Every young student is aware of symmetry in a non-conceptual way given that the first thing a newborn infant sees, when vision become operational sometime after birth, is the reflective symmetry of the maternal face and later, the entire human form. The basis of visual algebra is the reflective symmetry of the human form, a natural concept that implies a one-to-one matching of parts, is an organic part of human understanding, is ingrained very early in life and is independent of one’s mathematical ability. Reflective symmetry implies a one-to-one matching of parts that was once utilized in the early geometric development of algebra. One-to-one matching is the simplest concept that can be thought of in mathematics. Visual algebra is geometric algebra, with symmetry substituted for geometry in such a way that enables algebra to be taught starting in the early grades. Symmetry coupled with the learning of arithmetic would act as a catalyst that sustains progress in learning visual algebra. The students that will eventually fail algebra are currently attempting to learn arithmetic in the K-7 grades. Teaching arithmetic and visual algebra in parallel would create a more powerful pedagogy that may rescue many students that would otherwise fail when they are required to learn abstract symbolic algebra.