United States · Teaching Textbooks Math 3 to Pre-Calculus · A person beside the app

Teaching Textbooks math help, for when the app is not enough

Teaching Textbooks was built so a homeschool parent does not have to teach math: the app gives the lecture, reads problems aloud, offers hints, grades every answer and plays a worked solution for each one. For many families it does exactly that. The trouble usually starts quietly, around Pre-Algebra or Algebra 1, when a child can follow every solution and still cannot start the next problem. This page explains how the program works, from its own site, and what a live teacher adds that a recorded solution cannot.

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In short

Teaching Textbooks is a self-paced homeschool math curriculum delivered as one app per course, from Math 3 to Pre-Calculus, that teaches each lesson, grades every problem and gives a step-by-step solution for each. Teaching Textbooks math help from a live tutor suits a student who follows the solutions but cannot yet explain or start problems alone. Modern Age Coders teaches live online, in a batch or 1-on-1, through its Algebra Foundations course; the first class is free.

Live courses beside the app

Three live courses for Teaching Textbooks students

The student keeps working in their Teaching Textbooks course. These classes add a teacher who asks why.

Algebra Foundations course thumbnail

TET / 01

Algebra foundations

Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1, the point where most TT families look for a person.

Open the syllabus →
Middle School Mathematics Mastery course thumbnail

TET / 02

Middle school math

For Math 6, Math 7 and Pre-Algebra: fractions, ratios, integers.

Open the syllabus →
High School Mathematics course thumbnail

TET / 03

High school math

Geometry, Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus with live explanation.

Open the syllabus →

How it works

How does Teaching Textbooks work?

Each Teaching Textbooks course is an app that does the teaching and the grading. Its site lists a set of safety nets meant to keep a child moving without a parent stepping in.

How Teaching Textbooks describes its program (teachingtextbooks.com home and Algebra 1 course pages, checked 31 October 2026)
FeatureIn Teaching Textbooks’ words
What it is"a complete math curriculum offered as a series of apps (one for each grade level)"
Teaching"Every lesson begins with an interactive lecture."
Hints"just-in-time hints" when a student gets stuck
Read aloud"Each problem and hint is read aloud to the student"
Solutions"100% of problems have a full, step-by-step solution."
GradingEvery problem graded as soon as the answer is entered, recorded in a printable gradebook
Human help"a free tutor helpline for any customer that needs extra help"
Parents"Parents also receive a daily email showing their students’ progress."

Practical details

Teaching Textbooks says access to each course "is for 12 months, plus a 3-month pause feature" for breaks, and that the apps work on computers, tablets and phones, offline "for up to 6 lessons at once".

Students get a scratchpad area to work out steps on screen, which is saved so a parent can look at it later, and each app includes a full, searchable eBook that a parent can print.

Use their tutor line first

The publisher offers its own free tutor helpline: customers can call to set up an appointment with a math tutor about a problem the solutions did not clear up. If your child is stuck on one problem, that is the natural first step.

This page is for a different situation: a child who needs regular teaching, week after week, because the stuck moments have become the pattern.

Sources: Teaching Textbooks and its Algebra 1 course page, checked 31 October 2026. Teaching Textbooks is a trademark of Teaching Textbooks, LLC. Modern Age Coders is not affiliated with or endorsed by Teaching Textbooks.

Courses

Which Teaching Textbooks course is my child in, and what comes next?

The site lists ten courses, from Math 3 to Pre-Calculus. Placement tests decide where a child starts, and Teaching Textbooks gives specific advice on reading them.

Teaching Textbooks courses (teachingtextbooks.com product menu, checked 31 October 2026) and where our classes usually join (our note)
CourseStageWhere a live teacher often helps
Math 3 to Math 5ElementaryTimes tables, long division, first fractions
Math 6 and Math 7Middle gradesFraction and decimal operations, percents, ratios
Pre-AlgebraBridge to algebraIntegers, variables, one-step and two-step equations
Algebra 1High schoolLinear equations, slope, systems, factoring
GeometryHigh schoolProof and reasoning about shapes
Algebra 2 and Pre-CalculusHigh schoolFunctions, exponents, logarithms, trigonometry

Placement, by the publisher

Teaching Textbooks publishes a placement test for each course. If you are unsure, it says to "have them take two tests starting with the higher level" and to give the lower test only if very few questions are right on the higher one.

It adds that its pass marks are rough, and that "if a student is just under the recommended score they’re almost assuredly ready for that grade level." It also reminds parents to take out the answer key page, which is the last printed page.

What the trial covers

The free trial covers "the first 15 lessons of any grade level", with no expiration date and no payment details, and work done in the trial carries over if you buy the course.

For a child moving into Algebra 1, the first fifteen lessons are a useful test of whether the app alone will be enough. Each course page also links to its table of contents and index.

Source: Teaching Textbooks placement tests page, checked 31 October 2026.

Warning signs

How can I tell my child needs more than the app?

