I've failed numerous remedial math courses, and I know why.  I look around at my students, and I guess which ones are going to fail, based on my past experiences:

1) Guy on the internet via his phone.  The reason we're stuck learning how to add is that we do things like not pay attention or concentrate.  This is the first week, it will only get harder, and one day you're going to look up from your cell phone, and it won't be addition, it will be improper fractions.  And those are scary.  So turn off your distraction machine, stop fiddling with your balls unless they really hurt, and pay attention.

2) Guy and Girl with no supplies.  If you want a chance in hell of passing a math class, you have to take notes, do homework, and study.  If you're dumb like me (and I'll assume you are, or you would've tested out of this course) you might even have to make flash cards.  To study and do homework, you need the textbook, a writing utensil, and paper.  It helps if the paper is bound in a notebook or binder, but to each his own.

 3) Guy who missed the first and second class.  Unless you come to every class, there's a good chance you'll never catch up.  Actually I'm kidding, I bet you can add and subtract.  But if you keep missing classes, you won't do all the in class geometry and examples, and you'll show up, and you won't understand a thing.   If you're lucky, this will happen after Cell Phone Guy catches on and drops the class.

4) All of Us, Maybe.  Dr. O has to beg for volunteers.  We speak out rather than raising our hands.  There are always at least four heads on desks.   About half the class neglects to bring one of these major items: Pen, book, paper.  All of us have the glazed look of the overworked, underpaid, and perpetually tired.  Academic success doesn't hang in the air.

However, I've walked through this mine feild before.  I'm going to show up, take notes, do the homework, even though Dr. O doesn't grade it, study before exams, and, if necessary, get tutoring.  I doubt I'll pass with flying colors, but I'm certain I'll pass.

As for everyone else, it's just the first week.  You have about six classes before failure becomes the only option.