Grades 7–8 · Ages 12–14

Algebra 1

Linear equations, systems, exponents, factoring — a real Algebra 1 track.

Length120 minutes · once a week
Tuition$489 / month
Location226 W 79th St, UWS
FormatIn-person · max 6 students
Marcelo Ambrozio, lead math teacher at School of Math

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Marcelo Ambrozio

Co-Founder & Lead Math Teacher

MBA · B.S. Applied Mathematics, Northwestern · 20 years coaching MIT, Harvard & Stanford candidates. Meet the team →

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Algebra 1 · Grades 7–8

$489 / month — tuition (recurring) · $99 one-time registration (placement test, written diagnostic, learning plan)
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For students who use their own email: receive a separate homework copy. The parent remains the billing contact.
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Want to talk first? Call (646) 668-6151 or book a free 30-minute evaluation.

About the course

What students learn

Algebra 1 is the algebra track of our middle-school program — built for 7th and 8th graders ready to tackle a real Algebra 1 course. We cover linear equations and inequalities, systems of equations, exponent rules, polynomials and factoring, and the start of quadratics. Courses are rolling — a student can join at any meeting and continue into the next term without losing the thread.

A typical class

Sample class format · 120 minutes

Every Algebra 1 class follows the same structure so students walk in knowing what to expect and walk out with a corrected mini-quiz in hand.

0:00 – 0:30
30 min

Puzzles & Enigmas

Warm-up with logic puzzles, math riddles, and short brain-teaser problems. The point is to switch the brain on without yet introducing today’s topic — students arrive at different focus levels and this 30-minute block evens the room.

0:30 – 1:00
30 min

Subject — concept & guided practice

First half of today’s topic. One Algebra 1 topic per meeting — linear equations, systems, exponent rules, polynomials, or factoring. Concept-first: the instructor demonstrates one or two worked examples, then students try guided practice with the teacher walking the table.

1:00 – 1:05
5 min

Brain break

A short break — water, stretch, a quick chat. Five minutes is enough to reset focus without losing the rhythm of the class.

1:05 – 1:30
25 min

Subject — word problems & applications

Second half of the topic, focused on word problems, abstraction, and math applied to real situations — the place where rote knowledge turns into real understanding. Examples we use: Modeling a phone-plan choice: which plan wins at how many minutes per month? (systems of equations).; Compound interest on a savings account (exponential thinking).; Calculating drag on a bike going downhill (linear modeling)..

1:30 – 2:00
30 min

Mini-quiz — corrected in class

A short timed mini-quiz on today’s topic, then we correct it together — question by question, out loud, with the right strategy spelled out for each item. Parents get the corrected paper at the end of the session so they know exactly where their child stands.

Independent topic rotation

48-class rolling syllabus

Full sample class online — see exactly how SOMATH teaches Algebra 1: Class 11 — Polynomials: Adding, Subtracting & Multiplying. Ten SOMATH posters, full theory, and 50 original practice questions with click-to-reveal answers.

Each class is an independent, self-contained topic. When enrollment is open, students can join any week at the appropriate course level; earlier-numbered classes are not required. Every meeting introduces the ideas needed for its topic, with guided practice, support, and challenge options. Class numbers identify sessions in the rolling rotation, not prerequisites or a required order.

