By the Illustrative Mathematics team
Every new school year brings both excitement and plenty of questions.
Whether you’re teaching with IM® Math for the first time, returning after summer break, or supporting teachers as a coach, we’ve gathered some of our most helpful resources to help you start the year with confidence.
Explore the questions below to discover practical ideas, instructional guidance, and free professional learning resources that can support you throughout the first weeks of school and beyond.
1. What’s the best way to get ready for a new school year with IM® Math?
Start here: Making the Launch Work for You
Every IM Math lesson begins with a launch, but its purpose isn’t to explain the mathematics. In this first installment of our Anatomy of an IM® Math Lesson blog series, learn how a thoughtful launch helps students approach the mathematics with purpose while preserving opportunities for productive struggle.
Build on this with:
- Setting Up Students for Success with the Warm-up
- Why Centers Matter
- Pacing with Purpose in IM® Math
- Free On-Demand Training Modules
- Quick Start Guide for Implementation
2. How can I enable every student to participate from day one?
Start here: How Do Students Go from Receiving Information to Belonging in a Classroom?
Written by a Massachusetts mathematics specialist who supports educators using IM Math, this blog post explores the instructional routines, classroom culture, and teacher moves that help every student feel invited to think, contribute, and engage in meaningful mathematics from day one.
Related resources:
3. How do I create a classroom where students are doing the thinking?
Start here: The Power of Problem-Based Learning
What does it look like when students, rather than teachers, are doing the mathematical thinking? In this episode of the Teaching That Counts podcast, IM’s vice president of product development, April Mouton, explains how a problem-based curriculum creates opportunities for students to reason, make connections, and develop mathematical understanding while positioning teachers as facilitators of learning.
Put these ideas into practice:
- Think Pair Share
- Elements of Problem-Based Teaching and Learning
- Building Thinking in an IM Classroom
- Free On-Demand Training Modules
- IM Classroom Videos
4. How do I build students’ confidence in mathematics?
Start here: Seeing Students as Mathematicians
Students build confidence when they see themselves as capable mathematical thinkers. In this episode of The STEM Space podcast, Cherelle McKnight, director of PK–5 content development at IM, explores how teachers can create classrooms where every student feels invited to engage, take risks, and develop a positive mathematical identity.
Keep exploring with:
- Fostering Teaching Practices to Nurture Opportunities for Students to Shine
- Inviting Students to the Math Party: Creating an Inclusive and Engaging Math Community
- From Math Anxiety to Math Confidence (Part 1): Naming the Elephant in the Room
- From Math Anxiety to Math Confidence (Part 2): How IM® Helps Teachers Move from Fear to Fearless
- Free On-Demand Training Modules
5. I’m a coach. How can I support teachers on day one?
Start here: Recipes, Not Scripts: Finding Balance in Curriculum Implementation
The first days of implementation set the tone for the year. This blog post explores how coaches can help teachers make thoughtful instructional decisions while staying true to the design and intent of IM Math.
Also helpful:
- Reenvisioning Classroom Observations
- Implementing a New Math Curriculum: 4 Tips You Won’t Find in a Textbook
- From Struggle to Success: A Math Coach’s Insights on IM® Math
- Quick Start Guide for Implementation
- Free On-Demand Training Modules
6. How do I answer questions about IM Math?
Start here:
Building a Supportive Home/School Partnership for Middle SchoolBuilding a Supportive Home/School Partnership for High School
Whether you’re talking with families who are new to IM Math or colleagues who want to better understand its instructional approach, clear communication matters. This blog series offers practical strategies for explaining problem-based learning, productive struggle, and what students are learning in the classroom.
Learn more about Illustrative Mathematics, IM Certified®, and the organizations that bring IM Math to schools and districts:
Conclusion
A new school year always brings opportunities to learn, reflect, and grow. Wherever you are on your IM Math implementation journey, we hope these resources give you a strong starting point and support you throughout the year ahead.
As new questions arise, return to this toolkit for practical guidance, classroom strategies, and free professional learning designed to help you make the most of IM Math. Here’s to a successful school year!
Looking for even more back-to-school resources?
Visit our Back-to-School Hub to access course guides, fluency activities, blog posts, podcasts, webinars, on-demand training modules, and implementation guidance—all in one place to help you start the school year with confidence.
Explore the Back-to-School Hub.
Have questions about implementation or professional learning? Whether you’re new to IM Math or looking to deepen your practice, we’re here to help. Connect with the Illustrative Mathematics team today. Schedule a call or email us at [email protected].
