Math Drama! It begins...

Ok, Kaleigh is in 5th grade, a tough year. Changing campuses and more homework. She seems to be keeping up with most of the homework, but her math is her main hurdle this year. I remember going into high school with a good record in math and then going into Algebra and pretty much getting the lowest grades I had ever gotten...in anything! Unfortunately, Kaleigh has my math brain. She got a "C" on a quiz and it came home with nothing said to me.
The school now has a program where the teachers send (by email) progress reports regularly, so when I saw that her ongoing grade went from an A+ to an A-, I was curious. Well, her last tests were "B's" and there was one quiz that was a "C". So I asked her and she showed me and I just started asking her what happened, just nice and casual...and the tears started. We worked out some of the problems and then I worked one out and came to the same conclusion she did, so I called Carl and he figured it out. So, there you have it! Algebra in 5th grade is too hard for me. I am not surprised. I told Kaleigh and Cole that once the alphabet enters math, it will be up to Dad to help them!
I can help with all other subjects, just not math. I am still reeling from knowing that when I was in my first year of High School I had my first taste of Algebra and Kaleigh is getting it in first grade. I am still wondering why it has to be pushed on them so early. I KNOW Kaleigh will never need algebra (I didn't and don't), so I always kind of wonder why it is such a large part of elementary education. I guess as long as they really stick to basics it isn't that bad...but still.