Bridges in Mathematics Adoption and Review

Our goal is to help you make an informed decision about Bridges in Mathematics Second Edition. This page is designed to address questions commonly asked by schools and districts during a curriculum adoption process.


Please contact us with any additional questions or requests.

  • What is the philosophy and pedagogy of Bridges?

    Bridges focuses on developing students’ deep understanding of mathematical concepts, proficiency with key skills, and ability to solve complex and novel problems. The curriculum is anchored in an inquiry-based approach to math education for pre-K through grade 5.

    What you need to know about Bridges in Mathematics

  • What does a Bridges classroom look and feel like?

    Bridges classrooms are filled with discourse, problem solving, and open exploration.

    View this video to hear teachers and administrators talk about the power of Bridges in their schools.

  • Is Bridges aligned to standards?

    Bridges in Mathematics Second Edition is a comprehensive pre-K through grade 5 curriculum built from the ground up to fully address Common Core State Standards.

    To learn more about alignments to CCSS and other state standards, please visit Bridges Correlations & Alignments.

    View the Scope and Sequence for each grade level to read more about how Bridges addresses these standards:

    Pre-K Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 

  • Where can I find an evaluation of Bridges?
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    EdReports Review

    EdReports, a nonprofit instructional materials review organization, performed a thorough evaluation of Bridges in Mathematics . Bridges is one of the few elementary math programs that achieved EdReport’s highest rating.

    Find out more

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    Research Base

    Bridges draws upon decades of research into the best methods for teaching and learning math.

    View research base

  • Where has Bridges been adopted?

    Bridges has been adopted in over 60,000 classrooms across the United States and internationally.

  • What is in a classroom package?

    The Bridges in Mathematics classroom kit contains all the math manipulatives, game pieces, and activity components most classrooms need to implement the program.

    A full set of Bridges Teachers Guides for Grade 2
    Grade 4 Calendar Markers - March
    A Bridges Kit includes a wide array of guides, binders, manipulatives, number corner interactives, and work places.

    To see the full set of materials, please see Bridges Classroom Package contents.

    The Bridges Educator Site is an online platform designed to support implementation of the curriculum. Teachers will find resources and a professional community dedicated to supporting implementation.

    The Bridges Educator Site includes printable versions of the curriculum materials, along with many other resources.

     

  • What are the design features of Bridges?

    Bridges blends direct instruction, structured investigation, and open exploration. Designed to develop a robust conceptual understanding of grade-level content, Bridges builds students’ learning experiences with approximately 80 minutes of math instruction each day.

    Three core components shape these learning experiences: Problems & Investigations, Work Places, and Number Corner.

    The daily structure of a lesson includes 60 minutes split between Problems & Investigations, and 20 minutes of Number Corner work.

     

    Bridges is built on a foundation of faithful visual models. Throughout the curriculum, models are used to help learners construct, understand, and apply mathematical ideas. Using these models, students are encouraged to represent problems and solutions in multiple ways. As students continuously return to the models throughout the year and across grade levels, they add new layers and depth to their conceptual understanding. 

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    Examples of a number line model uses a number chart where some numbers might be hidden, or a number line drawing where the difference between ticks are used to put together an equation.
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    Examples of the array model include a closed tile array, a closed array built with base ten pieces, and an open array drawn with dimensions.

     

    Activities within and across grade levels are carefully sequenced to account for how elementary students make sense of and connect mathematical ideas and processes. For a more in-depth look at the visual models found in Bridges, review the PDF linked below.

    Models in Bridges

     

  • What does assessment look like in Bridges?

    Informal and formal assessments are woven throughout the Bridges units and Number Corner workouts. These range from tips to help teachers elicit student thinking to individual and small-group interviews and formal paper-and-pencil tasks. Each unit offers ongoing informal and formal observations, work samples, and several written assessments.

    The Assessment Guide also helps teachers elicit and assess the eight mathematical practices through questioning and observations. A yearlong Assessment Map shows where and how each of the standards is assessed and where mastery is expected. This gives teachers the information they need to report to students and their families on their progress toward meeting each grading period’s standards.

    K–2 Assessment Overview

    3–5 Assessment Overview

     

    Assessment maps correlate each Bridges Unit with CCSS.
  • What resources are available for differentiation?

    Bridges’ visual models and flexible grouping offer students multiple entry points. The curriculum also supplies teachers the tools they need to differentiate the needs of their students authentically. Each unit introduction features a Differentiation Chart that indicates where teachers will find specific suggestions for challenges, support, and modifications for English Language Learner students.

    Bridges provides guidance for how each Module can offer opportunities for differentiation through challenge, support, or ELL.

     

    Each lesson plan embeds additional professional learning to help teachers anticipate likely student responses and address common misconceptions, as well as suggestions for support and challenge. lesson plan embeds additional professional development to help teachers anticipate likely student responses and address common misconceptions, as well as suggestions for support and challenge.

    Lesson plans each include a full section on Assessment and Differentiation with suggestions based on how students respond to the lesson.

     

  • What role does technology play in Bridges?

    The Math Learning Center (MLC) believes there are meaningful ways to integrate technology into elementary classrooms as a tool for exploring the structure of our number system, modeling operations, building procedural fluency, and problem solving. We take great care to ensure that the technology tools we create add significant instructional value for students and teachers, and that those tools are consistent with what we know about young students’ development.

    To complement the physical manipulatives included in every Bridges classroom kit, MLC has developed a collection of digital display materials.

    Through the Bridges site, educators can access digital display materials that are findable and open ready to display.

     

    MLC has also created a set of apps for web browsers and tablets . These apps provide virtual manipulatives designed to develop students’ conceptual understanding of the mathematics they are engaged in.

    The Number Frames iPad App.
    The Number Line iPad App
    The Number Pieces iPad App
    The Number Rack iPad App
  • What is the Bridges Educator Site, and how do I navigate it?

    The Bridges Educator Site provides online resources to support implementation, including videos, an extensive professional development library, and timely tips and advice from Bridges classroom teachers. The site also offers district leaders, principals, and coaches resources to support implementation at the school or district level.

    Tour the Bridges Educator Site

    1. Welcome
    2. Curriculum
    3. Curriculum Updates
    4. Digital Display Materials
    5. Resources
    6. Implementation
  • What implementation support is available with an adoption of Bridges?

    The Math Learning Center is committed to supporting the implementation of the Bridges curriculum. Adoptions of Bridges in Mathematics include a free two-day Getting Started workshop led by teachers who have used the program in their own classrooms.

    Our facilitators work with your classroom teachers, unpacking the structure of the curriculum and exploring math practices in the contexts of the models and strategies.

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    Three workshop attendees at a table thinking about a math problem

     

    After your Getting Started workshop, our curriculum consultants are available to provide extended support workshops for a fee. Email support for questions is available at no charge.

    MLC also offers regional open workshops, online courses, an annual summer leadership institute, and live and recorded webinars designed to support schools and teachers at different points in their implementation of the curriculum.

    A listing of available professional learning opportunities can be found on MLC’s website under PD Opportunities.

  • What is the cost per classroom package?

    The cost of a classroom package is $1,500 per grade K–5 classroom and $1,200 per pre-K classroom. View purchasing information in The Math Learning Center Store

  • What are my piloting options?

    There are many ways to experience a Bridges in Mathematics Second Edition classroom. To inquire about your options, please visit our Contact Us page.

For questions regarding adoptions, previews, samples, pilots, workshops, or implementations, please contact us .