Illustrative Mathematics

K-12 ILLUSTRATIVE MATHEMATICS (IM) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the benefits of Illustrative Mathematics for K-12 district curriculum?

Jeffco’s decision to adopt the Illustrative Mathematics curriculum as a K-12 districtwide curriculum for mathematics education was based on significant benefits aligned with the district's goals and aspirations for its students and educators. This decision is rooted in the following key factors:

• Alignment with Colorado Academic Standards: Ensures students receive a comprehensive education that meets the state's rigorous grade-level content expectations.

• Research-Based Best Practices: Founded on research-based best practices in mathematics education proven to be effective in promoting deeper conceptual understanding, fluency, and critical thinking skills for students.

• Coherence and Consistency: Students build a strong foundation and develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts, fostering a smoother transition from one grade to the next.

• Real-World Application: Enables students to see the relevance of what they are learning in their daily lives and future careers. Students have opportunities to make connections to real-world contexts throughout the materials.

• Rigorous Problem-Based Learning: Students spend most of their time in class working on carefully crafted and sequenced problems. Teachers help students understand the problems, ask questions to push their thinking, and orchestrate synthesis discussions to be sure that the mathematical takeaways are clear. While the instruction may look different from what you experienced in your own math education, current research shows students need to be able to think flexibly in order to use mathematical skills in their lives (and also on the types of tests they will encounter throughout their schooling).

• Professional Learning Support: Teachers receive comprehensive professional learning support to equip them with tools and resources to effectively implement the curriculum in their classrooms, fostering continuous professional growth.

• Design Principles to Support and Engage All Students: This curriculum provides opportunities for all students, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities, to access high-quality mathematics education.

• Design Principles for Promoting Mathematical Language Use and Development: Students receive multiple opportunities to talk about their mathematical thinking, negotiate meaning with others, and collaboratively solve problems with targeted guidance from the teacher.

• Engaging and Interactive Materials: The curriculum incorporates a variety of engaging and interactive materials, including visual aids, real-world examples, and technology-enhanced resources catering to diverse learning styles, making mathematics more accessible and enjoyable for students. For grade K-5, centers are provided as an extra resource for teachers to provide skills development with procedural fluency.

• Ongoing Opportunities to Assess Student Learning: This curriculum contains many opportunities and tools for both formative and summative assessment to ensure quality, rigorous and frequent feedback.