Top 8 Best Algebra 1 Courses (Online)

Algebra I is a foundational course for students as they enter into the math world, so, if students plan on taking this course, it is very important that the course presents the related content in a way that make sense to them.

Considering the fact that most of the students who take Algebra I are relatively new to the secondary mathematics world, it is essential that the course they select has a large amount resources that go beyond lectures to allow the students to practice the concepts they learn.

These resources include things like workbooks, formative quizzes, and summative assessments.

This article will take a more in depth look at several of these courses to help make the selection process easier for students and parents alike.

So, join me as we dive deeper into my selection of the best online algebra 1 courses and find out why they truly can make a difference in a student’s understanding of algebra.

Become an Algebra Master – Krista King

The first online Algebra I course is titled, “Become an Algebra Master”

It was created by Krista King, who really cares about students getting as much support when learning math as possible.

This course covers all the relevant Algebra I concepts as well as Algebra II concepts, which is a great value because you are essentially getting two courses for the price of one.

You get two courses for the price of one. Ms. King’s course has 340 video lectures that go through each Algebra I topic in detail. However, lectures are not always the best resource for students to understand math.

This is why Ms. King has included a myriad of other resources. She includes step-by-step notes that guide students through each topic.

There are formula sheets included in the course to help the students get through the various types of problems in algebra such as slope-intercept form, point-slope form, etc.

There are workbooks included as part of the resources for this course which include over 1300 practice problems.

She included formative quizzes that students can take to check their understanding of the topics as they learn them.

There are even larger summative assessments that help students combine their knowledge of all the topics they learn in each unit.

A final exam at the end of the course helps the students demonstrate their knowledge of Algebra I, so that they know whether or not they are ready to take on the next course after Algebra I, which is Algebra II. 

Overall, this course seems like a great introductory course for any student interested in taking Algebra I.

It is clear that Ms. King is a passionate educator who cares about students grasping the concepts.

The video is engaging and does a great job of describing her course in a nutshell.

Her energy and charisma really help sell this course as a great option for students who typically struggle with math. 

Algebra I (Semester I): A High School Curriculum – Matthew Gromlich

This course was created by Matthew Gromlich, a mathematics educator with several years of experience in K-12 education.

Mr. Gromlich has been teaching high school mathematics and even GED and HSE courses for adults.

He describes his course in an organized fashion in the preview video. He gives very clear and specific guidelines for anyone interested in taking this course.

This course is organized into units with a variety of resources to help students understand the various topics in this class.

The first resource included in this course is over 8 hours of video lectures. Another resource included in this course is an abundance of worksheets.

The worksheets are included to help students prepare for the video quizzes that help check for student understanding.

Each unit includes an answer key for all the problems that students can complete. 

Overall, Mr. Gromlich’s course is very organized, and it seems that he is very intentional in the way he structures his course.

This would be an excellent course for any student who is just starting to learn algebra or anyone wanting to relearn the course material to get back into the mathematical game.

Algebra 1 Explained – John Greene, M.A.

This course was created by John Greene, M.A.

The preview video does a great job of introducing the course without actually breaking the course down in a long and arduous explanation.

The great thing about the course preview video is that it is a video montage of clips from the various video lessons offered in this class.

This gives any prospective algebra students an idea of Mr. Green’s teaching style.

This course has many resources available for the students that decide to take it. Every lesson has a video and written version which is equally great for visual and demonstrative learners.

Mr. Green has over 1000 practice problems from 124 downloadable resources which he makes available for the students who take this course.

Speaking of practice, Mr. Green also includes two practice tests, which help students practice for longer summative assessments.

Based on the preview video, it is clear that Mr. Green is very good at explaining all algebraic concepts in a clear step-by-step fashion, which is extremely important considering the fact that algebra is a very process-based mathematics discipline.

Overall, Mr. Green clearly has a masterful understanding of algebra, which he demonstrates through engaging and thorough video lectures.

Having the lectures available in video and written form was one stand-out feature of this course that would be well-received by students with multiple learning styles. Mr. Green has other courses available that would accompany his Algebra I course quite nicely.

Beginning Algebra: Building a Foundation – Joe Huston

The next course is titled, “Beginning Algebra: Building a Foundation.”

 This course was created by Joe Huston, an educator who has taught mathematics at the middle school, high school, and college levels over the past 12 years.

It is advertised to correlate with a typical high school algebra I course and a possible college developmental math course. The fact that it is structured for both high school students and adults makes it a more marketable course.

