TeenEdge Academy
What We Focus On
Algebra 1 is the gateway to high school math, and our primary focus is functions and equations. Functions are expansive in scope — they connect nearly every topic in the course — and we make sure students understand them deeply, not just procedurally.
From the beginning, we build the habit of viewing functions and equations as graphs. Being able to visualize the curve of a function, identify its roots, and understand what the shape tells you about the math has real, lasting advantages — in Algebra 2, in Pre-Calculus, and on the ACT/SAT. We make Desmos a regular part of the workflow so students develop the instinct to graph what they're solving.
We also start building ACT/SAT competency early. As each topic is covered, we point students toward freely available practice set resources so they're not just learning Algebra 1 — they're simultaneously preparing for standardized tests in the topics they've already mastered.
Many of our Algebra 1 students are 7th and 8th graders in accelerated math programs at their middle schools. This course is also available as a Summer Test-Out — though we recommend students who are considering test-out join our winter session (January–April) first to build a strong foundation before the accelerated summer pace.
Course Format & Availability
We offer Algebra 1 three times a year: a Fall session (September–December), a Winter session (January–April), and a Summer session (June–August). We also offer a year-long format for students who prefer a steadier pace. Space in these classes is limited due to demand and small class sizes — we keep groups small to ensure every student gets the focused attention they need.
Students in these classes are encouraged to send doubts and questions via email throughout the week rather than waiting for class day. When a student gets stuck on a homework problem on a Tuesday, we'd rather help them then — not have them lose three days of practice momentum waiting for Saturday's session.
What We See in Kids at This Level
Students who arrive with gaps in pre-algebra basics — fractions, integer operations, equation-solving — find Algebra 1 genuinely difficult. We identify this early and provide extra support and targeted practice to close those gaps while keeping pace with the course. This is exactly why our 5th-through-8th program emphasizes foundations so heavily.
High school also brings a shift in responsibility. Kids start taking the lead in organizing their own homework schedules, and they tend to have fewer free days as extracurriculars, sports, and social commitments ramp up. To help with this, we switch to a single 2-hour class per week (from the two 1-hour sessions used in middle school), and we allow greater flexibility when students need extra time to complete assignments. High school schedules are intense, and we work with that reality rather than against it.
Students at this level often want homework help on specific questions and topics. While helping them provides reassurance and builds confidence, we make sure this doesn't become a homework-help class. The goal is always to teach the underlying concept so students can handle the next problem on their own.
How a Typical Session Runs
We start by checking in on practice and homework progress. At the high school level, students manage their own dashboards, and we hold them accountable to the discipline they've been building.
From there, we move into the planned lesson — working through concepts, tying them back to the broader function framework, and graphing everything we can in Desmos. We continue building the concept tree: students see that linear functions connect to the slope work they did in 8th grade, that factoring connects to the multiplication they mastered years ago. During each class, students solve 5–10 problems on their own — building independence and giving us a chance to spot difficulties in real time — with the remaining practice assigned as homework.
We close with homework planning and, where relevant, point students to ACT/SAT practice sets aligned with the topics covered that week.
Schedule & Holidays
We make full use of summer holidays to keep momentum going, while accommodating family vacation plans. We typically take long weekends off, along with a week off in summer and a week off in winter. This approach gives students consistent practice time without burning them out.