Illustrative Mathematics Review for Teachers | Common Sense Education (2024)

FAQs

What are the criticisms of illustrative math? ›

SEVERE lack of practice for each skill. Lessons generally have 2-3 "activities" to introduce concepts with only 4-5 problems per lesson. As with many other options, you cover a lot of topics but do not get very deep into any of them really.

In fact, EdReports, an independent nonprofit that reviews K–12 instructional materials, said IM 6–8 Math™ and IM 9–12 Math™ certified by Illustrative Mathematics® met all expectations across all three gateways for focus, coherence, rigor, mathematical practices, and usability.

The curriculum was aligned to the shifts of the Common Core Standards of Focus, Coherence, and Rigor.

Kendall Hunt's Illustrative Mathematics 6-8 Mathematics curriculum is an Open Educational Resources (OER) and are free to download and use with a CC-BY license.

Problem-based with real-world connections: Students discover, understand, and internalize key math concepts and apply their learning to various real-world problems and scenarios, simultaneously building procedural fluency and conceptual understanding.

He started working on Illustrative Mathematics in 2011 as an initiative of the UA Institute for Mathematics & Education, which was funded in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. “People wanted illustrations of the standards,” he remembered.

Conversely, measures have also been said to take away from top-performing students. Many teachers also argue that the Common Core Math standards are not tailored to meet the needs of learners from different age groups, with some aspects being too advanced for younger learners.

The four states that never adopted the Standards are Virginia, Texas, Alaska, and Nebraska. The four states who have successfully withdrawn from the curriculum are Arizona, Oklahoma, Indiana, and South Carolina.

While traditional math instruction has its merits, CCSS has been developed to better prepare students for college and career by teaching them the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century.

At Illustrative Mathematics, our problem-based lesson structure is designed with a 45-50 minute time frame in mind.

What math curriculum is the best? ›

Illustrative Mathematics has operated as an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization since 2013. We appreciate the generous support of our Philanthropic Supporters: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Culturally responsive pedagogy

Throughout the curriculum, students engage in collaborative learning opportunities that center student thinking and allow students to participate authentically.

Mathematical modeling has many benefits related to real-world problems, but the main disadvantages are process simplification, specific rules of the model, and lack of information or data monitoring.

1. Riemann Hypothesis. The Riemann Hypothesis, proposed by Bernhard Riemann in 1859, is a central problem in number theory, and discusses the distribution of prime numbers. The hypothesis focuses on the zeros of the Riemann zeta function.