Understanding how to work fluently with polynomials and how to factor is one of the most important Algebra 1 skills a student will learn. These skills are at the very core of what students will need to be successful in future math courses, so laying a strong foundation in Algebra 1 is crucial. This interactive notebook unit kit is built just to ensure that all foundational polynomials and factoring skills are covered. These notes are designed to provide your students with a strong foundation of essential concepts and to support your students' learning every step of the way.

⭐Many area application problems are included throughout the unit to give students another way to practice and apply their learning.

This interactive notebook kit contains 10 sets of notes and 10 half-sheet warm-ups that can also double as exit slips or mini-quizzes. Having a strong foundation of vocabulary and skills is the best way to make sure your students will find success, and this unit has been designed with that in mind. This interactive notebook kit contains all of the notes and warm-ups you will need to teach your unit on Polynomials & Factoring in Algebra 1 and covers the topics that your students will need to gain fluency. Figuring out how to teach your polynomials & factoring unit and support all of your learners doesn't need to be stressful--this interactive notebook kit has you covered!

All of the resources are designed to fit perfectly in an interactive notebook, which is a great way to promote studying and help your students to stay organized.

PRODUCT NOTE: There are 9 sets of notes and 10 warm-ups included in this bundle. Activities and flowcharts are not included in this bundle. If you're interested in any flowcharts, look here!

Included Resources:

1. Intro to Polynomials - Standard Form, Classifying, Adding & Subtracting
2. Multiplying Polynomials (includes two sets of notes, covering monomial x polynomial and polynomial x polynomial)
3. Dividing Polynomials by Monomials
4. Factoring a GCF out of a Polynomial
5. Factoring by Grouping
6. Factoring Quadratics (includes three sets of notes)
7. Dividing Polynomials by Binomials
8. Warm-Ups for Polynomials & Factoring Unit
9. Suggested Pacing Guide (bonus file)

SPECIAL UNIT NOTES:

⭐This unit uses the a*c factoring by grouping method. After trying a different factoring method every year for 6 years, and after teaching higher-level courses like Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus, I can confidently say that this is the best method for factoring. Here are a few reasons why.

• Factoring by grouping is directly connected to reversing a distribution process, so the conceptual ties are strong here (which is certainly not the case in many factoring methods). In short, this method makes sense to students so they retain their factoring skills more easily and pick it up quicker, too.
• Students are less likely to mess up by forgetting steps.
• It is a highly flexible method that will work for all future math classes through Pre-Calculus and beyond ("slide, divide, bottoms up" method will not)

⭐This factoring unit uniquely introduces factoring with A>1 straight from the beginning of factoring quadratic trinomials that way students view A=1 and difference of squares problems as simpler special cases. I have found that when we introduce A=1 first and then A>1 separately later, students tend to struggle much more at identifying how to approach a problem. Introducing A>1 problems at the start takes care of this issue.

⭐By approaching factoring this way and relying on the grouping method, I have shaved nearly a week and a half off of my Polynomials & Factoring unit that I used to spend teaching each style of factoring separately. Students pick up factoring so much quicker and easier, and they retain it better as well.

⭐Since you'll be saving time structuring your unit this way, take an extra day to have your students complete this factoring investigation so they can discover that the factors must multiply to a*c and add to b. This is the perfect intro to doing formal notes on this topic and really helps to make that factoring connection stick.

⭐Do your students need extra help with factoring quadratic trinomials?

• Try this 1-100 factor pairs chart if your students struggle with breaking down the "multiply number" (a*c) into its factor pairs to find the winning combo that also adds to b
• Try this flowchart if your students need an extra helping hand to make it through a factoring problem, start to finish.
• It is highly recommended to introduce factoring quadratic trinomials with this factoring investigation that helps students discover that the factors must multiply to a*c and add to b.

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