Accelerate learning is the answer to getting students on grade level rather than remediation. However, based on past practice, schools choose to remediate students. Today’s research shows remediation moves students backward. This widens the academic gap.
Through remediation, students practice skills not mastered in previous grades. Acceleration focuses on the specific skill or content needed for the grade level. Students move forward on their grade level with the required skills. In some schools, acceleration happens before or after school or in place of a ‘special’ class. Lessons complement core instruction to help students with the skills they need to succeed in grade-level material.
Students may need extra help in the classroom from time to time. For example, if students struggle to read grade-level material, have it read out loud or provide an audio version. Other resources include graphic organizers, writing frames, and hands-on activities. These help students toward independence in grade-level content.
Accelerate What’s Relevant
Some students master some skills faster than others. The idea is to use many shorter practices. This gives students time to forget and relearn for deeper learning. Throughout the process of acceleration, use formative assessment. Formative assessments work better than graded tests.
Motivate students to practice using technology. Instruction is best when connected to core subjects in the classroom. Students should connect and learn along with their peers. Not all approaches meet with success. Students learning with each other help with alternate strategies for understanding. Acceleration focuses on the present classroom.
With acceleration focusing on connecting current skills, the time spent in teaching new content increases. This is the opposite of remediating students because it does not focus on the past. The past is the past. It focuses on new concepts. Thus, it increases instruction time spent on new skills and content.
According to a US News report, ‘research shows that with acceleration, students completed twice the grade-level lessons and struggled less in math learning.’ The key to student learning is to motivate them through grade-appropriate work while filling in the gaps. Look ahead at the standards to determine the important skills needed to cover the material in one or two classes. Scaffold material instead of eliminating the content. This helps fill in background gaps.
Teachers determine the skills necessary to fill learning gaps so students can move on to the next concept. Accelerated lessons help students gain success more than the students who receive remedial work. Therefore, students remain with their peers and achieve with them.
