The learning arc referenced throughout your materials combined with the I can statements, learning objectives, and mathematical progressions make it clear to parent educators the skills and understandings that are being developed in each module and lesson. Into Math provides a much needed shift towards students developing understanding and making sense of mathematics rather than memorizing and repeating rules and procedures that have been shown to them. We know that this shift will allow our students to develop a stronger foundation as they progress through each grade and thus set them up for more long term success with mathematics.
Into Math emphasizes doing math in context so that students can see how the math they are learning relates to the real world. Into Math also asks students to provide explanations and justifications of their reasoning. This practice is explicitly requiring students to engage in the type of communication that will enable them to be successful in high school and beyond. Because of this increased emphasis on reading and writing the teacher's edition of Into Math contains several built in strategies for helping students of all ability levels develop their reading and writing skills in the context of a technical subject like mathematics. There is also an "interactive" digital version of the student edition that contains text to speech capabilities. The amount of text that is "interactive" is continuously being updated.
Into Math contains frequent checkins and reminders for students and teachers that learning is meant to be a challenge as well as coaching students through proper response to set backs and constructive feedback.
Into Math is structured as a parallel print and digital program. Teachers and parents have the flexibility to choose and switch between these options as we progress throughout the year. Digital access to the Ed platform is limited to student accounts however, all necessary teacher digital materials can be accessed as direct pdf links via the TCA Unit Document provided on schoology.
The materials are broken down into a lot of smaller books rather than 1 large book. (The younger grades have more smaller books, upper grades have fewer, larger books.) Some people love this, some people do not. We chose the program based on the content inside the books, not how many books there are. This is one change we just gotta roll with :)