A high average in the gradebook can hide a child who is leaning on hints and solutions. These are signals our teachers look for; they come from our own lessons and are offered as general guidance, never as figures.

Signs a Teaching Textbooks student may need a live teacher (our teaching notes)
What you noticeWhat it often meansWhat to try
Scores are fine, but lessons take much longer than beforeHints are doing the thinkingDo three problems a day with hints switched off, if your parent controls allow it
Your child watches the solution, then moves onFollowing is not the same as being able to startAfter a missed problem, redo it from a blank page
The scratchpad is empty for multi-step problemsSteps are being done in the head, or guessedAsk for every line written
Your child cannot say why a step worksThe method is memorised, not understoodAsk "why are we allowed to do that?" once a lesson
Pre-Algebra or Algebra 1 brings tearsFractions and negatives were never quite secureRepair those first, then go forward

None of these are faults in the program. A recorded solution is excellent at showing how. It cannot notice which part of the reasoning your child skipped, or ask a follow-up question. That is the gap a person fills.

The why

What does "explaining the why" look like in an algebra problem?

Our worked examples at Algebra 1 level, written by us. Each step carries a reason, which is what we ask students to say out loud in class.

Finding the line through (2, 5) and (6, 13), with the reason for each step (our example)
StepWorkingWhy it is allowed
1Slope = (13 - 5) / (6 - 2) = 8 / 4 = 2Slope is change in y over change in x between any two points on a line
25 = 2 x 2 + bAny point on the line satisfies y = mx + b
3b = 5 - 4 = 1Subtracting 4 from both sides keeps the equation balanced
4y = 2x + 1Slope and intercept fix the line
5Check (6, 13): 2 x 6 + 1 = 13The second point must also fit, or something went wrong
line_check.py (our example)Python 3
def line_through(p, q):
    (x1, y1), (x2, y2) = p, q
    slope = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1)
    intercept = y1 - slope * x1
    return slope, intercept

m, b = line_through((2, 5), (6, 13))
print(f"slope = {m}, intercept = {b}")
print("(10, 21) on the line:", 21 == m * 10 + b)

Output: slope = 2.0, intercept = 1.0, then (10, 21) on the line: True. Each line of the function is one of the reasons in the table above, written as code. We use small programs like this with older students to make the reasoning visible.

Clearing fractions

Solve x/3 + x/4 = 7. Our worked answer: the denominators 3 and 4 share the multiple 12, so multiply every term by 12. That gives 4x + 3x = 84, so 7x = 84 and x = 12.

The why: multiplying both sides by the same non-zero number keeps the equation true. The usual slip is multiplying only the left side.

Substitution

Solve y = 2x + 1 and x + y = 10 together. Our worked answer: replace y in the second equation with 2x + 1, so x + 2x + 1 = 10, 3x = 9, x = 3 and y = 7.

The why: both equations describe the same point, so y means the same thing in each. Check: 3 + 7 = 10 and 2 x 3 + 1 = 7.

Practice set with reasons (ours; answers in brackets)
ProblemSay why before you start
Line through (1, 4) and (5, 16)Slope from two points (slope 3, y = 3x + 1)
x/2 + x/5 = 14Multiply every term by 10 (x = 20)
y = 3x - 2 and x + y = 14Substitute for y (x = 4, y = 10)
Is (3, 7) on y = 2x + 1?Substitute and compare (yes)
2 to the 3rd times 2 to the 2ndCount the factors of 2 (2 to the 5th, 32)

App and teacher

How do Teaching Textbooks and a live tutor work together?

The app keeps the daily lessons and grading. The teacher takes the week’s hardest problems and turns them into a conversation.

  1. Keep the daily lesson in the app. Teaching Textbooks stays the curriculum; we do not replace or reorder it.
  2. Flag problems during the week. Your child notes any problem they got right only after a hint or a solution.
  3. Bring the flagged problems to class. The teacher asks your child to explain the solution in their own words and finds the missing reason.
  4. Practise with new problems. The teacher sets fresh problems of our own on the same idea, so the child shows they can start without help.
  5. Check the gradebook trend monthly. Fewer flagged problems over time is the sign that support can step back.

The app alone may suit

A student who rarely needs hints, can explain the steps and keeps a steady average. Many children are in this group.

App plus batch may suit

A student at Pre-Algebra or Algebra 1 who benefits from hearing classmates reason through the same kinds of problems.

App plus 1-on-1 may suit

A student with specific gaps, such as fractions or negatives, who needs them repaired at their own pace.

Where your child is

How independence grows with a self-teaching app

Our description of how students grow from following to reasoning.

Stages of independence (ours)
StageWhat it looks like
1. FollowingGets problems right after hints or watching solutions
2. CopyingRepeats the method from the lecture on similar problems
3. ExplainingCan say why each step is allowed
4. StartingBegins an unfamiliar problem without a prompt

For parents

The gradebook cannot tell stage 1 from stage 4. Asking your child to explain one problem a day can.

