Plan your professional development

We’re excited to partner with you on your Amplify journey. Flexible professional development pathways have been designed to meet your needs.

Illustration of three educational phases: a teacher launches a rocket, another reads a book, and four individuals discuss in a meeting setting.

Recommended Professional Development Plan

Our team has curated a recommended professional learning path from initial launch to continuous support. Use the Professional Development Planning Guide below to discuss the plan that best meets your school or district needs with your Account Executive.

mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition sessions overview

AudienceTitleDurationModality
Launch
New mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition customers with limited time for PDmCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition program overviewHalf dayOnsite/Remote
New mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition customersInitial training1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Initial training: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Initial trainingSelf-pacedOnline course
Strengthen
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition customers with limited time for PDUnderstanding your classroom dataHalf dayOnsite/Remote
All mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition customersClassroom data analysis and instructional planning1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Classroom data analysis and instructional planning: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Classroom data analysis and instructional planningSelf-pacedOnline course
All mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition customersUnderstanding your school or district dataHalf dayOnsite/Remote
Data-driven leadership practices 1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Data-driven leadership practices: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Data-driven leadership practicesSelf-pacedOnline course
Strengthening consultation session60 min.Remote
Strengthening consultation session package3 60-min. sessionsRemote
Coach
All mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition customersCoaching session1 dayOnsite
Coaching sessionHalf dayOnsite/Remote
Building readers
All mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition customersBuilding readers for leaders2 half daysOnsite/Remote
Building readers for teachers3 half daysOnsite/Remote

Launch

mCLASS with DIBELS 8th edition program overview

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the assessment and collect reliable data using standardized guidelines.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, and use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS to drive differentiated instruction.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, and use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS to drive differentiated instruction. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training

Self-paced

This PD is an individual seat to our self-paced, on-demand online course that contains approximately 6 hours of training. Participants will learn how to implement the assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, and use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS to drive differentiated instruction. Participants will access and revisit the course anytime for up to one year as a refresher.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome)
Modality: Online

Strengthen

Understanding your classroom data

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to understand their students’ data by utilizing the reports available on mCLASS. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Classroom data analysis and instructional planning

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to deeply understand their students’ data and create actionable instructional plans by utilizing the reports and skills-focused lesson plans available on mCLASS.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

*This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Classroom data analysis and instructional planning: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to deeply understand their students’ data and create actionable instructional plans by utilizing the reports and skills-focused lesson plans available on mCLASS. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

*This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Classroom data analysis and instructional planning

Online course (self-paced)

This PD is an individual seat to our self-paced, on-demand online course that contains approximately 6 hours of training. Participants will learn how to deeply understand their students’ data and create actionable instructional plans by utilizing the reports and skills-focused lesson plans available on mCLASS. Participants will access and revisit the course anytime for up to one year as a refresher.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome)
Modality: Online

Understanding your school or district data

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to use their data in making schoolwide decisions. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Data-driven leadership practices

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to use their data in making school-wide decisions and build a schoolwide culture of data-driven instruction. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Data-driven leadership practices: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to use their data in making school-wide decisions and build a schoolwide culture of data-driven instruction. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Data-driven leadership practices

Online course (self-paced)

This PD is an individual seat to our self-paced, on-demand online course that contains approximately 6 hours of training. Participants will learn how to use their data in making school-wide decisions and build a schoolwide culture of data-driven instruction. Participants will access and revisit the course anytime for up to one year as a refresher.

Audience: Administrators
Modality: Online

Strengthening consultation session

(60-min.)

This 60-minute session will focus on a specific topic that will deepen educators’ understanding of mCLASS and equip them with the tools needed to drive stronger student outcomes. An Amplify facilitator will align with the school or district leadership team in advance of the session on the topic (chosen from a menu of options) that will best meet educators’ unique needs.
Topics include:

  • Progress Monitoring
  • Zones of Growth
  • Data Walkthrough for Leaders

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Remote

Strengthening consultation session package

(3 hours)

This package consists of three 60-minute sessions that can be delivered on the same day or on different days. Each session will focus on a specific topic that will deepen educators’ understanding of mCLASS and equip them in driving towards stronger student outcomes. An Amplify facilitator will align with the school or district’s leadership team in advance on the topics that will best meet educators’ unique needs.
Topics include:

  • Progress Monitoring
  • Zones of Growth
  • Data Walkthrough for Leaders

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Remote

Coach

Coaching session

1 day (6 hours)

This PD will deepen educators’ understanding of how to utilize mCLASS in order to accelerate data-driven student outcomes. An Amplify facilitator will visit one or two school sites for one day and work with teachers and/or leaders. Prior to the visit, the Amplify facilitator will align with each school’s leadership team on their needs and customize the visit schedule accordingly.

