Algebra 1: Accelerated/Review Full Year Curriculum (FLEX)

*** 16 week IXL math subscription included! ($40 value!)
Need some help in Algebra and quick? This is a great opportunity (and fantastic deal!) to really master those algebraic concepts and skills that your learner may still feel unsure of, all at a flexible pace and without classroom pressure! This accelerated class condenses 36 weeks of material (all three trimesters of my Full Year Algebra 1 FLEX classes--a $450 value!) into 16 weeks, so you'll be getting 2-3 lessons per week (3-7 videos).

This is the accelerated version of a FLEXIBLE SCHEDULED year-long Algebra mastery method math course. There are NO live meetings for this class. Pre-recorded videos, interactive google slide presentations and links to Nearpod lessons, Desmos activities and review games will all be posted in the Outschool Classroom, along with weekly homework assignments from the workbook, graded lesson quizzes and special interactive assignments such as math scavenger hunts or emoji puzzles. I will respond to all turned in work, including corrections to homework and quizzes. This is a self paced class with each week's learning materials posted in the classroom at the beginning of the week.

This intensive review class is divided into four parts:
Part 1 begins with concepts from Pre-Algebra: students will gain a deep understanding of the associative, commutative, and distributive properties, as well as absolute value, the order of operations, and graphing with number lines and Cartesian coordinates. Students will learn to apply these concepts to help solve algebraic equations (solving for an unknown, beginning with a single variable). Students will also review other key concepts including working with negative numbers, using prime factorization to find the GCF and LCM, multiplying and dividing fractions and decimals, and converting between decimals, fractions and percentages. Students will then move on to learning about linear functions, graphing lines, the slope-intercept formula, and graphing parallel and perpendicular lines. Students will solve and graph equations, as well as review expressing word problems in algebraic terms, finding fractions and percentages of numbers, and working with radicals (finding square roots).

In Part 2, students will deepen their understanding of equations and graphs of linear functions by: finding the slope-intercept equation for a line given 2 points on the line, graphing inequalities, and solving simultaneous equations through graphing, substitution and elimination. Students will also review other key concepts including ratios, measurement equivalents, working with integers, fractions, decimals and percentages, order of operations, and solving for the unknown. Students will then deepen their understanding of working with and solving algebraic equations and graphs of linear functions. Students will review solving simultaneous equations through graphing, substitution and elimination and use these to solve concrete, puzzle type problems such as coin problems, consecutive integer problems. In addition, we will be covering multiplication and division with exponents (including negative powers), as well as addition and multiplication of polynomials.  Students will also continue to review other key concepts including ratios, measurement equivalents, working with integers, fractions, decimals and percents, order of operations, and solving for the unknown.

Part 3 is all about factoring! We will perfect our FOIL method and work on factoring polynomials, including trinomials with coefficients. We will also cover square roots and dividing polynomials, and solving equations involving factoring of polynomials.

In Part 4, students will gain a deep understanding of unit and square unit measurement conversions, fractional exponents, significant digits and scientific notation, and graphing a circle, ellipse, parabola and hyperbola. Students will also review other key concepts including expressing word problems in algebraic terms, finding fractions and percents of numbers, and working with radicals (finding square roots). 

Week-by-Week breakdown of topics covered:
Week 1: 
Lesson 1: Introduction, Commutative and Associative Properties
       Review:  Negative numbers and multiplying/dividing fractions
Lesson 2: Order of Operations and Absolute Value
       Review: multiplying and dividing decimals
*Special Assignments: Emoji math, Blooket Cafe and Blooket Tower Defense Games 

Week 2: 
Lesson 3:  Solve for Unknown with One Variable
      Review: Combining like terms to simplify, solve and check; Using LCM to simplify equations with fractions and decimals
Lesson 4: Distributive Property
     Review: converting between fractions, decimals and percentages  
Lesson 5:  Number Lines and Cartesian Coordinates
     Review: converting fractions to decimals using long division 
*Special Assignments: Desmos Game, Blooket Game and Game Over Gopher Game

Week 3: 
Lesson 6: Introduction to Graphing a Line (real world situations and Desmos activities)
      Review: expressing word problems algebraically
Lesson 7: Slope-Intercept Formula: What is slope and how do we find it? (positive and negative slope using mountain climbing/skiing as examples); Finding y-intercept
Lesson 8: Graphing a line from the slope-intercept formula (using Desmos)
*Special Assignments: Make up your on linear function story problem and graph it, Desmos Marble Activity

Week 4:
Lesson 9: Graphing Parallel Lines and the Standard equation of a line
      Review: find percents of a number 
Lesson 10: Graphing Perpendicular Lines
     Review: finding square roots
*Special Assignments: Graphing Scavenger Hunt, Emoji Puzzles, Desmos Game