  1. Class1Linear equations in one variable — multi-step.
  2. Class2Word problems modeled with linear equations.
  3. Class3Linear inequalities — solving and graphing.
  4. Class4Coordinate plane — slope, intercepts, and graphing lines.
  5. Class5Writing the equation of a line.
  6. Class6Systems of two linear equations — graphing.
  7. Class7Systems by substitution.
  8. Class8Systems by elimination.
  9. Class9Exponent rules — products, quotients, powers, zero, negatives.
  10. Class10Scientific notation and applications.
  11. Class11Polynomials — adding, subtracting, multiplying.
  12. Class12Factoring — GCF and difference of squares.
  13. Class13Factoring trinomials (x² + bx + c).
  14. Class14Intro to quadratic equations — solving by factoring.
  15. Class15Functions — domain, range, function notation.
  16. Class16Absolute-value equations and inequalities — graphing and solving.
  17. Class17Factoring trinomials — leading coefficient = 1 and ≠ 1.
  18. Class18Solving quadratics by factoring.
  19. Class19Solving quadratics by completing the square.
  20. Class20Solving quadratics with the quadratic formula and the discriminant.
  21. Class21Rational expressions — simplifying, multiplying, dividing.
  22. Class22Adding and subtracting rational expressions with common denominators.
  23. Class23Radicals — simplifying, operations, and solving radical equations.
  24. Class24Exponential functions — growth, decay, and applications to compound interest.
  25. Class25Function notation deep dive — composition of functions.
  26. Class26Inverse functions — algebraic and graphical relationships.
  27. Class27Piecewise functions — evaluating and graphing.
  28. Class28Transformations of functions — shifts, reflections, and stretches.
  29. Class29Systems of linear inequalities — graphing feasible regions.
  30. Class30Linear programming — optimization on a feasible region.
  31. Class31Arithmetic sequences — explicit and recursive formulas.
  32. Class32Geometric sequences — explicit and recursive formulas.
  33. Class33Series — sums of arithmetic and geometric sequences.
  34. Class34Rational equations — solving and identifying extraneous solutions.
  35. Class35Rational functions — asymptotes and graphing.
  36. Class36Direct, inverse, and joint variation — modeling with functions.
  37. Class37Data analysis — measures of center and spread with real data.
  38. Class38Statistical displays — box plots, histograms, and scatterplots.
  39. Class39Line of best fit — least-squares regression and correlation.
  40. Class40Probability — conditional probability and two-way tables.
  41. Class41Counting principles — permutations and combinations.
  42. Class42Set theory basics — unions, intersections, complements.
  43. Class43Exponential and logarithmic thinking — intro to logs.
  44. Class44Modeling real-world data with linear, quadratic, and exponential functions.
  45. Class45Word problems — mixture, work-rate, and rate-time-distance revisited.
  46. Class46Word problems — geometry-linked algebra and optimization.
  47. Class47Literal equations and formulas: isolating variables and applying formulas.
  48. Class48Linear and quadratic systems: graph intersections and real-world applications.

Frequently asked

Common questions from parents

How large are SOMATH classes?

Every SOMATH class is capped at 6 students. That is the number that lets one teacher see every student's work in real time, correct silent mistakes before they become habits, and pace to the room instead of the average. Larger groups defeat the whole point of small-group teaching, so we hold the cap firmly.

Where do classes meet?

In person at 226 W 79th Street, 1st Floor, New York, NY 10024 — one block from the 79th Street 1 train and a short walk from the B and C at 81st Street. We do not offer online classes; the small-group model relies on shared whiteboard work and in-room feedback.

What is included in registration?

$99 one-time registration covers a placement test, a written diagnostic, and a personalized learning plan delivered within 48 hours. Workbooks, problem sets, and printed practice tests are included at no extra charge. The $99 registration is separate from monthly tuition.

Can we cancel?

Yes. Cancel anytime with 15 days written notice — no long-term contract. One free make-up per month for a missed class (subject to available seats in another cohort).

Do you offer a free trial or evaluation?

Yes. Every new family starts with a free 30-minute evaluation in our classroom plus a written diagnostic delivered within 48 hours. There is no charge and no commitment — the diagnostic is yours to keep whether you enroll or not. Book at schoolofmath.us/evaluation or call (646) 668-6151.

Is this the same as Pre-Algebra?

No. Pre-Algebra is the standard course covering variables, expressions, and linear equations. Algebra 1 is a faster-paced bridge for students ready to move into Algebra 1 within a semester — heavier on abstract reasoning, systems of equations, and functions. The evaluation places students in the right course based on demonstrated readiness.

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