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite

Coaching session

Half day (3 hours)

This PD is up to 3 hours of training and will deepen educators’ understanding of how to utilize mCLASS in order to accelerate data-driven student outcomes. An Amplify facilitator will visit one school site for a half-day and work with teachers and/or leaders. Prior to the visit, the Amplify facilitator will align with each school’s leadership team on their needs and customize the visit schedule accordingly.

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Building readers

Building readers for leaders

2 half days (6 hours)

This training session is split into 2 half-day sessions (3 hours each). The same participants should attend both sessions in order to receive all content, which includes learning the Science of Reading and how to align this theory with schoolwide instruction. Part 2 should be scheduled two to three weeks after Part 1.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite

Building readers for teachers

3 half days (9 hours)

This training series is split into three half-day sessions (3 hours each). The same participants should attend all sessions in order to receive all content, which includes learning the Science of Reading and how to align this theory with classroom instruction. Part 2 should be scheduled two to three weeks after Part 1, and Part 3 should be scheduled two to three weeks after Part 2.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition and TRC sessions overview

AudienceTitleDurationModality
Launch
New mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition and TRC customersInitial training1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Initial training: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Initial trainingSelf-pacedOnline course
Strengthen
All mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition and TRC customersClassroom data analysis and instructional planning1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Data-driven leadership practices1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Coach
All mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition and TRC customersCoaching session1 dayOnsite
Coaching sessionHalf dayOnsite/Remote

Launch

Initial training

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, and use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS to drive differentiated instruction.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, and use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS to drive differentiated instruction. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training

Self-paced

This PD is an individual seat to our self-paced, on-demand online course that contains approximately 6 hours of training. Participants will learn how to implement the assessment, and collect reliable data using standardized guidelines and use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS to drive differentiated instruction. Participants will access and revisit the course anytime for up to one year as a refresher.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome)
Modality: Online

Strengthen

Classroom data analysis and instructional planning

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to deeply understand their students’ data and create actionable instructional plans by utilizing the reports and skills-focused lesson plans available on mCLASS.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

*This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Data-driven leadership practices

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to use their data in making schoolwide decisions and build a schoolwide culture of data-driven instruction. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Coach

Coaching session

1 day onsite (6 hours)

This PD will deepen educators’ understanding of how to utilize mCLASS in order to accelerate data-driven student outcomes. An Amplify facilitator will visit one or two school sites for one day and work with teachers and/or leaders. Prior to the visit, the Amplify facilitator will align with each school’s leadership team on their needs and customize the visit schedule accordingly.

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Coaching session

Half day (3 hours)

This PD is up to 3 hours of training and will deepen educators’ understanding of how to utilize mCLASS in order to accelerate data-driven student outcomes. An Amplify facilitator will visit one school site for a half-day and work with teachers and/or leaders. Prior to the visit, the Amplify facilitator will align with each school’s leadership team on their needs and customize the visit schedule accordingly.

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

mCLASS Lectura sessions overview

AudienceTitleDurationModality
Launch
New mCLASS Lectura Customers with limited time for PDmCLASS Lectura program overviewHalf dayOnsite/Remote
New mCLASS Lectura customersmCLASS Lectura initial training1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
mCLASS Lectura initial training: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
mCLASS Lectura Initial trainingSelf-pacedOnline course
Strengthen
All mCLASS Lectura customers with limited time for PDUnderstanding your classroom dataHalf dayOnsite/Remote
All mCLASS Lectura customersClassroom data analysis and instructional planning1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Classroom data analysis and instructional planning: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Understanding your school or district dataHalf dayOnsite/Remote
Data-driven leadership practices 1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Data-driven leadership practices: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Strengthening consultation session60 min.Remote
Coach
All mCLASS Lectura customersCoaching session1dayOnsite
Coaching sessionHalf dayOnsite/Remote

