Comment by WalterBright

> I ended up pulling groups out and found that some of them could not solve one step equations--like x + 5 = 10 stuff.

A colleague of mine taught remedial algebra to freshmen at the University of Washington back in the 80's. She'd show the students:

    x + 5 = 10

and ask what 'x' is. They'd all fall over in a quivering heap saying they can't do algebra.

So she tried:

    _ + 5 = 10

and asked them to "fill in the blank".

They could do that, no problem.

The problem they were having was the "x". "x" meant "algebra", and they couldn't do "algebra".

I know this is no magic solution to teaching algebra, but it is interesting how some people are triggered by it.