Week 5:
Lesson 11 Part 1:  Finding the Slope-Intercept Formula (Graphing a line given slope and 1 point)
Lesson 11 Part 2: Finding the Slope-Intercept Formula (Graphing a line given 2 points)
      Review: Ratios as fractions and percentages
Lesson 12: Graphing Inequalities (representing inequalities on a number line and connect to cartesian graphing)
      Review: measurement equivalents
Unit 1 Review and Test
*Special Assignment: Desmos Sheera the Sheep activity

Week 6:
Lesson 13: Solving Simultaneous Equations 1 (Graphing to find intersection of 2 lines)
Lesson 14: Solving Simultaneous Equations 2 (Substitution: Graphing to estimate solution, then substitution to find precise answer)
*Special Assignment: Graphing Scavenger Hunt and Emoji Puzzle

Week 7:
Lesson 15: Solving Simultaneous Equations by Elimination
Lesson 16: Coin Problems: (how many of each kind of coin there are given the amount of money and number of coins)
Lesson 17: Consecutive Integers: Learn to represent relationships between integers (consecutive, consecutive odd/even) with algebraic notation and use to solve equations
*Special Assignment: Create your own coin problem and post it in the classroom; Optional Honors Challenge

Week 8:
Lesson 18: Multiplication and Division with Decimals
       Review: concept of exponents and through guided discovery, use what we know about exponents to discover rules for multiplying and dividing with exponents
Lesson 19: Exponents: Negatives and Raising to a Power
Lesson 20: Addition and Multiplication of Polynomials (combine like terms in addition and subtraction of polynomials, and multiply 2 binomials to get a trinomial)
*Special Assignment: Exponents in the real world scavenger hunt; Exponent Emoji Puzzle

Week 9:
Lesson 21: Factoring Polynomials
Lesson 22: Factoring Trinomials with Coefficients

Week 10:
Lesson 23: Factoring Trinomials
Unit 2 Review and Test
Lesson 24: Square Roots and Dividing Polynomials

Week 11: 
Lesson 25: Difference of Two Squares
Lesson 26: Repeated Factoring of Polynomials

Week 12: 
Lesson 27: Solving Equations with Factoring
Lesson 28: Unit Multipliers (customary measurement conversions)

Week 13:
Lesson 29: Square Unit Multipliers (customary measurement conversions)
Lesson 30: Metric Conversions

Week 14:
Lesson 31: Fractional Exponents
Lesson 32: Significant Digits & Scientific Notation

Week 15:
Lesson 33: Bases Other than Ten
Lesson 34: Graphing a Circle and an Ellipse

Week 16:
Lesson 35: Graphing a Parabola and a Hyperbola
Unit 3 Review and Test
Final Review and Final Test


Throughout these 16 weeks, concepts and skills will be covered through visual slide presentations, interactive Nearpod lessons, student practice, real world problem solving and fun activities and games! We will utilize the Outschool Classroom to facilitate interaction and discussion. I will do this by posting critical thinking and math strategy questions, and expecting students to respond to both my questions and each others' responses. In addition to posting completed homework and quizzes, learners will be asked to post a response to the weekly special assignment (scavenger hunts, puzzles, activities or games). I will post a new video lesson, activities and exercises at least every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday (some weeks might include more). Students wanting detailed corrections and feedback, should turn their week's work in by Saturday.

In my videos and lessons of this FLEX class, I take a Mastery approach to math--each concept will be demonstrated, explained and practiced in a meaningful, in-depth way to achieve full understanding before moving on and connecting to the next topic. This approach is ideal both for students who love math and want to take a deep dive into each concept, as well as anxious math learners who get easily overwhelmed by jumping quickly between concepts and prefer to take their time to fully learn and understand each concept. In both cases, the mastery method can build confidence, create a positive math identity and set students on a trajectory of math success. Because of the small size of this class,  I will be able to give each student the individual attention needed to ensure mastery. Additionally, because this is a FLEX class, students can complete work at their own pace without the stress of comparing themselves to other students. 

I want my students to feel fully engaged in the learning process--to find meaning, confidence (and yes, even joy!) in mathematical problem solving. To make math fun and engaging, I will be presenting lessons through interactive slides, which will include clear visual representations, virtual manipulatives, and connections to math in the real world. Additionally, I will be using applications such as Nearpod (nearpod.com) and Desmos (desmos.com) to create further opportunities for students to engage with the material and with one another. Activities will include collaborative idea boards, typed or drawn responses, polls, matching games, quizzes, graphing activities, and embedded games. These activities provide not only engagement and fun for students, but also give me as the teacher the opportunity for ongoing, informal assessment.

I look forward to meeting and working with your student to help them achieve their math goals!