What's New & Newsworthy
in Math Education

Recommended Reading

• Michael's resource recommendations:

  • Massachusetts DESE 2025 MTSS updated PDF @ MA MTSS Blueprint 2025

  • "The Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMPs)" in action from Illustrative Mathematics "tasks" site collection just for the SMPs at https://tasks.illustrativemathematics.org/practice-standards/ 

  • Routines, routines, routines. Check out IM360's Hub for links to tasks for every language and instructional routine at every grade level here at the IM 360 K-5 Routines List , IM 360 6-8 Routines List , and IM 360 9-12 Routines List 

  • If you're searching for an in-depth presentation of NCTM's "Effective Teaching Practices", look no further than the State of Colorado's Education Site at https://ed.cde.state.co.us/comath/effective-mathematics-teaching-practices 

  • If you want to read more about how Procedural Fluency is developed with our younger students, go to the Colorado Department of Education for a concise overview at https://ed.cde.state.co.us/comath/proficiency 

  • To find best practices research for specific mathematics strands, check out these Practice Guides from IES>WWC gathered by Colorado Department of Education at https://ed.cde.state.co.us/comath/researchandpracticeguides 

Michael's Resources to Share

Google Drive folder for shared resources collections available at Math Leaders Western MA - shared Michael Merritt 

• • • 2025 PDF - Understanding the MA Math Framework Progression K-12

      • Merritt 2025 Guide to the Public Schools MA Mathematics Grade Band Curriculum Framework Progression.pdf 

    • 2025 PDF - Presentation for reviewing key aspects of the 2025 MTSS Blueprint from Massachusetts DESE

      • MA DESE MTSS Blueprint Highlights - Michael Merritt 2025.pdf 

    • View NCTM's one (or two) pagers for the SMPs and ETPs

      • 5-SMP Look Fors.pdf 

      • NCTM-EffectiveMathematicsTeachingPractices.pdf 

News from ATMIM (the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Massachusetts)

• ATMIM Home at https://atmim.wildapricot.org/ 

  • *New* $500 Mini-Grants Applications due Dec 15, 2025 https://atmim.wildapricot.org/Mini-Grants 

• Link to ATMIM and ATMNE regional affiliates at https://atmim.wildapricot.org/atmne-affiliates 

Updates from Forefront Education and their USNS and FRS numeracy projects

• Forefront's USNS One Page Overview Launch Guide at https://forefront.education/solutions/usns-project/resources/ 

• Forefront's updated 2024 USNS (Universal Screeners for Number Sense) *free* downloadable PDF for grades K-6 at https://forefront.education/solutions/usns-project/ 

• Forefront's newly released 2025 FRS (Fractions Reasoning Screeners) *free* downloadable PDF for grades 3-6 at https://forefront.education/solutions/frs-project/ 

News from US Math Recovery Council - Now "Integrow Numeracy Solutions"

• US Math Recovery's new website at https://www.integrowmath.org/news/integrow-numeracy-solutions 

• List of current and upcoming "Add+Vantage" (AVMR) courses at https://www.integrowmath.org/solutions/add-vantage 

• Updated "Ready Set Math" modules including a free sample set at https://www.integrowmath.org/solutions/ready-set-math 

Updates from Amplify: mCLASS assessments, Boost programming, and K-12 Curriculum

• Check out Amplify's latest webinars at https://amplify.com/webinar-library/ and search for math

New from the Math Learning Center Blog

• Go to the MLC blog at https://www.mathlearningcenter.org/educators/blog to check out the latest episodes

  • "The Case for Choral Counting with Fractions" with Terry Wyberg and Christy Pettis on November 20, 2025

  • "Improving Students’ Turn & Talk Experience" with Ramsey Merritt on November 6, 2025

  • "Exploring the Power and Purpose of Number Strings" with Pam Harris on October 23, 2025

  • "I Have, You Need: The Utility Player of Instructional Routines" with Kim Montague on October 9, 2025

  • "Same but Different: Encouraging Students to Think Flexibly" with Sue Looney on September 18, 2025

Links to Edutopia Articles

• Nov 13, 2025 "A 5-Stage Strategy Students Can Use to Tackle Word Problems"

• Oct 30, 2025 "Using Error Analysis to Boost Engagement and Student Talk in Math"

• Sep 29, 2025 "Useful Strategies to Support Students’ Working Memory"

• Sep 17, 2025 "How Teachers Can Make Sure Their Cold Calling Is Warm and Collaborative"

• Aug 21, 2025 "Classroom Management Rooted in Patience, Planning, and Connection"