The course has several resources available for students to teach mastery of algebra skills.

It markets itself as a self-paced math course with over 100 lectures spread out over 12 hours of instructional videos for students.

There is guided practice made accessible to students in each unit. It also has several skills assessments to check for mastery as the students progress through the related content.

Assessing mastery of skills is important for Algebra I since it is considered a cornerstone in the mathematical world.

Overall, Mr. Huston does a great job of organizing course content in a way that helps students master algebraic concepts. The preview video for the course is short, sweet, and to the point as to what the class offers as far as resources.

I would definitely recommend this course to students who want to truly grasp the material taught in Algebra I.

Beginning Algebra I – Stephen Zuro

The next udemy course is titled, “Beginning Algebra I.”

This course, created by college mathematics professor Stephen Zuro is organized in a way that will keep any students enrolled in it engaged throughout each lesson. 

It only has three and a half hours of instructional videos available, which may not seem like much, but sometimes quality matters over quantity.

Shorter videos are more likely to keep the attention of students who watch them. After each lesson, Mr. Zuro has three-question quizzes available for students to quickly check their understanding of each topic.

In addition to the quizzes, there are three different tests at the end of each unit to assess students’ overall grasp of the material. These resources are all available in PDF form for students to download.

Mr. Zuro’s course preview video is probably the best preview video out of all the courses that have been reviewed thus far.

He goes into detail about how the class is structured before students sign up for it, which is a great way to market the course. Being honest and transparent with potential students is important for online courses.

I would recommend this course to students who want shorter instructional videos to teach them the relevant content.

Fundamentals Of Algebra I – 360Training

The next course is titled, “Fundamentals of Algebra I.” 

It is presented by 360training, an educational training website. The course itself was created by a group of instructional design specialists and field professionals, which is reassuring for any interested students.

Knowing that a group of people worked on a single course may translate into quality instruction and good attention to detail. This course claims that students can receive an education faster than at traditional colleges.

There are several instructional resources available to students who take this course.

This includes knowledge checks before each lesson to make sure students are ready to move on to each topic. However, the knowledge checks are not required if students feel confident enough in the material.

There is also a final exam that students must receive score of at least an 80% on to get their certification. There is also online customer support if students are having trouble accessing the course materials.

Instruction support is made available as well if students are confused about an algebraic concept.

Overall, this course seems like a good course for students who want to learn at their own pace and accelerate through an algebra course.

The online technical and instructional support is a useful option to have available should students need them. 

Everything Algebra – Shawn Barker

The next course is titled, “Everything Algebra.”

This course was created by Shawn Barker, a college professor with 15 years of experience in teaching math. While this course also includes Algebra II concepts, all Algebra I concepts are covered as well.

Furthermore, having Algebra II content available for students to learn give students two courses for the price of one, much like “Become and Algebra Master.”

This course has 9 hours of engaging instructional videos that help students learn the material. There are downloadable practice resources available in this class, which again is so important for online mathematics students.

The more practice they can get, the more likely they are to succeed in an online math course. After viewing a couple sample introduction lectures, it is clear that Mr. Barker is an engaging professor who is able to break down each concept that is covered in the course.

Algebra I Workbook for Dummies – May Jane Sterling

The final course is in book form and is titled, “Algebra I Workbook for Dummies” by Mary Jane Sterling. This book is available as an eTextbook or a paperback textbook.

The title is not meant to be offensive or judgmental, but is meant to refer to the accessible organization of the content in the book. Mary Jane Sterling has taught geometry, algebra, and business calculus over an illustrious 30-year career.

This book breaks down each algebra topic into easily understandable lessons. The various topic titles add a little bit of humor to help keep the reader engaged.

There are also practice problems and assessments in each chapter. In addition to the great organization of this book, there are also online quizzes and tests available for each part and chapter in this book.

The great thing about these online materials is that anyone who purchases this book gets access to them for a year, which allows students to work at their own pace and not have to worry about rushing through the online practice materials.

This course is great for any student who needs more than just organized content to stay engaged.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you have read about some great options for learning Algebra I online, the following section of the article addresses some frequently asked questions that are posed by potential algebra students (children and adults alike).

What is Algebra I?

Algebra I is the foundation of all mathematics courses at the secondary level.

In a standard Algebra I curriculum, the topics of linear and quadratic expressions and equations are explored along with graphs of various types of functions. Additionally, systems of equations are covered as well.