Stage 3 is where algebra starts to feel easier, not harder.

For students

After you watch a solution, close it and do the problem again on paper.

If you can explain it to someone else, you know it.

The catalogue

Nine math courses, Math 3 to Pre-Calculus territory

Live teaching to sit beside any Teaching Textbooks course.

I

Elementary

Math 3 to Math 5
II

Middle grades

Math 6 to Pre-Algebra
III

High school

Algebra 1 to Pre-Calculus

How lessons run

Live lessons that turn solutions into reasons

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Weekdays

During the homeschool day or after it.

Weekends

A weekly session on flagged problems.

1-on-1

Paced to your TT lesson.

App stays the curriculum

We teach beside it.

Flagged problems

The week’s hard ones, explained.

Fresh practice

New problems written by us.

Reasons out loud

Every step gets a why.

Homeschool hours

Daytime slots across US zones.

Two class sizes

A batch of fifteen to twenty, or solo.

Student work

Work from our students

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Fees

Fees

Lessons beside Teaching Textbooks are billed each month in US dollars and you can stop at any month end: many families add a teacher for the move into algebra and step back when the app is enough again.

Free first class

USD 0

no card required

  • A free first class
  • Bring flagged problems
  • No card required
Book it

Group batch

USD 100

a month, billed in US dollars

  • Fifteen to twenty students
  • One regular teacher
  • Choose your batch
  • Month to month
Start here

One to one

USD 150

a month, billed in US dollars

  • A dedicated teacher
  • Paced to the TT lesson
  • Times to suit you
Enquire

What families say

Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews

Reviews parents left on Google, word for word.

★★★★★

"The one step solution for my son. Modern Age Coders make learning coding so simple that kids love it. The teachers explain complex concepts clearly with practical exercises and interactive content."

Ria Mukherjee

Parent

★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease."

Samriddha Mondal

Student

★★★★★

"One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development."

Vansh Agarwal

Student

★★★★★

"My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative."

Sonam Oswal

Parent of Dhairya

★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation."

Sonu Goyal

Parent

★★★★★

"I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding."

Ritu Kedia

Parent

Questions from families

Teaching Textbooks help: common questions

Is there live math help for kids using Teaching Textbooks?

Yes. Our teachers work live online with students who keep doing their daily Teaching Textbooks lessons. We explain the reasoning behind the problems your child found hardest, in a batch of 15 to 20 or one to one.

How does Teaching Textbooks work?

Each course is an app that begins every lesson with an interactive lecture, gives hints, grades every problem and offers a step-by-step solution for each one. Problems and hints are read aloud to the student.

Does Teaching Textbooks have its own tutor?

Yes. Its site describes a free tutor helpline: customers can call to set up an appointment with a math tutor. That is a good first step for a single problem; regular live classes suit a child who needs ongoing teaching.

Which Teaching Textbooks courses are there?

The site lists Math 3, Math 4, Math 5, Math 6, Math 7, Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus, with optional printed textbooks.

How do I choose a Teaching Textbooks level?

Use its placement tests. Teaching Textbooks suggests trying the higher level first and says a student just under the recommended score is almost certainly ready for that level.

Why is my child struggling with Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1?

In our experience it is usually not the new algebra but older gaps in fractions and negative numbers, or a habit of following solutions without being able to start a problem alone. Both can be repaired.

Is a high gradebook average enough?

Not always. A child can score well while relying on hints and solutions. Ask them to explain one problem a day, or redo a missed problem on paper, to see what they can do unaided.

Will you replace Teaching Textbooks?

No. The app stays your curriculum. We add live teaching on the problems your child flags, with fresh practice written by our teachers.

When are classes?

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Are you connected with Teaching Textbooks?

No. We are an independent online school. Teaching Textbooks is a trademark of its owner, and we describe its program only from its own published pages.

Elsewhere on this site

Related pages

More math help for homeschool families in the US.

Homeschool math curriculum

Planning math across the homeschool years.

Algebra tutoring

Live help for Algebra 1 and beyond.

Geometry tutoring

After Algebra 1 in Teaching Textbooks.

Precalculus tutoring

For the last course in the TT series.

Sixth grade math tutoring

Fractions, decimals and ratios.

Homeschool computer science credit

Adding a CS course to the transcript.

Related pages in this guide

Part of the guide: Homeschool and school math curricula guide

Curricula we teach alongside

Comparing options

Homeschool testing and credit

More guides: US state math tests by state · US gifted and selective school tests · US math placement and college readiness tests · US math and coding competitions guide

Start here

Book a free first class

Tell us which Teaching Textbooks course and lesson your child is on, and bring two or three problems they could only do with the solution. We start with those.

Find out how we teach live, or see all our courses.

WhatsApp us · +91 91233 66161 · connect@modernagecoders.com

We are an online school with teachers in India, teaching US homeschoolers live during the day as well as in the evening. Send us a WhatsApp message to begin.

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