Launch

mCLASS Lectura program overview

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the assessment and collect reliable data using standardized guidelines.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

mCLASS Lectura initial training

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, and use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS to drive differentiated instruction. While the assessment must be administered in Spanish, English-speaking educators educators who would like to learn about the program but will not be administering the assessment may attend.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

mCLASS Lectura initial training: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the assessment and collect reliable data using standardized guidelines. While the assessment must be administered in Spanish, English-only speaking educators who would like to learn about the program but will not be administering the assessment may attend. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

mCLASS Lectura initial training

Online course (self-paced)

This PD is an individual seat to our self-paced, on-demand online course that contains approximately 6 hours of training. Participants will learn how to implement the assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, and use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS to drive differentiated instruction. Participants will access and revisit the course anytime for up to one year as a refresher.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome)
Modality: Online

Strengthen

Understanding your classroom data

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to understand their students’ data by utilizing the reports available on mCLASS. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Classroom data analysis and instructional planning

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to deeply understand their students’ data and create actionable instructional plans by utilizing the reports and skills-focused lesson plans available on mCLASS.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

*This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Classroom data analysis and instructional planning: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to deeply understand their students’ data and create actionable instructional plans by utilizing the reports and skills-focused lesson plans available on mCLASS. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

*This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Understanding your school or district data

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to use their data in making schoolwide decisions. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Data-driven leadership practices

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to use their data in making school-wide decisions and build a schoolwide culture of data-driven instruction. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Data-driven leadership practices: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to use their data in making schoolwide decisions and build a schoolwide culture of data-driven instruction. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Strengthening consultation session package

(3 hours)

This package consists of three 60-minute sessions that can be delivered on the same day or on different days. Each session will focus on a specific topic that will deepen educators’ understanding of mCLASS and equip them with the tools needed to drive stronger student outcomes. An Amplify facilitator will align with the school or district leadership team in advance of the session on the topic (chosen from a menu of options) that will best meet educators’ unique needs. Topics include progress monitoring, goal setting, and a data walkthrough for leaders.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Remote

Coach

Coaching session

1 day (6 hours)

This PD will deepen educators’ understanding of how to utilize mCLASS in order to accelerate data-driven student outcomes. An Amplify facilitator will visit 1–2 school sites for one day and work with teachers and/or leaders. Prior to the visit, the Amplify facilitator will align with each school’s leadership team on their needs and customize the visit schedule accordingly.

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite

Coaching session

Half day (3 hours)

This PD is up to 3 hours of training and will deepen educators’ understanding of how to utilize mCLASS in order to accelerate data-driven student outcomes. An Amplify facilitator will visit 1 school site for a half-day and work with teachers and/or leaders. Prior to the visit, the Amplify facilitator will align with each school’s leadership team on their needs and customize the visit schedule accordingly.

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

LaunchStrengthenOngoing
BOYAfter BOY or MOYAfter BOY or MOY
New customersProgram overviewUnderstanding your classroom dataCoaching session
Initial trainingUnderstanding your school or district dataBuilding readers for teachers
Strengthening consultation session/packageBuilding readers for leaders
Returning customersCoaching session (refresher content)Classroom data analysis and instructional planningCoaching session
Data-driven leadership practicesBuilding readers for teachers
Strengthening consultation session/packageBuilding readers for leaders
*Note: If you are currently delivering instruction in a hybrid or remote model, we recommend that all of the sessions above be delivered remotely.

mCLASS Express sessions overview

TitleDurationModality
Launch
Initial trainingHalf dayOnsite/Remote
Initial trainingSelf-pacedOnline course

Launch

Initial training

Half day (3 hours)

Take the first step in launching mCLASS Express! The half-day initial training will help educators understand how mCLASS Express’ voice-recognition scoring generates immediate instructional recommendations for students reading below grade level. Educators will also learn how to utilize the teacher portal to assign assessments, review and correct scoring, track student growth over time, and leverage the program’s activities to create an action plan for a single classroom or across classes/grades.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training

Self-paced (2 hours)

Take the first step in launching mCLASS Express! The two-hour initial training will help educators understand how mCLASS Express’ voice-recognition scoring generates immediate instructional recommendations for students reading below grade level. Educators will also learn how to utilize the teacher portal to assign assessments, review and correct scoring, track student growth over time, and leverage the program’s activities to create an action plan for a single classroom or across classes/grades.

