Algebra 1 with Honors option - NEW!

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Algebra 1 with Honors option - NEW!

Course option: Live

Grades: 8th – 12th (13+) | Completion of Pre-algebra helpful, but not required

Course dates: August 17, 2026 to May 7, 2027

Course length: Traditional, full year

Live Sessions - attendance required: Tuesdays | 3-4:30 p.m. Eastern

Course size: 20 students

Instructor: Catie Love

Costs:

Tuition: $725
Digital website access: $60 (includes course eBook)

Catie Love - Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 clove.bluetent[at]gmail.com

More about Catie Love

Catherine “Catie” Love is an educator with a strong background in both secondary and collegiate mathematics. Originally from east Tennessee, she earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and two minors (Secondary Education and Music Industry) from Middle Tennessee State University in 2024 while simultaneously teaching Algebra 1 in her final semester. She later moved to Arkansas in 2024 when her husband, an officer in the U.S. Air Force, was stationed there.

Catie is currently pursuing her master’s in applied mathematics and is on track to graduate in May 2026; she will begin a Ph.D. in Mathematics in Fall 2026. As a Graduate Assistant, she has taught a range of college-level courses, from Foundations of College Algebra to Applied Calculus I, and has tutored students in various math classes since she was in high school.

As the daughter of two high school math teachers, Catie values education deeply and brings that passion into every class she teaches. She teaches with a focus on growth mindset, real-life applications of math, and creating a supportive environment where questions are encouraged and mistakes are seen as a natural part of learning. She believes that every student is capable of learning mathematics, though students grow at different rates and in different ways.

Outside the classroom, Catie enjoys hiking, traveling, crocheting, playing card games, and listening to music.

Required

Your digital website access ($60) purchased through Blue Tent includes:
- An eBook of Pearson Algebra 1 (2026) by Elayne Martin-Gay
- My Math Lab online resource
Other required
- Calculator -TI 83 or TI 84
- Zoom - a free teleconferencing application
- Amplify Student account - a free inquiry-based high school math curriculum that uses interactive Desmos technology to foster problem-solving and real-time collaboration.
- Notebook
- Graph paper
- Highlighters or colored pens
- A free phone scanning app such as CamScanner
Technical resources - required for live sessions
- A reliable internet connection
- A computer with a web cam
- A working microphone (computer microphone will work)

Course Details

In this live online Algebra I with Honors option course, high school homeschoolers will collaborate with their teacher and peers to develop a foundational understanding of algebra.

Students will use the textbook Pearson Algebra 1 written by renowned textbook author Elayn Martin-Gay. This program shifts the focus from simply memorizing and following formulas to understanding the “why” behind how algebra works. With engaging content that is relevant to student’s lives, this course provides students with an answer to “when will I ever use algebra?”.

Using a combination of online tools and in class instruction, students will be encouraged to explore algebra concepts in a way that will deepen understanding. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be prepared for Geometry and Algebra 2.

What’s the Honors option?

Students who choose the Honors option will be presented with supplementary instruction and practice that will reinforce and expand on topics covered in the class. Those choosing the Honors option should plan to spend an additional 1-2 hours per week on classwork; however, some students find they can master the material more efficiently than that.

Format

Students share an interactive online classroom and meet live on Zoom.
Live class attendance is mandatory.
Students are expected to keep their webcams on and actively participate in class.
Average weekly time estimate including live class: 6-9 hours
All Blue Tent live math classes are NCAA approved.
See our FAQs for:
- age/grade guidelines, prerequisites, and class fit recommendations
- a complete list of days, times, and breaks
- a list of CA charter schools where this course is a-g approved

Foundational elements

Each week the students will encounter:

Textbook reading or exploration into a topic
In class small group activities
Teacher-led in class problem solving sessions
Practice problems
Activities to demonstrate real world algebra application
Teacher-graded coursework and individual weekly feedback and assistance on submitted assignments provided.
Teacher-graded coursework and individual weekly feedback and assistance on submitted assignments provided.

Course Goals

In this course, students build on their basic understanding of math to explore symbolic relationships in a variety of ways. Students useintegers and fractions to represent relationships in graphs and functions. Algebra 1 uses problem situations, physical models, and appropriate technology to extend algebraic thinking and engage student reasoning. The concepts emphasized in the course include functions, solving equations, slope as rates of change, proportionality, quadratic equations, exponential growth and decay, rational expressions, and probability in data exploration.

The course is organized around the following foundational concepts of algebra:

Number Sense and Real Numbers: Students will build fluency with the real number system, including classifying real numbersand using properties of operations. Students will simplify numerical and algebraic expressions accurately using order of operations and the structure of arithmetic.
Expressions, Equations, and Problem Solving: Students will learn to translate real-world situations into algebraic expressions and equations and solve linear equations using properties of equality. Students will strengthen multi-step problem solving skills, including applications involving percent and proportional reasoning.
Linear Relationships and Functions: Students will develop a deep understanding of linear relationships by interpreting graphs, tables, and equations. Students will compute and interpret slope as a rate of change, write equations of lines from multiple representations, and analyze functions (including domain/range and function notation) in context.
Inequalities and Absolute Value: Students will solve and graph linear inequalities, compound inequalities, and absolute valueequations/inequalities. Students will interpret solution sets in real-world contexts and justify solutions using graphical and algebraic reasoning.
Systems of Equations and Inequalities: Students will learn multiple methods for solving systems of linear equations anddetermine when systems have one solution, no solution, or infinitely many solutions. Students will also model constraints usingsystems of inequalities and interpret feasible regions.
Exponents, Polynomials, and Exponential Models: Students will apply exponent rules to simplify expressions and build fluency with polynomial operations. Students will also study exponential growth/decay and use exponential models (including compound interest) to interpret real-world change over time.
Factoring and Quadratic Problem Solving: Students will factor polynomials using multiple strategies and use factoring as a tool for solving equations and interpreting behavior. Students will connect factoring to solving quadratic equations andmodeling scenarios involving maximum/minimum values.
Rational Expressions and Rational Equations: Students will simplify, combine, and solve rational expressions and rational equations while attending to restrictions and excluded values. Students will use rational relationships to model variation andinterpret how rational functions behave in equations and graphs.
Radicals, Roots, and Introductory Trigonometry: Students will simplify radicals, perform operations with radical expressions,and solve radical equations while identifying extraneous solutions. Students will apply basic right-triangle trigonometric ratios to solve for missing sides or angles in geometric and applied settings.
Quadratic Functions and Methods of Solving Quadratics: Students will solve quadratic equations using multiple approaches (square roots, completing the square, and the quadratic formula) and choose efficient methods based on the structure of the problem. Students will graph quadratic functions, interpret vertex/intercepts, and connect algebraic forms to graphical features.
Data Analysis and Mathematical Modeling: Students will represent and summarize data using graphs and numerical measures of center and spread, including standard deviation. Students will analyze relationships using tools like two-way tables and compare linear, exponential, and quadratic models to select and interpret a best-fit model for a given context.