Tag: illustrative-math

4 Secret Weapons to Kickstart your Year of Illustrative Math® Success!

August 5th, 2025

You’ve made it through the summer PDs, untangled your first set of math manipulatives, and maybe even remembered all your login passwords.
Now what?

Whether you’re new to Illustrative Math® or looking to sharpen your setup, here are four tools that will make your year smoother,

Secret Weapon #1: IM Assessment Tracker- More Insight, Less Guesswork 📊

This free Google Sheet tracks every checkpoint and end-of-unit assessment from Grades 1–5. You can tag mastery by standard, see class trends at a glance, and even link student work samples.
It’s simple, shareable, and way more organized than that “Assessment Data” folder collecting digital dust in your drive.
Grab the free tracker here.

Secret Weapon #2: IM-Aligned Spiral Reviews-Retrieval Practice To Start Each Day 🔁

These no-prep warm-ups are built to match your IM unit pacing. Each week includes new content + a handful of throwback questions from earlier units to keep concepts fresh.

🧠 Why it works: Retrieval practice and spaced review are two of the most research-backed ways to boost retention. When combined, they’re like the peanut butter and jelly of long-term learning.
Read more about spaced retrieval practice in the IM curriculum here.
Find the IM-aligned Spiral Review packs here.

Secret Weapon #3: Zearn – Your Digital Co-Teacher 🖥️

Zearn isn’t officially aligned with IM, but it pairs surprisingly well in a flipped model. Students preview a concept at home (or independently), so your small groups can jump straight into discussion, problem-solving, or reteaching. Alternatively, use Zearn for intervention students.

Just be sure to set clear expectations. Keeping students on the right lesson can be tricky. I gave them freedom to work ahead (less work later = big win), and tied progress to our Classroom Economy. That combo kept things running smooth(ish).

👉 Check out Zearn.org and this correlation chart to help it fit your IM pacing. Note: I’m not endorsed by Zearn. I just think it’s outstanding!

Secret Weapon #4: Math Mysteries- Unit Assessment Review With Maximum Engagement 🕵️‍♀️

Each unit-aligned math mystery blends rigorous problem-solving with a story-driven twist: a circus thief, a missing wand, a rogue robot. Students solve clues to narrow down suspects and crack the case—no re-teaching required.

Each mystery takes about three hours total, making it ideal for test prep, end-of-unit review, or adding some math-themed drama to your Friday plans.

👉 Browse the Math Mysteries (Grades 2-5) here.

Honorable Mention: Prodigy- Your Secret Weapon for State Test Prep 🎮

Yes, it’s fun. Yes, it’s gamified. But when used to target state standards and review old concepts- not just for free play, it’s a powerful way to reinforce learning and boost state testing scores.

Set clear goals, assign targeted practice, and use the reporting to guide real instruction. Students love it, and it’s easy to implement. Don’t walk up the down escalator when it comes to math review. Let the kids play and learn at the same time. Check out Prodigy here.

Final Thoughts: Stack Your Toolbox Early 🛠️

No one tool does it all, but this lineup can seriously lighten your load.
✅ Data? Tracked.
✅ Content? Reviewed.
✅ Unit Assessments? Crushed.
✅ Kids? Engaged.
✅ You? Still sane by October.

Need More Support? Get in Touch 📚

If you’re in a leadership role and want to pilot the above resources in your school/district, fill out this quick form. We’ll follow up with a Google Drive link with the products.
👉 Note: The above form is just for instructional leaders (principals, coaches, curriculum directors, etc.).

If you’re a classroom teacher, scroll to the bottom of each product category page to grab free samples and try them out right away.
Implementing Retrieval Practice In The Illustrative Math® Classroom

July 15th, 2025
🔹 Strong Curriculum, Slippery Memory

You’ve just wrapped up the unit on area. Your students seemed to get it, they measured rectangles, calculated square units, and explained their reasoning beautifully. But now it’s Unit 5. You ask a multiplication-based area question, and get crickets. Sound familiar?

The Illustrative Mathematics® curriculum is conceptually rich and thoughtfully sequenced. But it moves fast. Without an intentional review structure in place, earlier learning fades fast. This can be an issue when state testing rolls around.

🔹 Forget-Me-Not: What Research Says About Helping Students Retain Learning

Forgetting is normal. In fact, our brains are built to forget unused information so they can focus on what feels most relevant.

That’s where spaced retrieval practice comes in.

Spaced retrieval practice means recalling information from memory, not re-reading or re-hearing it. In IM, this looks like students answering questions from past and current units.

Research backs up spaced retrieval practice:
- John Hattie (2009) ranks both retrieval practice and spaced practice well above the 0.4 threshold that marks a strategy as worth implementing. When combined, they offer a powerful effect on long-term learning.
- Dunlosky et al. (2013) identified retrieval practice as one of the most effective learning strategies across a wide range of age groups, subjects, and learning environments. Their research highlights its exceptional value for promoting long-term retention,
When state testing rolls around, students who’ve practiced retrieving content all year long are far more prepared to access what they’ve learned, without the panic.

🔹The Easiest Way to Build in Spaced Retrieval Practice Without Added Workload

Our IM-Aligned Spiral Reviews are perfect for implementing this practice without adding teacher workload.

Each week includes:
- 15-20 questions to promote explicit practice of the current and most recent IM Unit Topics.
- 4–5 questions that spiral back to content from earlier Units
- Low-stakes review to reduce pressure and increase participation
- A Teacher Tip of the Week to explain new concepts simply for families
No extra prep. No reinventing the wheel.

🔹 Conclusion: One Routine, Big Payoff

Spaced retrieval practice helps students hold onto what they’ve learned and what they’re learning at that time

Spiral Reviews deliver both, plus a calmer classroom, an easy homework solution, and better preparation for state-testing.

🔹 What Next? Try It Out

If you’re a school or district leader interested in piloting this and other IM-aligned resources (available for Grades 2–5), take 5 minutes to fill out this form. We’ll be in touch shortly with next steps.

If you’re a homeroom teacher, scroll down on this page to access the first three weeks free and discover how consistent review can make a big difference in your classroom.

🔹 Bonus Read: Better Scores, Calmer Starts, and Happier Homework

✅ Calming Start to the Day

Teachers tell us it creates smoother mornings, less downtime, and a focused start to the math block. Check out what this user said.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “While using this resource, my students stayed engaged and excited to learn. It was challenging yet fun for them to work on these sheets.”

✅ A Homework Option that Actually Helps

IM doesn’t come with built-in homework. These Spiral Reviews can fill that gap with work that’s both purposeful and printable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “My students are enjoying this resource as homework… they feel homework is faster and less stressful. As a teacher, I don’t have to spend time looking for resources to download and print.”