Who should take Algebra I?

Typically, students from the junior high to the high school level.

At the high school level, ninth graders typically take this course. However, adults may find the need to take this course if they decide to go back to school and need a refresher on the different topics.

How do you prepare for this course?

In order to be able to take Algebra I, a student should have a basic grasp of pre-algebra topics such as order of operations and fractions.

Can you finish this course in a month?

The amount of time it takes for you to finish this course is highly dependent on your work ethic and the amount of time you spend studying for tests.

Is it possible to finish this course in a month? Yes, it is possible.

Is it likely that you will finish this course in a month? I would say probably not unless the student is gifted or hard-working.

What are the benefits to taking math classes online as opposed to taking them in a brick-and-mortar school? 

This is a valid question.

Taking math classes online usually allows the student to go at his or her own pace. Students can focus on areas that they are struggling in while moving past concepts that may come a little easier to them.

Is it possible to skip Algebra I?

It is not possible to skip Algebra I altogether.

Students can take honors or accelerated versions of Algebra I to get through the material faster, but this course needs to be taken before students can take any other secondary mathematics course.

Trying to skip Algebra I altogether would be the equivalent of trying to learn how to run before first learning how to walk.

What course(s) do you take after Algebra I?

Typically, the sequence of courses for those who take Algebra I are Algebra II and Geometry.

From there, the sky’s the limit as to what math courses you can take.

However, students typically take Pre-calculus and Calculus, but students could also take Statistics courses.

Can I find practice tests online outside of paying for courses?

There are several sites where practice tests are available. Here are a few good options that you can use to practice outside of the course(s) you may enroll in.

• https://www.4tests.com/algebra
• https://www.testprepreview.com/modules/algebra1.htm

Please keep in mind that there are many great sites and where you can take practice tests for free beyond the few sites I recommended as well as programs that you can download.

When am I ever going to use this material?

This is a common question that is heard all the time in the mathematics education world. There are so many fields out there that utilize algebra such as engineers, scientists, accountants, actuaries, and the list goes on.

Will you be solving linear inequalities the rest of your life?

The answer to that question is probably not, but learning and applying algebraic topics help you practice your critical and logical thinking.

The material help students prep for standardized tests like the ACT or SAT.

Does taking math classes online mean that you are teaching yourself?

This is a valid question. The courses that are created online are typically designed by expert educators who create instructional videos and resources to help teach the students.

Students who are in homeschool or regular school should not feel like they are teaching themselves because the course creators have put together the instructional part for them to learn from.

How do you study for tests in Algebra I?

Studying for math tests in general is different from studying for a history test or an English test.

In order to study effectively for tests in Algebra I and a good grade in this course, students must practice, practice, practice, and, when they feel they understand the algebraic topics, practice some more.

This is why it is a good idea to select an online course that has lots of practice problems made readily available to students.

Is it possible to learn Algebra I without the use of word problems?

For many years, mathematics students have feared the “dreaded word problem.” It is not recommended to completely skip over learning about word problems because these problems help students apply the topics they are learning in Algebra I.

Conclusion

In conclusion, no matter what online Algebra I course you decide to take, it’s important to select a course with a solid structure that teaches mastery of the material, plenty of practice problems, and plenty of instructional resources to help better your understanding of Algebra I.

It’s important to pick a course with a creative instructor that makes the material easy to understand.

Not every online Algebra I course will fit with every possible student. That is why it is critical that math students think long and hard about the kind of teacher they would respond the best to.

It is really important to have motivation when learning math online. There is no teacher right in front of your forcing you to do the assignments and assessments.

You have to have the drive and enthusiasm to get through online math courses.

There is no shame in seeking outside help in the form of a math tutor if a concept is not clicking in your head. Online math classes can be challenging, but, as long your work ethic remains strong and intact, there will be no problem you can’t solve.

Good luck out there!

References: 

• Algebra  – Paul’s Online Notes
• College Algebra – Carl Stitz, Ph.D
• Knowledge for teaching High school Algebra

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My name is Chris Kenny. I have been teaching/tutoring mathematics for over 15 years. I have a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.A. in Teaching Secondary Mathematics. I have experience tutoring for the ACT Mathematics section specifically.

I tutored full time for the Ohio Graduation Test in my home state of Ohio for one year, and I have taught Math at the high school level for over 5 years.

In my time as a high school mathematics teacher, I have taught Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Statistics, and Advanced Placement Calculus.