal commendation) or prizes to accommodate child’s interest; give rewards instantly;
• Review and revise the reward scheme regularly; and
• Invite parents to help children improve their work.