The Big Ideas Math® program is a research-based curriculum that provides a rigorous, focused, and coherent solution for elementary school, middle school and high school students and comes with a multitude of resources for both students and teachers. These resources make it easier for students to stay focused on learning and for teachers to focus on what they do best—teaching. Big Ideas Learning, LLC understands that ongoing product training is an integral part of implementing the program and all of its resources and is dedicated to supporting 21st-century teaching and learning in the area of mathematics. To help districts implement the program with fidelity, a professional staff of experienced education consultants provide workshops ranging from initial implementation sessions to additional topics that meet the district’s individual needs. We look forward to working with your district to ensure the success of all students. Implementing the Big Ideas Math program with fidelity helps ensure that students of all academic levels and from all backgrounds will see the growth and achievement necessary to be successful young adults in this 21st-century world.
Basic Implementation Options
District Leadership Team Planning Meeting
A leadership team meeting will be scheduled to meet with the district curriculum leaders, Big Ideas Learning and National Geographic Learning leaders.
Purpose: A leadership team meeting will be scheduled to meet with the district curriculum leaders, Big Ideas Learning and National Geographic Learning leaders. The purpose of this meeting will be to create a comprehensive implementation plan that:
Outcome:
- ensures cohesiveness between product implementation training and district goals,
- determines the breadth of the services,
- identifies a schedule for the training sessions, and
- establishes a commitment to meet district needs.
Length: Varies
Administrator Training
This training will introduce administrators, leads, and coaches to Big Ideas Learning programs.
Purpose: This training will introduce administrators, leads, and coaches to Big Ideas Learning programs with a focus on instructional design and successful implementation. Suggestions will be provided to help leaders understand their role in supporting teachers and coaches.
Outcome: Participants will use their new learning to ensure fidelity in program implementation
Length: 2-3 hour session
Initial Program Overview Session
The initial implementation overview is designed to provide teachers with an understanding of instructional components.
Purpose: The initial implementation overview is designed to provide teachers with an understanding of instructional components. This training will offer an overview of the program including organization, instructional resources, and technology.
Outcome: Participants will be able to use their instructional resources to plan, teach, and differentiate instruction effectively in their classrooms
Length: Varies
Digital Integration Implementation Session
This hands-on digital integration training session will focus on implementing the technology associated with Big Ideas Learning.
Purpose: This hands-on digital integration training session will focus on implementing the technology, understanding the layout and structure, and utilizing the Big Ideas Math digital content for teaching and learning.
Outcome: This training is designed to inform classroom teachers, specialists, and curriculum coordinators how to effectively and efficiently implement the Big Ideas Math technology in the classroom.
Length: 3 hour session
Additional Implementation Options
Train the Trainer
This training session extends beyond the content of initial implementation training and into implementation of more in-depth topics.
Purpose: This training session extends beyond the content of initial implementation training and into implementation covering topics such as differentiation, assessment, technology, or instructional practices supporting effective implementation of Big Ideas Learning programs. Leaders are trained in delivering the Beyond the Basics session.
Outcome: This comprehensive level of training will maximize capacity by training coaches and lead teachers to effectively implement Big Ideas Learning programs with fidelity. This comprehensive training will provide opportunities to empower and build sustainable success from within the school district.
Length: 3-hour session
Beyond the Basics Workshop
This training increases teacher depth of knowledge and confidence using Big Ideas Math by focusing on topics such as technology, differentiation, or assessment.
Purpose: This training increases teacher depth of knowledge and confidence using Big Ideas Math by focusing on topics such as technology, differentiation, or assessment.
Outcome: Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to apply understanding of differentiation to daily instruction, utilize various formative and summative assessment resources to target instruction, and use technology to enhance instructional delivery and student learning.
Length: 3-hour session
Beyond the Basics - Technology Workshop
This training takes a deeper dive into the Big Ideas Math technology.
Purpose: This training takes a deeper dive into the Big Ideas Math technology, which helps participants become experts on the effective use of all aspects of the technology resources.
Outcome: Participants will leave this session with the ability to implement the technology in their classrooms immediately and to the fullest extent.
Length: 3-hour session
Creating Math Classrooms that Concentrate on Learner Needs by Differentiating the Instruction
This workshop will incorporate evidence-based instructional practices offering a variety of options that will help teachers differentiate instruction using Big Ideas Math.
Purpose: This workshop will incorporate evidence-based instructional practices offering a variety of options that will help teachers differentiate instruction using Big Ideas Math
Outcome: Participants will leave with ideas and materials that will help them address the diversity of their student population and their different learning profiles
Length: 3-hour session
Assessment Resources and Preparation
This session focuses on the different types of support Big Ideas Math offers teachers in preparing their students for high-stakes tests.
