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Building a Math Community with IM K–5 Math - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Tabitha Eutsler, 3rd Grade Teacher “I’m not sure this is working. Only five of my students are participating and commenting each day. The rest sit there and look at me.” This was my conversation with our math coordinator after my first few days of teaching IM K–5 Math with my third graders. Those five […]
Building a Supportive Home/School Partnership - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
Open House. Back-to-School Night. Family Welcome. Math Night. No matter what the name of the event that launches the school year, family members will arrive at your school with the same burning questions: “What do I need to know to set my child up for success in math this year?” and “How can I continue […]
Building a Supportive Home/School Partnership - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
While families arrive with different school experiences and perspectives on what “doing math” means, they often share common questions: “What do I need to know to set my child up for success in math this year?” and “How can I continue to support them throughout the school year?” Hosting a Family Math Night can answer […]
Turning the Flywheel: The Next Chapter for Illustrative Mathematics - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Kristin Umland, IM CEO and Cofounder Twelve years ago, Illustrative Mathematics® (IM) was just a scrappy startup with very few resources, held together by five founders who shared a conviction that we could help educators across the United States elevate their math instruction and help their students learn math for life. Today, IM® Math […]
A Farewell and a Look Ahead - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Bill McCallum, IM Cofounder Every parent knows what it feels like to bring a being into existence with the hope they will one day stand on their own. It is one of the greatest joys to watch them grow, change, and eventually spread their wings. Nothing quite compares to parenthood, but that’s the closest […]
Celebrating Bill McCallum’s Accomplishments as CEO of Illustrative Mathematics® - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
Since 2011, Illustrative Mathematics (IM)—which has reached over three million students and educators—has been guided by the vision, expertise, and heart of our CEO and cofounder, Bill McCallum. Today, we are announcing a milestone for IM: At the end of this month, Bill will transition from his role as CEO to a new position as […]
Independent Study Finds Students Using IM Certified® Curricula Outperform Peers in Math Achievement - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By William McCallum, IM CEO and cofounder At Illustrative Mathematics® (IM), we believe learning mathematics is a lot like learning to ride a bike. You don’t learn by watching someone else do it—you learn by getting on the bike yourself. Sure, it might feel unsteady at first. You might even tip over. But with support, […]
Unlocking the ‘Our’ in Discourse - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
Catherine Castillo, Sr. Implementation Specialist Brea Jimenez, Sr. Specialist, Facilitator Certification and Quality Assurance What do you notice about this NCTM framework for mathematics teaching? What do you wonder? You likely noticed that four of these teaching practices happen in service of discourse, which indicates that discourse is a powerful practice for student learning. In […]
Student Voice: The Signal, Not the Noise - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
Anita Crowder, PhD, Senior Director of Impact Research An ideal Illustrative Mathematics (IM) classroom is one where students’ curiosity drives learning, their feedback shapes instruction, and their identities are embedded in every mathematical task. Student voice is a powerful component of authentic learning and inclusive classrooms. At the heart of this classroom experience is recognizing […]
Teach and Learn Together: A Professional Learning Community in Action - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
Deepa Bharath, District Instructional Lead Teacher, Mathematics at Cambridge Public Schools Sarah Caban, Interim Director, K–5 Teacher Learning at Illustrative Mathematics “Illustrative Mathematics is a problem-based curriculum that fosters the development of mathematics learning communities in classrooms, gives students access to the mathematics through a coherent progression, and offers teachers the opportunity to deepen their […]
Using the IMplementation Reflection Tool: Classroom Implementation (Part 3 of 3) - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
Catherine Castillo, Sr. Implementation Specialist Claire Neely, Sr. Implementation Specialist “…[I]nstructional capacity for producing meaningful student learning is a function of the interactions among teachers’ pedagogical and content knowledge; the use of educational materials; and students’ understanding, experiences, and engagement in the learning process.” The Internal Coherence Framework, p. 7 Section C of the IMplementation […]
