This is a little OT, but since I saw the thread I'm curious. Is there something different about the type of thinking required for Algebra vs. regular math? I am NOT a mathy person (OK, so I'm not BAD at math but I'm a perfectionist and therefore never saw myself as GOOD at math! And on a board like this I would certainly not be considered strong--period!). I was MG and in advanced classes but always felt like math was my weaker area. UNTIL I took Algebra. I actually got the math award (for highest math average) the year I took Algebra 1 with a 99 average. And I REALLY liked it. It wasn't the teacher either. I taught myself using the textbook and never, ever spoke a word in class. I just sat at the back and did the homework and read and taught myself the lesson.
Anyway, I know this is a little OT, but are really verbal kids better at algebra? Or was it that I was not good at rote memorization but my thinking skills were stronger? I've always been curious. BTW, this strength did not carry over through all the rest of my math career. I was not as strong in trig, geometry, and calculus (although I did fine in math and got an "A" in Calc 2 in college), but I did LOVE algebra. It always made sense to me, and other math didn't.
