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Current View
Illustrative
Mathematics
Program Overview
Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2

All Greens on EdReports
Authors, Research, and Certified
Partnership

Dr. Bill McCallum and a team of math leaders authored

Illustrative Mathematics (IM) to improve student outcomes

in mathematics. The problem-based curriculum is built on

best practices and research principles from NCTM, National

Research Council, Smith & Stein, and others. The new IM K–5

Math completes the K–12 series.

Certified Partnership

Imagine Learning is one of Illustrative

Mathematics’ Certified Partners.

The IM Certified designation assures

that materials adhere to IM’s philosophy

and were developed, reviewed, and

approved by Illustrative Mathematics.

The Imagine Learning IM instructional experience aligns with

the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Theory of Change for

effective, evidence-based programs. The goal is to deliver an

engaging and easy-to-implement instructional solution that

leverages the power of high-quality curricula.

The result? Comprehensive support for teachers and positive

learning outcomes for students.

“The IM 9–12 Math

curriculum is our

teacher-tested,

standards-aligned

curriculum, designed

with high school

learners in mind.

The curriculum

nurtures a

comprehensive

proficiency with

functions, algebra,

geometry, modeling,

and statistics, and it

encourages problem-

solving skills students

need to make use of

mathematics in their

future education

and careers.”

Dr. William McCallum
Imagine Learning
Illustrative Mathematics
For Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2
A dynamic, engaging instructional experience that leverages the power

of high-quality curricula:

Students
enjoy mathematics, make mathematical connections, and develop
conceptual understanding.

Teachers
orchestrate discussions, synthesize understanding, and facilitate
interactive lessons with confidence.

Imagine Learnin
g partners with schools and districts for seamless integration
and implementation.

Table of Contents

Instructional Design
.......................................................................................................................................................... 2–3
Design Principles across Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2
...................................................................................... 4–5
Teacher Experience
........................................................................................................................................................... 6–7
Student Experience
........................................................................................................................................................... 8–9
Equity and Access
............................................................................................................................................................. 10–11
Assessmentt
........................................................................................................................................................................ 12–13
Program Components
...................................................................................................................................................... 14–15
v.TM

Algebra 2
Teacher
Course
Guide
v.TM

Teacher Course Guide
TCG
A2
We have taken the next step on our journey to
empower more educators, engage more students,
and connect more families to learning, by bringing
together our products under one brand, united by
a shared mission.
LearnZillion is now Imagine Learning

Geometry
Teacher
Course
Guide
v.TM

Teacher Course Guide
TCG
G
We have taken the next step on our journey to
empower more educators, engage more students,
and connect more families to learning, by bringing
together our products under one brand, united by
a shared mission.
LearnZillion is now Imagine Learning

Teacher
Course
Guide
Algebra 1
v.TM

Teacher Course Guide
TCG
A1
We have taken the next step on our journey to
empower more educators, engage more students,
and connect more families to learning, by bringing
together our products under one brand, united by
a shared mission.
LearnZillion is now Imagine Learning

Page 1
Instructional DesignThe instructional design of the materials supports all students through a coherent progression of mathematics
based on the standards and research-based learning trajectories.

Units

Each unit starts with an invitation to

mathematics. The first few lessons

provide an accessible entry point for

all students and allow teachers to

observe students’ prior understandings.

Next, they move toward a deep study

of concepts with time for consolidating

and applying.

Lessons

Each lesson starts with a warm-up to

set up the day’s work or strengthen

number sense and procedural fluency.

The overarching design structure at each level is as follows:

Each activity and

lesson
are part of a
mathematical
story
across the units. This

coherence allows

students to view

mathematics as a

connected set of ideas

that makes sense.

Invitation to the
mathematics
Introductory
lesson
Warm-up
Launch
Deep study of concepts
and procedures
Instructional lessons
Classroom activities
Work time
Consolidating
and applying
Culminating
lesson
Synthesis and
cool-down
Synthesis
Unit
Level
Lesson
Level
Activity
Level
IM Grades 9-12 Program Overview
Page 2
Instructional Activities
Next, instructional activities introduce students

to new concepts, procedures,

contexts, and representations

— and help them make

connections between them.

Synthesis

Each lesson ends with a synthesis to consolidate

understanding and make the

learning goals of the lesson

explicit, followed by a cool-down

to apply their learning.

Practice Problems

Practice problems are included with each lesson

for independent work in class or homework.

Teachers have the option to assign

work by paper and pencil or digitally

through the Imagine Learning (IL)

Classroom. There is also another

digital set of problems

that teachers can

assign for additional

practice opportunities.

The practice problem set includes

lesson-specific questions and

distributed practice from earlier

in the unit or previous units to

ensure fluency.

Instructional Design
Page 3
Design Principles across
Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2
Learning Mathematics by Doing Mathematics
A problem-based instructional framework supports teachers in structuring lessons so students are the ones

doing the problem solving to learn the mathematics. Activities and routines allow teachers to see what students

already know—and what they can notice and figure out—before explaining concepts and procedures.

Balancing Rigor

Three aspects of rigor are essential to mathematics: conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and the

ability to apply these concepts and skills to mathematical problems, both with and without real-world contexts.

Illustrative Mathematics develops them together to support student understanding.

Establishing Norms

Structures around doing math together and sharing understandings play an essential role in the success of a

problem-based curriculum. Students must take risks, listen to each other, disagree respectfully, and honor equal

airtime when working together in groups. Establishing norms helps teachers cultivate a community of learners

where making thinking visible is both expected and valued.

Instructional Routines

Instructional routines create structures so all students can engage

and contribute to mathematical conversations. Throughout the

curriculum, routines are introduced in a purposeful way to build a

collective understanding of their structure.

Card Sort
encourages students to
categorize mathematical entities based

on shared characteristics or connections.
IM Grades 9-12 Program Overview
Page 4
Mathematical Modeling
Mathematical modeling is the process of choosing and using appropriate mathematics and statistics to analyze

empirical situations, understand them better, and improve decisions. The program offers modeling prompts and

guidance to support students in making inferences, evaluating choices, and validating outcomes.

Use of Digital Tools

The curriculum empowers students to become fluent in using digital tools to produce representations, solve

problems, and communicate their reasoning. The Imagine Learning (IL) Classroom embeds Desmos, GeoGebra,

and other interactive tools at point-of-use to amplify understanding and engagement.

Guiding Principles across Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2
Page 5