Online for the 2025-2026 School Year
Teacher: Caleb Alons
Email: calebscottalonsmathematics@gmail.com
COURSE OVERVIEW:
The syllabus for this course is provided below (a fuller version of the syllabus with a week-by-week calendar schedule is available; email calebscottalonsmathematics@gmail.com to request a copy of the 2025-2026 Honors Algebra 1 syllabus).
TUITION:
Early Bird Special: $675
After June 30: $715
WHY THIS COURSE?
There are an overwhelming number of options for homeschoolers making the math transition from elementary grade/middle school math into high school math, so why choose this course? I believe that every student (a) learns math at a different pace and (b) requires varying amounts of exposure and time to feel comfortable with certain topics. Given the structure and asynchronous nature of this course, I can offer unparalleled personalized aid, instruction, supplementary tutoring, and resources to each student enrolled. The tuition price encompasses same-day answers to questions posted to the website, unlimited office hours, and additional live tutoring over Zoom on a case-by-case basis. Of course, it is up to the student to take initiative to access this support, and any student who seeks help will receive it. The course effectively takes students through the Art of Problem Solving's Introduction to Algebra curriculum and is structured in a way that gives students more time to work through each chapter with instructor and peer support—and all for a less expensive bill than the AoPS asynchronous Introduction to Algebra A & B course offerings combined.
Syllabus for
Honors Algebra 1
2025–2026 Academic Year
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
Honors Algebra 1 is an intensive course designed for advanced students seeking mastery over the fundamental concepts necessary to excel in high school mathematics courses, standardized testing (ACT/PSAT/SAT/CLEP), and even AP/IB and college courses. Honors Algebra 1 begins by quickly recapping significant prerequisite concepts from Prealgebra and then covers the algebraic properties of real numbers, algebraic expressions, linear equations, advanced techniques in solving linear equations, multivariable expressions and equations, ratios and percents, proportions, graphing lines, analyzing linear behavior, inequalities, quadratics, advanced factorization techniques, and deriving the quadratic formula. Derived from the Art of Problem Solving's pedagogical method, Honors Algebra 1 seeks to lay the groundwork for higher mathematical maturity and to develop creativity in problem solving. Students will acquire technical and mechanical fluency that translates well into future math courses and solving ACT/PSAT/SAT math problems. Most students should anticipate dedicating 6+ hours each week to keep up with the pace of the course and to perform well.
Prerequisite(s): Students should enter the course with a strong foundation in Prealgebra. Any student who takes this course should be prepared to have a fair handle on elementary mathematical concepts and not be dependent on calculators or digital aids to perform simple computations. Students without these prerequisites may struggle to keep up with the pace of the course and should probably take an Honors Prealgebra course prior to taking this one.
II. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THIS COURSES
A. COURSE OUTCOMES
After completing this course successfully, students will be able to:
1. Perform advanced mental arithmetic
2. Fluently use the properties of arithmetic
3. Compute squares and higher exponents
4. Compute negative exponents
5. Perform distribution and factorization
6. Solve equations
7. Compute radicals
8. Evaluate and interpret algebraic expressions
9. Distribute and factor algebraic expressions
10. Manipulate advanced fractions
11. Solve linear equations
12. Solve word problems involving linear equations
13. Evaluate and interpret multivariable expressions
14. Distribute and factor with multivariable algebraic expressions
15. Solve multivariable equations
16. Solve systems of linear equations with substitution and elimination
17. Solve word problems involving systems of linear equations
18. Evaluate and interpret advanced ratio and percentage problems
19. Evaluate and interpret direct, inverse, and joint proportions
20. Evaluate and interpret rates as proportions
21. Graphing linear equations
22. Identify and compute the components of linear equations
23. Analyze linear graphs and compare linear equations
24. Analytically and graphically solve and interpret inequalities
25. Perform optimization using inequalities
26. Factor quadratics
27. Compute the sums and products of quadratic roots
28. Memorize and recognize squares of binomials
29. Memorize and recognize differences of squares
30. Memorize and recognize the sums and differences of cubes
31. Rationalize denominators
32. Perform advanced linear factorization
33. Complete the square of a quadratic
34. Derive, memorize, and use the quadratic formula
B. GENERAL OUTCOMES
Students will develop the following skills that do not necessarily have restricted application to this course specifically:
1. Advanced creative problem solving
2. Study discipline and mental toughness
3. Seeking help and offering help to peers
4. Collaborative learning
5. Increased proficiency in standardized math testing
III. TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER LEARNING RESOURCES
A. REQUIRED MATERIALS
1. Textbooks:
a. Rusczyk, Richard. Introduction to Algebra. Alpine, CA: Art of Problem Solving, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-934124-14-7.