Purpose: Upon completion of this session, teachers will be able to administer and review online tests and quizzes through the Dynamic Assessment System, utilize various formative and summative assessment resources to target instruction, and locate other assessment resources Big Ideas Math has to offer.
Outcome: Participants will leave with ideas and materials that will help them address the diversity of their student population and their different learning profiles
Length: 3-hour session
NCTM Teaching Practices
This workshop incorporates NCTM’s Principles to Actions.
Purpose: This workshop incorporates NCTM’s Principles to Actions. Teachers will learn how to apply the eight Mathematics Teaching Practices with Big Ideas Math in the classroom to create a rich learning environment in the classroom. Limited availability, based on consultant schedules.
Outcome: Participants will leave with strategies for implementing NCTM’s eight research-based Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices.
Length: 3-hour session
Parent University Session
These sessions provide parents with insight into components of Big Ideas Learning programs, including technology that can be accessed 24/7.
Purpose: These sessions provide parents with insight into components of Big Ideas Learning programs, including technology that can be accessed 24/7.
Outcome: Participants will better understand how to provide instructional support at home.
Length: 2-3 hour session
Customized Follow-up Webinars
Big Ideas Learning will provide continued implementation support for various program components.
Purpose: : Big Ideas Learning will provide continued implementation support for various program components. Sessions are designed to provide ongoing support and meet the needs of teachers after they have begun implementing the program.
Outcome: Participants will be able to confidently integrate best practices into their daily instruction using the Big Ideas Math program resources and instructional support.
Length: 1-2 hour session
Request Professional Development Services
"Differentiation is huge because in my class I have one kid who is here, and I have one who is at like a 3rd grade level. So having that differentiation option and the resources that are attached online or in the book is huge."
Differentiation
K-5 MRL
"I always look at her notes before we start any lesson, because, that's what they're there for. She's the expert on it, and sometimes she'll think of something I didn't, and so let me try it to see how it works."
Laurie's Notes
K-5 MRL
"Since we started using it we have noticed our math scores have really gone up. So it seems it's really working. Obviously you have to be able to teach it, so it's not just the program, but giving us the right tools to use has definitely helped opposed to what we were using before."
Student Success
K-5 MRL
"Not going to lie, Math has not always been my favorite, but since we started using Big Ideas Math I'm looking forward more every day to teaching math because I know I have a good resource that's going to get my kids excited."
Teacher Empowerment
K-5 MRL
"I absolutely love the Dig In portion because it's always like a fun activity that gets the kids interested in what we're going to do. As a teacher it's nice that that is there to get them involved and excited no matter what type of learner you have, so we really like to dig in."
Dig-In
K-5 MRL
"It's not scripted in a way that says 'this is what you have to say' or it's not going to work. It's really nice to have that flexibility because for one kid it might work this way but for another kid that way or language isn't going to work. I love how there are multiple different strategies but by the end the kid can pick which works best for them."
Instructional Design
K-5 MRL
"And with all of the different levels of practice that it lets them do starting with Laurie's Notes and that dig in, then follows that 'I do, you do, we do model,' their confidence has grown because they know we're going to start our whole group, if I can do that then they ask "can I do it myself?" So by the time we're done they literally want to go 'look what I can do, I can't wait to go home and show somebody what I can do!'"
Student Confidence
Dewey L. Carter Elementary School
"It gives each lesson or chapter a structure. So for first grade, structure is really important, they thrive on consistency. Laurie puts it in a certain order because she knows it works. So that consistency throughout the lesson has helped a lot with students staying engaged because they know what's coming next."
Rigor
K-5 MRL
"They love how they are kind of woven throughout the chapters. They go and look for them, they go "what are Newt and Desi going to tell us this time?" They absolutely love it, so we've seen a lot of improvements in their interest in math, because they really like the characters. They like that it doesn't use names in the problems, it says you or your friend, or your teacher, so it helps them see themselves more in the problem as opposed to when it uses a name that they're not familiar with. Because then it helps that they can read it more, because in first grade they can't read names really well but they can read 'you' and 'the teacher.' So our students have absolutely loved it."
Instructional Design
K-5 MRL
"Last year was such a good experience, I've been teaching, this is my 26th year. And I can honestly say it's more closely aligned than any textbook I've ever used in my 26 years of teaching, as far as standards are concerned."
Standards
K-5 MRL