For Kealing Students Taking Algebra 1 as 6th or 7th Graders During the 2026-27 School Year
If you are having trouble with any links in documents to the Kealing created resources, here they are:
Algebra Textbook (aka The Algebranomicon): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13SP8AWH6y5EMjSKwJBK_g5hvSMU_eDgx?usp=sharing
Ms. Hill's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KealingAlgebra
This message is for 6th graders and new to Kealing 7th graders.
In order to take Algebra 1 in middle school in Austin ISD, you need to have credit for a math class that covers the 8th grade Math TEKS.
If you took a class like that in the 2025-26 school year, you also took and passed an 8th grade Math STAAR test in April 2026. If this applies to you, you have to complete this summer assignment like the other Kealing 7th graders.
For everyone else, you have to attend our Pre-Algebra Camp and pass the 8th grade Math CBE in order to be enrolled in Algebra 1. During the Pre-Algebra Camp, you set up your Algebra 1 Notebook and did a Pre-Algebra skill review. Your only summer assignment is to pass the 8th Grade Math CBE.
Because you are literally skipping 2 years of math classes, we need to make sure your Pre-Algebra skills are on-point and you are ready to go next school year.
This assignment is meant to shore up your skills and help you be ready to learn Algebra on day 1.
You must complete this assignment by the first day of school: August 18, 2026
Here are the supplies that you will need for Algebra starting on the first day. These are the supplies that you will be using EVERY DAY!
Composition Book: You will need at least 1. Most students will use 2 for the entire year. If you write large, leave a lot of space or leave pages blank, you may need more than 2. These must be bound, no spirals or perforated sheets! Spiral notebooks and notebooks with perforated pages fall apart. You can choose one that is lined, grid, blank, dot grid, whatever type you like to use. This is going to turn into your Algebra 1 textbook, so get something sturdy!
Folder: You can create a pocket in your notebook, get a folder or use one pocket of an accordion folder. This is needed to hold on to handouts and assessments.
Pencils with good erasers
Colored pencils, pens or markers
Highlighter
Scissor
Glue Stick or Tape
Graph Paper
There are no additional or specialty supplies needed for Algebra 1. However, please note that we are serious about this notebook and will do periodic checks to make sure you are maintaining it throughout the year, for a grade.
This notebook that you are creating is going to be your textbook for the course. You want to create something that you can use as a reference in future courses. We hear from former students who mention this specifically. They actually use the math notebooks created at Kealing as references in their advanced math classes.
Step 1: Get your Notebook. Make sure it is sturdy enough to last, no spirals, no perforated pages. Those will not survive!
Step 2: Watch this video showing you how to set up your Algebra notebook. I did not remake this video for this year, so it is old.
Step 3: Set up your notebook
a. Remember to write YOUR NAME in the notebook. So many people write my name in their notebook.
b. Use the correct year.
c. Making a pocket is optional. You can replace the pocked with a folder.
d. Go ahead and number those pages now!
Step 4: Complete the remaining portions of your summer assignment. This is to be done in your notebook. Be sure to list it in your table of contents.
The unit titles are links to the documents containing the material for each unit. You can also find these files in the Google Drive at the bottom of this page.
You are required to review the material below and take notes. Some topics have practice questions. These questions are optional. However, we do not review at all during the school year. You will learn Algebra 1 on day 1 and the assumption is that you have mastery of the topics and skills in this summer assignment. If you do not, you will find Algebra 1 very difficult.
This unit covers the fundamental properties of Algebra known as the Field Axioms (commutative, associative, distributive, etc). In addition, it goes over the different forms numbers take: scientific notation, exponential vs. expanded vs simplified, exact vs. approximate, etc.
This unit focuses on key vocabulary related to algebraic expressions like coefficient and term. These are constantly referenced in Algebra 1.
This unit is about the sets of numbers (and special symbols and notation) you have to know for Algebra 1 and beyond: Real, Rational, Irrational, Integers, Whole, Natural.
This unit goes over some fundamental data vocabulary you should have learned in 6th grade math and science. This includes independent vs. dependent variables and continuous vs. discrete data types.
We do a LOT of graphing in Algebra 1 and you have to be super skilled at plotting points on a coordinate grid using graph paper. You have to be able to create a set of scaled axes that will fit your data. This problem set takes a while, but you should end up with a cute critter when you are done.
Since we do a lot of graphing, you have to really know the different named parts of the coordinate plane. There are axes, quadrants and specially named points you need to know.
You are going to be graphing a lot of equations in Algebra 1 and the shapes will make a difference. You have to know what straight line segments mean or what curves mean. This unit breaks down the fundamental shapes that make up all of the graphs you'll see in Algebra 1 and how they can be interpreted back into a context. This is another thing that comes up from the jumping jack activity.
This unit is about translating words into mathematical expressions or equations. Some are just number problems while others based on classic word problems.
This unit doesn't have any reference material because it gives you practice on general number sense. You are given expressions to interpret and compare with other expressions.
This unit reviews the symbols used for inequalities, how to graph them on a number line and how to use the properties of order to solve simple inequalities for an unknown.
This unit is all about arithmetic on integers and fractions. It includes the absolute value, the arithmetic algorithms, the order of operations, exponents, square roots, and THE MOST MISSED CONCEPT IN ALGEBRA 1!
This unit covers proportional thinking. It includes different methods used to solve proportions. Setting up proportions from scenarios are also reviewed.
This is a foundation concept in Algebra 1. So many of the rules and processes of Algebra are related to the order of operations. We refer to it often and it goes beyond just simplifying expressions. You have to really know the order of operations because it always applies.
Whenever you use a formula, you evaluate an algebraic expression. This is something you've probably done before when doing Geometry problems, but you have to be able to do this with negative numbers and fractions as well (as well as how to write it correctly).
This is what a lot of people remember about Algebra. It is something we will do all year but expressions become more and more complicated as we learn more math. This unit focuses on combining like terms and the distributive property, which are foundations for the rest of this work.
This is also what a lot of people remember about Algebra. This unit goes over the properties of equality and how to use them to solve 1 and 2 step equations. It also shows how to properly show work for these simple equations.
Answer Key is posted as a single document.
Next year, AISD middle and high schools will continue a 9-week grading cycle. Each semester will consist of two 9-week grading periods. During each grading period, you will be given 2 progress reports: one at 3-weeks, the other at 6-weeks.
For high school credit classes, semester averages will be calculated using the 40%, 40%, 20% scheme, with the semester exam worth 20% of the semester average and each grading period counting as 40%.
Instead of a grade-level math STAAR test, you will be taking the Algebra 1 EOC instead. The EOC is the STAAR test for Algebra 1 and it is important. Passing the Algebra 1 EOC is one of the requirements of graduating high school in the state of Texas. We teach you Algebra, not a test. We really don't talk about the STAAR Algebra 1 EOC until after spring break and mainly to make fun of its poorly written questions and how take advantage of the tech they let you use.
Our Algebra 1 course is considered "advanced" and for the purposes of GPA will be weighted on a five-point scale.
Your grade in Algebra 1 will be recorded onto your high school transcript.