IM Certified Math is a problem-based curriculum that fosters the development of mathematics learning communities in classrooms. It gives students access to the mathematics through a coherent progression and offers teachers the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of mathematics and student thinking and reflect on their own teaching practices.

In an IM classroom, teachers believe that all students have brilliant mathematical ideas, and they give students a chance to play with those ideas before formalizing them. Students take an active role in their learning by collaborating with each other and making sense of problems.

Teachers play a critical role in facilitating student learning, but that role looks different from simply showing, telling, and correcting.

This Getting Started guide for instructional leaders provides a roadmap for launching IM implementation in partnership with teachers and provides six key actions that will help launch a successful year 1 implementation plan. Each key action has a section that includes action steps to be taken by the implementation team, a list of resources aligned to those steps, and examples from research that outline why each action is important for implementation.

While it makes sense to start with some key actions before others, this is not meant to be a sequential checklist. You will likely find yourself moving in and out of these key actions throughout the year. Reflection and iteration are important to this process. 

In case it's helpful, we've created a planning document that will help you track where you are in the process. We are also excited to share videos of some IM classrooms in action.