remediation
ri-mee-dee-AY-shuhn
/rɪˌmiː.diˈeɪ.ʃən/
The educational process of providing targeted instruction to help a student overcome foundational learning gaps.
Focuses explicitly on re-teaching prerequisite skills that a student failed to master initially.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin remediatio, coming from re- (again) and mederi (to heal or restore to health). The term moved from medicine into educational psychology to describe 'curing' or repairing gaps in academic knowledge.
Word relationships
- re-teaching: 'Re-teaching' is a broad term for presenting material again, whereas 'remediation' is a structured pedagogical plan targeting specific foundational gaps.
- enrichment: 'Enrichment' provides advanced material for students who have already mastered core standards.
Commonly confused with
- intervention: 'Intervention' is any broad strategy to change outcomes, while 'remediation' specifically targets re-teaching unmastered foundational skills.
Word family
- remediate (verb): To correct or remedy a learning deficit through targeted re-teaching.
- remedial (adjective): Intended to correct or improve a deficiency in skill.
Collocations
- academic remediation
- remediation program
- remediation strategies
- math remediation
Example sentences
- "After noticing gaps in basic fraction skills, the teacher scheduled weekly math remediation sessions." Curriculum Design
Memory hook
REMEDIATION brings a REMEDY to broken academic foundations. Healing an academic gap with targeted re-teaching.
When not to use
Do not confuse with accommodation, which alters testing conditions rather than re-teaching core skills.
Fun facts
- Remedial reading programs expanded dramatically following research into phonological awareness in the 1980s.
- Higher education institutes frequently offer non-credit remedial courses to help incoming students bridge high school gaps.
Related words
Explore more words
remediate, remedial, rectify, restore, restoration, mitigation
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