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Academy Index
The map of Alpha Academy — every module and every learning path, in order.
Welcome to Alpha Academy, Team Alpha Trading's school for complete beginners. This library teaches the entire market from zero — what stocks are, how options and futures work, how to read charts, how to manage risk, and how to stay safe — in plain English, with real dollar examples, assuming you have never heard any of it before.
The Curriculum
| Code | Document | What You Will Learn |
|---|---|---|
| Academy Index | Academy Index & Curriculum Map | This map — the whole school on one page |
| Welcome to Alpha Academy | Welcome: Your First Steps Into the Market | What trading is and is not, honest expectations, your 4-week starter plan |
| What Is the Stock Market? | What Is the Stock Market? | Markets, exchanges, indexes, and why prices move |
| Stocks A–Z | Stocks A–Z | Shares, tickers, market cap, dividends, splits, IPOs |
| How Trading Actually Works | How Trading Actually Works | Brokers, accounts, and every order type, explained |
| Reading Charts & Candlesticks | Reading Charts & Candlesticks | What charts show and how to read any candle |
| The Language of the Market | The Language of the Market | The core vocabulary every trader uses daily |
| Technical Analysis A–Z | Technical Analysis A–Z | Moving averages, VWAP, RSI, MACD and the rest of the toolkit |
| Chart Patterns & Price Action | Chart Patterns & Price Action | Trends, breakouts, support & resistance, classic patterns |
| Fundamental Analysis A–Z | Fundamental Analysis A–Z | Financial statements, earnings, value — in plain words |
| What Moves Markets | What Moves Markets | The Fed, inflation, jobs reports, earnings season, the VIX |
| Options Part 1: The Basics | Options Part 1: The Basics | Calls, puts, strikes, premiums — with full worked examples |
| Options Part 2: Pricing & the Greeks | Options Part 2: Pricing & the Greeks | Implied volatility, delta, theta, gamma, vega |
| Options Part 3: Strategies | Options Part 3: Strategies | Covered calls to spreads and iron condors, with numbers |
| Options Part 4: Risk & 0DTE | Options Part 4: Risk & 0DTE | Hedging, position sizing, and the truth about same-day options |
| Futures A–Z | Futures A–Z | Contracts, ticks, point values, margin, rolling — full specs |
| ETFs, Index Funds & Mutual Funds | ETFs, Index Funds & Mutual Funds | Owning the whole market in one ticker |
| Forex & Crypto Basics | Forex & Crypto Basics | Currency pairs, pips, wallets — and their real dangers |
| Bonds, Rates & Commodities | Bonds, Rates & Commodities | IOUs, yields, gold and oil — the market's foundation |
| Risk Management A–Z | Risk Management A–Z | Position sizing, stops, R-multiples — staying in the game |
| Trading Psychology & Discipline | Trading Psychology & Discipline | Fear, greed, FOMO, revenge trading — and the cures |
| Trading Plan & Journal | Building Your Trading Plan & Journal | Your business plan and your report card |
| Accounts, Margin, Rules & Taxes | Accounts, Margin, Rules & Taxes | The boring stuff that protects you |
| Safety: Scams & Protecting Your Money | Safety: Scams & Protecting Your Money | Pump-and-dumps, fake gurus, phishing — red flags |
| Alpha Trading Glossary | Alpha Trading Glossary A–Z | 500+ market words defined in plain English, fully searchable |
| Quick Reference Cheat Sheets | Quick Reference Cheat Sheets | Order types, Greeks, futures specs, market hours — one-glance tables |
Learning Paths
The Total Beginner Path (start here)
Read in this exact order: Welcome to Alpha Academy → What Is the Stock Market? → Stocks A–Z → The Language of the Market → How Trading Actually Works → Reading Charts & Candlesticks → Risk Management A–Z → Safety: Scams & Protecting Your Money. That path takes you from "what is a stock" to placing a paper trade safely. Then continue through the rest of the library in number order.
The Options Path
After the Beginner Path: Options Part 1: The Basics → Options Part 2: Pricing & the Greeks → Options Part 3: Strategies → Options Part 4: Risk & 0DTE, with Technical Analysis A–Z and Chart Patterns & Price Action for chart skills. Paper trade options for at least a month before considering real money — options can expire worthless, and most beginners underestimate how fast.
The Futures Path
After the Beginner Path: Futures A–Z → Risk Management A–Z → Trading Plan & Journal, with Technical Analysis A–Z for charts. Start on the micro contracts (MES, MNQ) if you ever trade futures live — they exist so beginners can learn with small dollar risk.
How Team Alpha Trades It
- Every module ends with a Chapter Summary and Check Yourself questions — do them. Reading without testing yourself is entertainment, not study.
- Keep the Glossary (Alpha Trading Glossary) open beside every module. Look up every word you cannot define out loud.
- Keep the Cheat Sheets (Quick Reference Cheat Sheets) beside your charts when you practice.