This paper demonstrates one way to approach mathematical remediation with dignity for faculty and students alike. It illustrates specific ways in which student deficiencies can be improved while simultaneously developing creative, significant and stimulating approaches to teaching basic mathematical concepts. In order to aid students who have not mastered even the addition and multiplication of rational numbers, examples will be provided to show how these deficiencies can be improved within mathematical formats that lead naturally to the principles of algebra, progressions, powers and roots, symbolism, number theory, probability theory, linear programming, information theory, etc. An integral part of this approach to mathematical remediation involves the selection of appropriate research problems by the students.