b. Rusczyk, Richard. Introduction to Algebra Solutions Manual. Alpine, CA: Art of Problem Solving, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-934124-15-4.
The cheapest place to purchase both books new (the textbook and solutions manual) is the AoPS website, as they give a bundle discount for purchasing the two texts together: https://artofproblemsolving.com/store/book/intro-algebra. It is possible to find both books being sold as used copies individually, but just make sure BOTH books are purchased, as weekly homework assignments require ownership of the Introduction to Algebra Solutions Manual in addition to the text itself.
2. Other:
a. Access to the Internet to log onto the course website
B. OPTIONAL MATERIALS
1. Other:
a. A free account on https://artofproblemsolving.com/online to access the free (and REMARKABLY helpful resource called Alcumus: https://artofproblemsolving.com/alcumus)
IV. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
A. COURSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
1. Attendance: Honors Algebra 1 does not have a live component. Instead, students will engage on the class website throughout the week with the instructor and their fellow peers as they progress through the course material. Students desiring additional help from the instructor need only reach out to the instructor via email for one-on-one tutoring and office hours.
2. Evaluation Procedures:
a. Weekly Homework Assignments:
Sections from the textbook are assigned each week. For each section, the student must do the following:
Read the textbook section and take notes: 3 points
Watch the assigned video(s): 2 points
Complete the exercises at the end of the section: 3 points
Self-grade work with solutions key: 2 points
___________________________________________
Expected Section Total: 10 points
Each item listed above is based on completion. Students will report their own completion scores per section by the Sunday of each week before 11:59 PM (EST). If a section does not contain a video or exercises, students should simply reward themselves with the points of the missing items automatically to their section score.
For the summary sections at the end of each chapter, the only required exercises are titled "Review Problems" in these summary sections. Completion of the "Challenge Problems" may result in receiving bonus points for that week's score.
Since there are 71 total sections overall, the expected weekly homework total is 710 points for the entire course.
b. Student Engagement:
Student engagement and peer collaboration is STRONGLY encouraged in this course. Students may earn bonus points each week for their engagement on the course website.
Students who post genuine and insightful questions to the course website will receive up to 0.5 bonus points per question, and students who post substantially helpful and insightful answers on the course website will receive up to 1 bonus point per response. Additionally, students who simply engage with the material and post productive and thoughtful messages to the course website will receive up to 2 bonus points per week.
Positive, collaborative, and productive engagement on the course website strongly and positively influences a student's overall course grade.
c. Chapter Tests:
Students will take twelve chapter tests throughout the course. Each chapter test contains 25 questions each worth 4 points for a total of 100 points per chapter test (so 1,200 points of the final course grade come from chapter tests).
Each chapter test must be proctored by a parent/guardian and taken in one uninterrupted sitting; aside from this, students may take as much time as needed to finish. The use of class notes, formula sheets, calculators, digital aids, the Internet, etc. are strictly prohibited.
d. Final Examination:
Students will a final examination at the end of the spring semester.
The final examination contains 100 questions each worth 4 points for a total of 400 points. The final examination is comprehensive for all content covered in the entire course.
