Algebra Guided Presentation Notes: Unit 1

Teaching Algebra today is harder than ever. You are expected to deliver the curriculum in a way that is accessible to every student no matter what, despite the fact that students today are more distracted and under prepared than ever before. When I moved up to teaching high school Algebra twelve years ago, I quickly realized that my freshman were not equipped for the task. Some lacked prior knowledge, some lacked note taking skills, and some lacked the ability to pay attention for longer than five minutes. I needed a way to address all these needs without losing track of my lesson.

Through trial and error, I found that the single most effective method for reaching these students was guided notes. I initially tried them out on just a few lessons in my most difficult classes. The results were nothing short of miraculous. My normally talkative and distracted students settled right down. My daydreamers focused. My belligerent few actually picked up their pencils. And I was able to channel all my attention into my teaching. The students began to gain confidence in the class and in me.

Over the past twelve years, I have spent hundreds of hours putting together what I believe is the best set of guided notes out there for Algebra 1. Here on TpT, I am slowly listing my notes unit by unit. I am currently up to Unit 10.

Each set of notes includes:
vocabulary
examples
short guided practice sets
activities

The result has been more focused and on-task students, less discipline problems (actually almost none), happy administrators, and very happy parents. In fact, on the rare occasion when a parent has been frustrated by their student's lack of progress, the notes have helped tremendously in taking the pressure off of my teaching and putting the burden of responsibility back onto the child. Now I use my guided notes every day. My students tell me that I am the best math teacher they have ever had and my scores are consistently among the highest in the district. I spend my free time with my family and I genuinely enjoy teaching. Now that's what I call success!

Best of all, each set of notes covers an entire unit of study. Others on this site would have you pay for one lesson at a time. Here you get the entire unit for one low price. If you are new to teaching Algebra, if you would prefer to not have to spend hours and hours preparing examples, or if you would just like to try a new approach, give these guided notes a try.

The notes included here are for Unit 1 only. I am offering Unit 1 free just for you to try out. Once you decide that you and your students love the guided notes format, come back in a few weeks for Unit 2, and Unit 3, and so on.

Unit 1 is an Intro to Algebra/Pre-Algebra review unit and includes:
* Using Variables
* Order of Operations
* Evaluating Algebraic Expressions
* Classifying Real Numbers
* Adding and Subtracting Integers
* Multiplying and Dividing Integers
* Combining Like Terms
* The Distributive Property
* "Diamond" or "Magic x" Problems
* Bonus: Vocabulary Review Page for Unit 1

Helpful Hints:
In my classroom, I give each student a copy of the notes at the beginning of the unit (or you could ask students to print the notes out at home). I begin each lesson by leading the students through part of the notes using my document camera, but then I often allow students to come up and demonstrate, or to go to the board to try a problem. Sometimes, I assign a whole set of problems and then let one student show all the answers, other times students come up one at a time to show solutions as we discuss their answers as a class.

Of course, notes are not all we do in class. I also have several games for sale here on TPT on the topics presented in Unit 1. Check out my store.**** Also, I have attached a product catalogue. I hope you don't mind, and will take a moment to look over the list or give it to a friend.****

The key is included in this download. Remember however, that the key is just the way I fill out the notes with my students. You might teach the problems differently.

"Follow me" to get alerts of more units and products!

One more little thing...The cover page has the CA state standards for the unit listed at the bottom (the state in which I teach). I decided to leave them there to show you what my students see, but you may want to cover them with your own state standards.

Other key words: Interactive Notebook Pages