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Nashoba adopts Illustrative Mathematics for grades 6–8 and Algebra I; family info sessions planned
Summary
The Nashoba Regional School District has begun implementing Imagine Learning's Illustrative Mathematics in grades 6–8 and Algebra I, with professional development for staff, family 'coffee hours' on Oct. 16 and Oct. 20, and a plan to collect teacher and student feedback.
The Nashoba Regional School Committee heard an update Oct. 8 on the district—s 6–12 math curriculum, which officials said now uses Imagine Learning—s Illustrative Mathematics in grades 6–8 and for Algebra I.
"We felt that that best met our vision for student learning," Candice McBrearty, the district curriculum director for math and science, told the committee. She said the district is following a comprehensive implementation plan and has already provided professional development to math teachers, special educators, instructional assistants and administrators.
McBrearty said the district hired a consultant to lead training and that the district—s implementation plan was cited by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as an exemplar. She said the district will continue staged professional learning throughout the year and is using classroom walkthroughs and horizontal planning to align instruction.
The district will offer two virtual family information sessions about the new curriculum on Oct. 16 from 9–10 a.m. and Oct. 20 from 2–3 p.m.; recordings will be posted for families who cannot attend, McBrearty said. She also said grades 6–8 students have workbooks that accompany the online platform; algebra students use the online platform and teachers print materials as needed.
The high school math department is in a review phase for geometry and Algebra II and is extending the STAR math screener through geometry to gather more data. District leaders said they will collect feedback from teachers, special educators and students as part of the rollout.
Committee members asked about printed materials and equity of access; staff said workbooks are being provided in grades 6–8 and that families are not expected to print materials themselves. Officials said the district secured grant funding to purchase the digital materials.
District staff said they will continue to report back to the committee as teachers evaluate the curriculum and as decisions are made about future purchases for Algebra II and geometry.
