Reviewing High-Quality Instructional Materials for Mathematics

Is your school or district adopting new, high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) for mathematics in the next few years? If so, you may already be deep in the curriculum review process. We know it can be challenging for all educators, especially those who are with students daily, to find adequate time to thoroughly assess the programs they may one day implement. That’s why we’ve created this four-step process, along with some evaluation tools to make this process even more meaningful and approachable for all stakeholders.

Step 1: Define and Prioritize Your Needs and Values

It’s crucial that the curriculum review team has a clear vision of the instructional priorities and current programming for mathematics in the district. Considering these key items before the review begins builds trust between decision-makers and educators who are often the most affected by the change in curriculum materials.

Take the time to assess the mathematical sequence, instructional philosophy, and program components of each math program under consideration. The goal is to help you identify a small list of programs that best fit your school or district’s needs and priorities. Our blank reviewer rubric can help your team determine a shared set of criteria to use throughout your review. To help you better assess Eureka Math², here are some quick links to program information.

Eureka Math² Blank Evaluation Rubric (.pdf, 628kb)

Eureka Math² Overview →

Eureka Math² Program Components→

Step 2: Review Math Programs Using the Shared Criteria

When it’s time to crack open the curriculum materials, don’t forget the needs of your students, teachers, and support staff. Put yourselves into the shoes of a teacher as you peruse Teacher Editions, Student Editions, digital content, and any other program components. Consider not only the features and layout of the materials but also the mathematical content and instructional philosophy. Some questions you might consider include the following:

• Is the program engaging and accessible for learners?
• Does the scope and sequence support a coherent learning experience for students that can be completed in the instructional time available?

To provide greater context and depth to your review of Eureka Math², we have provided rubrics that showcase examples of our alignment with best practices in mathematics education, developed with consideration of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) 8 Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices and EdReport’s criteria and Evidence Guides for K–8 math. 

Eureka Math² K–5 Reviewer Rubric (.pdf, 1.81mb)

Eureka Math² 6–Algebra I Reviewer Rubric (.pdf, 2.21mb)

Step 3: Perform an In-Depth Evaluation of Various Programs

Once the team has decided on the top program(s) under consideration, it's time to see what others think. Have a variety of stakeholders complete at least one in-depth evaluation that draws on each reviewer’s unique experiences. Don’t forget to use the blank version of the reviewer rubric from Step 1 and the completed ones from Step 2 to focus the review and generate an initial program ranking.

Step 4: Take the Next Step with the Right Program

After several rounds of in-depth review, it’s time to take the next step. Reach out to a sales representative to answer any questions you may have, address concerns, or fulfill requests. If you haven’t already spoken with a representative from the company, now is the time to do so.

Contact Your Eureka Math² Sales Representative→

Do you need to take another look at Eureka Math²? Review the curriculum today.

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