All examinations must be proctored by a parent/guardian and taken in one uninterrupted sitting; aside from this, students may take as much time as needed to finish. The use of class notes, formula sheets, calculators, digital aids, the Internet, etc. are strictly prohibited.
e. On a test/examination week, access to the test/examination will be given on the Friday of that week from 12 PM EST–11:59 PM (EST). If a student has special circumstances and needs to take the test/examination at a different time/date, the student should email the instructor directly in advance for accommodation, which will be given for all legitimate situations.
f. Grading Scale:
A: 2,000–2,310 points
B: 1,800–1,999 points
C: 1,600–1,799 points
D: 1,400–1,599 points
F: 0–1,399 points
The numeric grading scale is not completely fixed, as the instructor will consider other holistic factors into the overall final grade. The final grade is designed to reflect the student's holistic growth and progress made throughout the course. Students who score poorly earlier in the course, but who demonstrate an eagerness and initiative to truly learn and overcome challenges, can earn higher grades than their total point sum is at the end of the course. A student's progress over time is also factored into potentially raising a student's final letter grade: steady improvements from poor to excellent scores will be awarded.
Other factors for raising a student's final letter grade include the student's level of engagement, participation, activity on the course website (asking questions, answering questions, cultivating community with peers, creating a welcoming learning environment, etc.), and communication with the instructor throughout the course.
The end goal of this course is for the student to acquire genuine comprehension and mastery of the material, so the final course grade is designed to reflect the student's ability to learn, willingness to struggle, and desire to overcome deficits and setbacks. Since mathematics in the real world is messy and characterized by "being stuck," the grading system for this course hopes to incentivize students to think independently and creatively and to reward students for embracing challenges and learning how to handle struggle.
V. COURSE CALENDAR
Note on Due Dates:
Completion scores for assigned sections will ALWAYS be due by the Sunday of their assigned week at 11:59 PM (EST).
Review section IV.A.2.e of the syllabus above for information concerning due dates for chapter tests and examinations.
To see the full week-by-week course calendar, please send an email to calebscottalonsmathematics@gmail.com so that I can email you a PDF copy of the entire syllabus that includes all calendar information.
IMPORTANT DATES AT A GLANCE:
First Day of Class: Aug 11, 2025
Thanksgiving Break: Monday, Nov 24 – Sunday, Nov 30
Winter Break: Monday, Dec 22 – Sunday, Jan 4 (2026)
Final Exam: May 15, 2026
VI. INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS
Caleb Scott Alons will receive his B.S. in Mathematics in May 2025. Caleb is a returning AP Homeschoolers instructor, having previously taught two years of supplementary and preparatory summer courses in both mathematics and science. After developing a love for teaching mathematics, Caleb started professionally tutoring mathematics in 2020 and has been an assistant lecturer at Oral Roberts University for the past four years, teaching several hundred students in Calculus I/II/III, Vector Calculus, Differential Equations, Discrete Mathematics, Linear & Matrix Algebra, Abstract Algebra, Real Analysis, General (Point-Set) Topology, and Algebraic Topology. In his undergrad, Caleb led as president the KME Honors Mathematical Society and Association of Computing Machinery in addition to being an active participant in the Mathematical Association of America, presenting award-winning research in MAA sectionals and the MAKO UG Research Conference. Caleb also scored three consecutive years in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, which is esteemed as the hardest UG mathematical exam in the world.
As someone who formerly struggled with mathematics in high school himself, Caleb is deeply invested in seeing every student succeed no matter the circumstances and has personally tutored many students with learning disabilities to help them achieve 5's on AP Calculus AB/BC, score above the 90th percentile on the PSAT/SAT/ACT math tests, and rank in the top 5% of their university math courses. Ultimately, teaching mathematics is a source of great joy for Caleb, and he delights in serving each student under his instruction.
The teacher is the servant of his students. – CSA