As this is a self-paced, on-demand online course, participants will be able to access the course anytime, move as quickly or slowly as needed through different sections, and revisit the course up to one year as a refresher in the future.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Online

mCLASS: IDEL sessions overview

TitleDurationModality
Launch
mCLASS IDEL program overviewHalf dayOnsite/Remote
Initial training1 dayOnsite/Remote
Initial training: Train the Trainer1 dayOnsite/Remote
Initial trainingSelf-pacedOnline course

Launch

mCLASS IDEL program overview

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the assessment and collect reliable data using standardized guidelines.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

Prepare to implement your mCLASS:IDEL assessment with fidelity! Learn about the five basic early literacy skills that are crucial for reading development, and understand how they are assessed on the mCLASS:IDEL assessment. Then, practice administering and scoring each assessment measure and receive targeted feedback from a facilitator. Upon completion of this session, participants will be on their way to collecting reliable data to support all students.

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

Prepare to implement your mCLASS:IDEL assessment with fidelity! Learn about the five basic early literacy skills that are crucial for reading development, and understand how they are assessed on the mCLASS:IDEL assessment. Then, practice administering and scoring each assessment measure and compare your responses to exemplars. As this is a Train the Trainer session, participants will receive annotated session materials in order to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training

Online course (self-paced)

This PD is an individual seat to our self-paced, on-demand online course that contains approximately 6 hours of training. Participants will learn how to implement the assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, and use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS to drive differentiated instruction. Participants will access and revisit the course anytime for up to one year as a refresher.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome)
Modality: Online

TRC Atlas Español

Launch

TRC Atlas Español program overview

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the assessment and collect reliable data using standardized guidelines.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

mCLASS Math sessions overview

AudienceTitleDurationModality
Launch
New mCLASS Math customers with limited time for PDmCLASS Math program overviewHalf dayOnsite/Remote
New mCLASS Math customersInitial training1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Initial training: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Strengthen
All mCLASS Math customers with limited time for PDUnderstanding your classroom dataHalf dayOnsite/Remote
All mCLASS Math customersClassroom data analysis and instructional planning1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Classroom data analysis and instructional planning: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Understanding your school or district dataHalf dayOnsite/Remote
Data-driven leadership practices1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Data-driven leadership practices: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote

Launch

mCLASS Math program overview

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the assessment and collect reliable data using standardized guidelines.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

Learn the foundational research for mCLASS Math and how it supports students’ abilities in mathematical reasoning. Understand the various assessment components and develop techniques for interviewing students and documenting their thinking. Interpret assessment results, and brainstorm suggested instructional activities. Upon completion of this session, participants will be on their way to collecting reliable data.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

Learn the foundational research for mCLASS Math and how it supports students’ abilities in mathematical reasoning. Understand the various assessment components, and develop techniques for interviewing students and documenting their thinking. Interpret assessment results, and brainstorm suggested instructional activities. Upon completion of this session, participants will be on their way to collecting reliable data. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Strengthen

Understanding your classroom data

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to understand their students’ data by utilizing the reports available on mCLASS. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Classroom data analysis and instructional planning

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to deeply understand their students’ data and create actionable instructional plans by utilizing the reports available on mCLASS.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

*This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Classroom data analysis and instructional planning: Train the Trainer

1 day Onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days Remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to deeply understand their students’ data and create actionable instructional plans by utilizing the reports available on mCLASS. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

*This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Understanding your School or District Data

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to use their data in making schoolwide decisions. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Data-driven leadership practices

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to use their data in making schoolwide decisions and build a schoolwide culture of data-driven instruction. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Data-driven leadership practice: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to use their data in making schoolwide decisions and build a schoolwide culture of data-driven instruction. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Contact

Amplify welcomes the opportunity to partner with schools and districts to design professional development plans and answer your questions.

If you would like to order any of our professional development services, please contact your local Amplify sales representative or call (800) 823-1969.

Utah – USBE Data Analysis for K-3 Reading Assessment Program – New

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USBE Data Analysis for K-3 Reading Assessment Program

Introduction

mCLASS Assessment: Acadience™ Reading

How it works: Quickly identify the needs of each student and inform next steps with instant analysis, reports, and instructional planning tools included in the only licensed mobile version of the research-based Acadience Reading assessment.

  • Use short, 1-minute fluency measures for foundational reading skills.
  • Replace manual calculations with instant results and recommended activities.
  • Compare student progress with predictive, research-based benchmark goals.
  • Track progress and target instruction to individual student needs.
  • Support decision-making at every level using aggregate reports.
  • Translate class- and student-level reports into individualized instruction using the Now What?Tools.
  • Get a more complete view of early literacy skills with the new mCLASS:Early Literacy Measures (ELM).
Enrollment for mClass

Please review the Utah Enrollment for mCLASS document for important information about the rostering process for LEAs in Utah.

