Interestingly, much of what you describe is present in old mathematical texts. For example, Fibonacci's Liber Abaci is essentially a long succession of story pr

Interestingly, much of what you describe is present in old mathematical texts. For example, Fibonacci's Liber Abaci is essentially a long succession of story problems. Diophantus's Arithmetic is a succession of concrete problems -- no story -- but it's concrete prior to abstract as you suggest. Euclid II also develops most of Algebra geometrically, so there's much conversion between shape and symbol baked it. His method of computing the product of binomials is far superior to what's commonly taught. So there's a good tradition of the thing you're looking for!