It was once suggested that beginning the study of freshman high school algebra is not totally unlike embarking upon the sea of matrimony. Both are milestones in one's life, involving opportunities for excitement, adventure, growth, and rich and lasting reward; but, nonetheless, both tend to necessitate some different approaches to problems, some new ways of thinking, and certainly, in more than a few cases, some amount of adjustment. Without intending to attach social implication to algebra, we as teachers cannot fail to recognize that the first exposure to high school algebra can be a foreboding experience to many elementary school graduates, particularly in the light of the statistical evidence for the high fatality rate of students taking algebra for the first time.
Incorporating Engineering Into High School Algebra And Trigonometry: An Initiative Of The Georgia Tech Student And Teacher Enhancement Partnership (Step) Program