Benchmark Windows

The USBE has required that each Acadience Reading testing benchmark window occur within the below dates:

BOY — the first benchmark before October 14
MOY — the second benchmark between December 1 and February 5
EOY — the third benchmark between the middle of April and June 15

Benchmark windows for LEAs are set to the state benchmark window dates in mCLASS. Each LEA is to have 2-4 week benchmark period that is within the state benchmark window dates and LEA leaders are to share those dates with staff. The benchmark windows in mCLASS are set to the state benchmark window dates; not the LEA benchmark window dates and this can not be changed in mCLASS. If a student moves into your LEA and your benchmark window is closed, but the state benchmark period is still open, the student must be benchmarked. Should your LEA need an extension of a benchmark window beyond the close of the state benchmark windows, that must be approved by the USBE Assessment Department. Once the benchmark window closes, do not give the benchmark to a student, instead, educators can progress monitor the student on the measures they would have received a benchmark in order to get the students current instructional levels.

If you have questions regarding your current benchmark window dates, feel free to reach out to Amplify Customer Services at help@amplify.com.

Acadience Reading Benchmark Invalidations

Before you invalidate a benchmark probe, review the USBE’s list of acceptable reasons for invalidating on the Frequently Asked Questions: Acadience Reading Invalidations document. If a district/charter has a significant percentage of invalidations, contact and further action will be deployed. If you believe an invalidation is required, please contact your District/Charter Literacy Director. If they need support, they can contact Sara Wiebke, sara.wiebke@schools.utah.gov, to request an invalidation.

Progress Monitoring

The impact of progress monitoring

Progress monitoring is the most powerful tool we offer with regards to student achievement.

“Scores for Daze increase more slowly than they do for other Acadience Reading measures, so more frequent monitoring may not be as informative. For students who need to be monitored on Daze, we recommend monitoring once per month.”
Progress Monitoring with Acadience Reading 
© Acadience Learning
October 2012

The Acadience Reading authors recommend progress monitoring students in the Well Below Benchmark category once every 7-10 days (and once every 10-12 days for students in the Below Benchmark category).

Progress monitoring is the practice of testing students briefly but frequently on the skill areas in which they are receiving instruction, to ensure that they are making adequate progress. When students are identified as at risk for reading difficulties, they can receive progress monitoring testing more frequently to ensure that the instruction they are receiving is helping them make progress. (Acadience Learning/October 2012, Progress Monitoring Guide)

The purposes of progress monitoring are:

  • to provide ongoing feedback about the effectiveness of instruction,
  • to determine students’ progress toward important and meaningful goals, and
  • to make timely decisions about changes to instruction so that students will meet those goals.

How to progress monitor?

  • Select students for progress monitoring
  • Select Acadience Reading materials for progress monitoring
  • Set progress monitoring goals
  • Determine the frequency of progress monitoring
  • Conduct progress monitoring assessment
  • Access data through class and student reports
  • Evaluate progress and modify instruction.

The key to progress monitoring: Instruction should link to progress monitoring and progress monitoring should link to instruction. They should run parallel and merge as one to confirm student growth in reading.

Check your progress monitoring fidelity report in mCLASS to ensure you are on track with these students. For more information regarding progress monitoring guidelines, visit the official progress monitoring guidelines.

Support Team

Amplify Customer Services

(800) 823-1969
Monday to Friday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT
help@amplify.com

Educational Support Team

Pedagogical Questions
(800) 823-1969
Monday to Friday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT
edsupport@amplify.com

For more information, please contact:

Sarah McCarty
Associate Director, Educational Partnership
(812) 593-5776
smccarty@amplify.com

Donna Bright
Educational Partnership Manager
(303) 960-3772
dbright@amplify.com

Robert McCarty
Regional Director of Educational Partnership
(435) 655-1731
rmccarty@amplify.com

Cydnee Carter
Assessment Development Coordinator
(801) 538-7654
cydnee.carter@schools.utah.gov

Liz Williams
Elementary ELA Assessment Specialist
(801) 538-7542
Liz.williams@schools.utah.gov

Sara Wiebke
Literacy Coordinator
(801) 538-7935
sara.wiebke@schools.utah.gov

Krista Hotelling
K-3 Literacy Specialist
(801) 538-7794
krista.hotelling@schools.utah.gov

Christine Elegante
K-3 Literacy Specialist
(801) 538-7551
christine.elegante@schools.utah.gov

Julie Clark
K-3 Literacy Specialist
801-499-2515
julie.clark@schools.utah.gov

Melissa Preziosi
Assessment Data Specialist
(801) 538-7949
melissa.preziosi@schools.utah.gov

Resources

Helpful tips and guides
mCLASS:Acadience Reading tutorials
Technical resources

Amplify Enrollment This guide walks you through the necessary steps to complete enrollment using the manual enrollment tools on Amplify Home. It shows you how to manage staff, student, and class assignment information, and maintain the accuracy of your staff, student, and class assignments.

