Classroom Discourse

The TK Year: Play Is Not the Opposite of Rigor

The TK Year: Play Is Not the Opposite of Rigor

By Hannah Herbert, PK–6 Content Specialist Step into a transitional kindergarten (TK) classroom during student-led play, and you might see two students stacking blocks, a small group stringing beads in the makerspace, and a lively debate unfolding in the dramatic play...

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IM’s Back-to-School Toolkit 2026–27

IM’s Back-to-School Toolkit 2026–27

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...

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Anatomy of an IM® Math Lesson: Why Centers Matter

Anatomy of an IM® Math Lesson: Why Centers Matter

by Lindy Olejniczak, PK–6 Content Specialist In this series of blog posts—The Anatomy of an IM® Math Lesson—we’re taking a closer look at each part of an IM® Math lesson and how it contributes to meaningful student learning. After exploring the launch and warm-up in...

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10 Ways to Get Students Up and Moving in Math Class

10 Ways to Get Students Up and Moving in Math Class

By the Illustrative Mathematics team When we think about math class, it’s easy to picture students sitting at desks, working through problems on paper or screens. But some of the most powerful math learning happens when students are moving, talking, gesturing, and...

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Unlocking the ‘Our’ in Discourse

Unlocking the ‘Our’ in Discourse

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...

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Student Voice: The Signal, Not the Noise

Student Voice: The Signal, Not the Noise

By 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...

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