IM Certified® Blog
Fluency Development Within and Across the Grades in IM® K-5 Math Part 2: Addition and Subtraction
By Sarah Caban, Director, PK–12 Learning Experiences and Dionne Aminata, Former Grade 2–5 Lead Writer “We have to break from the notion that learning mathematics must be a linear and procedural endeavor mastered through rote practice and memorization. Instead, we must...
Fluency Development Within and Across the Grades in IM® K–5 Math Part 1: Addition and Subtraction
By Sarah Caban, Director, PK–12 Learning Experiences and Dionne Aminata, Former Grade 2–5 Lead WriterWhen do students practice their math facts? How is math fluency assessed?We appreciate these questions for a couple of reasons: 1) We took great care in thinking...
Pittsburgh Public Schools Part 2: The Coherence and Data Behind the Gains
By the Illustrative Mathematics team Pittsburgh Public Schools’ (PPS) third-grade proficiency rates nearly doubled just two years into implementing IM® Math through Imagine Learning, one of our IM Certified® curriculum distribution partners. But behind these recent...
Pittsburgh Public Schools Part 1: Third-Grade Math Proficiency Nearly Doubles with IM® Math
By the Illustrative Mathematics team In the 2024–2025 school year, 40.7% of Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) third-grade students scored proficient or advanced in mathematics, surpassing the district’s interim goal of 33.4% and nearly doubling proficiency rates from...
Staying Grounded in Classrooms: A School Visit to PS 121 in the Bronx
By the Illustrative Mathematics team In February, a group of Illustrative Mathematics (IM) leaders spent a day at PS 121, an elementary school in NYC Public Schools District 11 located in the Bronx. The purpose of the visit was straightforward but meaningful. We...
Building a Coherent Math System: Lessons from NYC District 11
By the Illustrative Mathematics team When districts commit to high-quality instructional materials and the conditions that make strong implementation possible, the impact on student outcomes can be powerful—and measurable. A new case study from Columbia University’s...
Free, High-Quality Math Curriculum and Support for California Classrooms
By the Illustrative Mathematics team California educators are navigating big shifts in math instruction, grounded in access, coherence, and deeper student understanding. California AccessIM was designed to meet this moment. Available to all educators at...
When Strong Curriculum Meets Strong Implementation: Lessons from Windsor Charter Academy
By the Illustrative Mathematics team When schools pair a high-quality curriculum with the right digital tools and strong implementation, the results can be powerful. A recent case study from Kiddom, one of our IM® Certified curriculum distribution partners, highlights...
Too Many Students Believe They’re Not “Math People.” Early Math Can Change That.
By: Dr. Kristin Umland, IM CEO and Cofounder A recent RAND survey found that the students who are the most likely to maintain interest in math are those who understand and enjoy it, feel supported, and see themselves as “math people.” It also found that nearly a third...
Inside Two NYCPS District 11 Schools Where IM® Math Is Helping Drive Meaningful Gains
By the Illustrative Mathematics team When members of the Illustrative Mathematics team recently spent a day inside two co-located schools in District 11 of New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), we expected to see solid instruction. What we experienced went further...
