Building a Better Path To Success!
Connecting Knowledge – Sherri prepares her students for success by refreshing their knowledge of arithmetic. By helping students see the connection between arithmetic and algebra, Sherri found that her students were more confident in their abilities as they progressed through the course. This classroom tested practice was integrated into the texts so that both instructors and students could benefit. Messersmith accomplishes this by including arithmetic examples for most sections before the use of algebraic examples. Also, the author has developed through classroom use a series of Basic Skills Worksheets that can easily be integrated into the classroom.
Presenting Concepts in “Bite Size” Pieces – By breaking down the sections into manageable pieces, the author has identified the core places where students traditionally struggle and then assists them in understanding that material to be successful moving forward.
Mastering Concepts – With the textbook and Connect Math hosted by ALEKS, a new online homework and assessment tool, students can practice and master their understanding of algebraic concepts.
Messersmith is rigorous enough to prepare students for the next level yet easy to read and understand. The exposition is written as if a professor is teaching in a lecture to be more accessible to students. The language is mathematically sound yet easy enough for students to understand.

Today’s Developmental Math students enter college needing more than just the math, and this has directly impacted the instructor’s role in the classroom. Instructors have to teach to different learning styles, within multiple teaching environments, and to a student population that is mostly unfamiliar with how to be a successful college student. Authors Andrea Hendricks and Pauline Chow have noticed this growing trend in their combined 30+ years of teaching at their respective community colleges, both in their face-to-face and online courses. As a result, they set out to create course materials that help today’s students not only learn the mathematical concepts but also build life skills for future success. Understanding the time constraints for instructors, these authors have worked to integrate success strategies into both the print and digital materials, so that there is no sacrifice of time spent on the math. Furthermore, Andrea and Pauline have taken the time to write purposeful examples and exercises that are student-centered, relevant to today’s students, and guide students to practice critical thinking skills. Beginning Algebra and its supplemental materials, coupled with ALEKS or Connect Math Hosted by ALEKS, allow for both full-time and part-time instructors to teach more than just the math in any teaching environment without an overwhelming amount of preparation time or even classroom time.