I've posted about my not-especially-mathy DD here before, who was tracked into advanced math based on testing. Last year at age 11, algebra was not really connecting for her. (She was in pre-algebra, but some units definitely involved actual algebra). It seemed developmental. Interestingly enough, this year she's doing much better, with a teacher whose reputation is far less stellar. She says she "just gets it" now. There may be other factors at play, but I suspect there was a brain growth/maturity thing that had to happen and did.