Using the IMplementation Reflection Tool for Collaborative Planning (Part 2 of 3) - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
Catherine Castillo, Sr. Implementation Specialist Claire Neely, Sr. Implementation Specialist “When teachers reflect on their students’ learning and their practice together, it can demonstrate that teaching challenges are normal, while also providing emotional support to persevere despite the uncertainty that comes with innovation.” – Systems for Instructional Improvement, p. 103 Collaboration is an essential element […]
Empowering All Storytellers: Tips for Engaging Special Populations Using IM® v.360 for Grade 6-12 - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
Tina Cardone, Specialist, 9-12 Content Brea Jimenez, Sr. Specialist, Facilitator Certification and Quality Assurance Note: This blog post is intended to inspire creative solutions to the challenges teachers of special populations face with and without support staff*, though we cannot address every scenario that exists across all contexts. Since 6–12 teachers are generally divided by […]
Using the IMplementation Reflection Tool: Systemic Leadership (Part 1 of 3) - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
Catherine Castillo, Sr. Implementation Specialist Claire Neely, Sr. Implementation Specialist “Given the critical role that school leaders play in supporting the development of coherent instructional systems at the school level, it is imperative to consider the forms of support and guidance school leaders need . . . to foster conditions that support teacher learning.” On […]
Maximizing the M in STEAM - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
Anita Crowder, PhD, Senior Director of Impact Research Kathleen Whittle, Cofounder Teachineers “The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics.” – Paul R. Halmos STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) education is known as an effective way to support student engagement and prepare students for the challenges of the future. When given […]
NCTM and NCSM: A Video Interview With Bill McCallum - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Bill McCallum, IM CEO and cofounder As CEO and cofounder of Illustrative Mathematics, Bill McCallum shares his reflections from the 56th Annual NCSM Conference and NCTM’s 2024 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Chicago, where he connected with educators, explored the exhibition spaces, and gathered valuable insights on the implementation of IM. His experiences and […]
Think Pair Share - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
Jennifer Wilson, Senior Director, Implementation Portfolio When teachers are curious about and trust student thinking to drive learning, they create classrooms where students learn mathematics by making sense of problems, learn through collaboration, and value each other’s thinking. These and other elements of problem-based teaching and learning help foster a world where students know, use, […]
Getting Started with IM Certified® Math - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Dr. Catherine Castillo, Sr. Specialist, Implementation Portfolio Are you leading IM implementation at your school or district and want to ensure an organized and thoughtful rollout? With the upcoming launch of IM® v. 360, you may be thinking about ways to set your school up for success with implementation. Adopting high-quality instructional materials such […]
Fostering Teaching Practices to Nurture Opportunities for Students to Shine - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Tori Cole, Specialist, IM Certified Facilitator Timesha Brooks, Specialist, Math Client Support Engaging Reluctant Math Students Have you encountered students who are reluctant to engage in math? Students who have already decided they are “bad” at math? How do we support students whose mathematical identities seem fixed before they even enter our classrooms? As […]
Preparation Matters: Using Strategic Planning to Maintain the Magic in Math Communities All Year Long - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Meredith Dadigan Abel, K-5 IM Certified® Facilitator When teachers come back from summer break, there is a magical feeling in the air. For me, it’s like the feeling that accompanies the first snowfall of the season. Teachers feel refreshed, renewed, and filled with hope for what’s to come. This time of rejuvenation and anticipation […]
Annotate and Acknowledge - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Jen Hawkins, IM Certified® Facilitator and Independent Curriculum Implementation Specialist As I sat at the table in the back of the room, I watched the teacher reveal an image connected to the lesson’s warm-up. She told her students they would have a minute to consider the image, and then she would ask them about […]
