Intermediate Algebra For many students, intermediate algebra is a truly terrifying experience. My child has just begun an elementary intermediate algebra class, and already I know it will be a challenge. Every time she opens her Prentice Hall algebra book, she looks like she is about to start crying. This case is not unusual – actually it is a lot more common than you would think. You see, algebra intermediate courses are a pretty difficult part of Math education. Before intermediate algebra, everything is basic arithmetic. After intermediate algebra, math more and more involves abstract, conceptual thinking. In intermediate math, however, both are stressed equally. Most of the students have not quite mastered the math fundamentals, yet they are called upon to begin learning conceptual thinking. This conceptual thought is extremely hard when it is first learned. Understanding what the variables are, and why they represent numbers, is one of the biggest challenges that a student of mathematics will ever face. Once intermediate algebra is over, in fact, it might be smooth sailing for years. People fear calculus, but it is nothing compared to algebra. In my child's case, we tried everything to help her out with intermediate algebra. We tried algebra study guides, homework help, and a reward system. Nothing helped until I became personally involved. There is a lesson there for us. My children are so smart that we have had to give them very little homework help in the past. We weren't used to it, and when I was called upon to help out with intermediate algebra, it caught me by surprise. If I'd been on the ball earlier, she wouldn't have gotten so far behind. It is sad to see her stressed out about the intermediate algebra, and I know that I'm at least partially to blame. She has already mastered basic algebra, however, so it seems like the worst is over. Math algebra all sort of works as a whole. Once you start to figure it out, you are halfway there. It is really the beginning students who have the most trouble. When you have no clue at all, it seems impossible. As soon as you get a little bit of a clue, however, the study material seems a lot more manageable. She seems to be doing fine now, and I have every confidence that she will succeed in intermediate algebra. Who knows, maybe she will even become a mathematician! Summary Intermediate algebra can be a very scary subject for many middle school children. It is the bridge between more advanced study such as trigonometry and calculus from basic concepts learned in algebra. Get a tutor if needed to help your child understand the concepts so they will be able to move forward with their studies. Related Articles Helping Children Navigate Middle School Middle School Study Skills Effective Teaching Strategies Related Sites