Help needed!  I have quickly learned (the hard way) this year that Algebra 2 students need mini “refresher courses” of Algebra 1 before plunging into more advanced material.  I gave my students a pretest and many of them also need a review on multiplying polynomials as well.  I plan to review quadratic factoring for 2-3 days in my Algebra 2 class before I jump into factoring polynomials.  Since this is a quick review of a section that takes at least a couple of weeks in Algebra 1, I would love some advice.

My review plan is this –

• Day 1 – Eradicate FOIL – Multiply polynomials by using area method (boxes) and distributive property.  Factor GCF’s.
• Day 2 – Factor a = 1 and special cases.
• Day 3 – Factor a > 1.  Advice appreciated on methodology here.**

** What are your thoughts on factoring when a > 1 in Alg2 and above courses?  The factor by grouping method is a sure thing, but is so much better than “guess and check” (the way I learned and used forever) that it worth the time?  I don’t believe my students were taught this method in the past and I don’t know if teaching them now will a) take to long and b) totally confuse them since it is a more procedure heavy way of factoring.  Plus, in Alg2 + how often is factoring by grouping going to be useful?

For those of you who have been there before, I would love any advice (or anything you have created).

Thanks in advance!