Getting Ready for 2024–2025 Back to School with Illustrative Mathematics - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By the IM Team Welcome to the 2024–2025 school year! As we gear up for another exciting year of learning and growth, Illustrative Mathematics is here to support you every step of the way. This year, we are more committed than ever to providing educators with the resources, insights, and inspiration needed to create engaging […]
Getting Started with Illustrative Mathematics - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Dr. Catherine Castillo, Sr. Specialist, Implementation Portfolio Are you leading IM implementation at your school or district and want to ensure an organized and thoughtful rollout? With the upcoming launch of IM® v. 360, you may be thinking about ways to set your school up for success with implementation. Adopting high-quality instructional materials such […]
Math Successes Multiply with a Growth Mindset - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Dr. Elisabeth O’Bryon, Chief Impact Officer and Co-Founder of Family Engagement Lab and Toka Hussein, K-5 Curriculum Specialist at Illustrative Mathematics Illustrative Mathematics (IM) and Family Engagement Lab (FEL) have collaborated to produce a three-part blog series on the ways educators and families can partner in creating positive math experiences for their students. In our […]
Visualizing IM K-5 Math in Specialized Academic Settings: Part 3 - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Brea Jimenez, Specialist, Facilitator Certification and Quality Assurance and April Mouton, Senior Director, Access, Content & Equity Special education is intended to provide bridges between challenges and triumphs for students with exceptionalities. “I look back fondly on my memories as a brand new special education teacher looking around my empty classroom and wondering when […]
Leveraging PLCs to Maintain the Magic in Math Communities Throughout the Entire Year - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Meredith Dadigan Abel, K-5 IM Certified Facilitator When teachers and students come back from spring break, spring fever is in the air, and classroom routines may falter. While teachers have spent the entire year setting high expectations and building strong relationships, they have also developed a sense of familiarity with students, which can sometimes […]
Reinforcing Conceptual Understanding after Assessments - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Greta Anderson, CEO of Greta Anderson Consulting, LLC and IM Certified Facilitator There’s a common misconception that has surfaced on a checkpoint, but no additional minutes or days to reteach. How will this impact implementation and pacing? How in the world are teachers supposed to proceed? Stop and risk not covering a full year’s […]
Making math relevant starts with valuing your students’ experiences - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
Anita Crowder, Director of Impact at Illustrative Mathematics, reimagines math education by emphasizing the importance of students’ own experiences and existing knowledge. She challenges the traditional view of students as blank-slate recipients of mathematical concepts. Instead, she advocates for a teaching approach that integrates the students’ own personal and cultural backgrounds into the curriculum. Crowder […]
Utilizing IM K–12 Math as Part of a “Dream Team” of Supports - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By April Mouton, Senior Director, Access, Content & Equity and Brea Jimenez, Specialist, Facilitator Certification and Quality Assurance The Gradual Release of Responsibility approach to learning mathematics—I do, we do, you do—centers the educator as the holder of information and knowledge. It creates a landscape of students waiting on the educator to model, and waiting to […]
Introducing IM 360: Taking Students Around the World of Mathematics - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By William McCallum, IM CEO You asked, we listened, and now, we are preparing to deliver! I am excited to tell you today about our new curriculum, IM 360, which was developed based on your thoughtful feedback. IM 360 is the most comprehensive revision of our curriculum to date, with many new features and updates […]
Cultivating Joy in the IM Classroom - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Deborah Peart, Founder and CEO of My Mathematical Mind If we want students to Know, Use, and EnJOY mathematics, it begins with teachers. Joyous math experiences are about more than having fun and keeping students happy in math class. Happiness is a state of mind that shifts based on external forces, while joy comes […]
Building Thinking Classrooms with the IM Curriculum - IM CERTIFIED® BLOG
By Adrienne Baytops Paul, Math Specialist, UnboundEd, COO of My Mathematical Mind, and former Middle School Teacher Securing a Stress-Free Start The 14 Practices of Peter Liljedahl’s Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) complement the Illustrative Mathematics curriculum in remarkable ways. In my 23 years as a classroom teacher, I’d never previously witnessed anything like it. The […]