Devices & Requirements Ensure mCLASS is compatible with your devices and systems for optimal performance and support.

Remote Assessing

Videos:

Remote Assessment Guidance from the Acadience Team:  
mCLASS®: Acadience® Reading (formerly known as DIBELS Next)

Key Points:

Before you assess:

1. Determine how you will show student materials and score in mCLASS at the same time. 

  Description

Description

Recommended set up

  • One computer for video conferencing and sharing student materials.
  • One touchscreen device for scoring in mCLASS.
Modified set up
  • One computer.

Note: mCLASS app is optimized for touchscreen; scoring with a mouse may need more practice.

2. Familiarize yourself with the digital copies of student materials.

3. Schedule virtual meetings with students. To communicate with English-speaking caregivers, consider sending this email or video. To communicate with Spanish-speaking caregivers, consider sending this email or video.

4. Determine how you will handle scenarios where there’s a lag:

  Description
Record the meeting
  • Before the assessment begins, press the recording button on your video conferencing tool.
  • After the virtual meeting, listen to recording and rescore in mCLASS if needed.
  • Pick a decision rule for how to score ambiguous items and be consistent. For example, if you decide that you will give a student the benefit of the doubt and mark ambiguous similar sounding items correct when you can’t quite hear their answer, do this for all students you assess.
Use a phone
  • Before the assessment begins, call caregiver’s phone using your phone (type *67 before your number if you want your number to be hidden).
  • Ask the caregiver to press the speaker button. 
  • Mute yourself and your student on the virtual learning platform.

While you assess: 

1. Take the opportunity to connect individually with your students as they experience so much change. Don’t make the session solely about testing, and remind caregivers and students that the assessment is a way to see how you can best tailor instruction.

2. Make student materials visible to your student.

For Maze, choose the model that works best for you:

Enter results into the mCLASS web reports

  • Students complete online Maze during a video conference
    • Put a link to the student assessment site (mclass.amplify.com/student) and the student’s credentials into the chat box (learn how to generate student credentials in this video)
    • Ask your student to complete Maze.
  • Students complete online Maze outside of a video conference (caregiver support is needed with log-in)
    • To provide student credentials and instructions to English-speaking caregivers, consider sending this email and video. To provide student credentials and instructions to Spanish-speaking caregivers, consider sending this email and video.
  • Students complete Maze on paper
    • Locate the benchmark Maze Acadience Learning’s site.
    • Print a copy of the form you need (e.g. BOY) for each student in your class.
    • Send the form home in a sealed envelope with students, mail the form to caregivers, or have caregivers get forms via school-based pick-up. Provide instructions not to open the envelope until the student is ready to take the assessment.
    • Provide parents with instructions on how to proctor the assessment for their child. They need to:
      • Give the form to their child
      • Sit with their child and read the instructions and practice items
      • Tell their child to stop when 3 minutes has elapsed
      • Send screenshots of their child’s work via email or text, or return the completed form to the school in a sealed envelope provided by the school.
  Guidance
Acadience:Reading 

Use the share screen feature to display student materials on your screen.

Optional next step for measures that have student materials:

Zoom users: grant your student control of your screen so you can see their cursor as they read:

  • Click “Remote Control” and select your student’s name in the dropdown.
  • Ask your student to use their cursor to point to words as they read.

Note: For Mac OSX, you will need to give Zoom access in the Accessibility tab in the Privacy and Security preferences of your Mac. For more information on giving Zoom access in Security and Privacy, click here.

3. Score in mCLASS.

Student materials

  Benchmark Progress monitoring
Acadience Reading (formerly known as DIBELS Next) Available for free download on the Acadience Learning website

Grade 6

Unit 1: Area and Surface Area

Illustrative MathematicsDesmos Math 6–A1
Topic A: Reasoning to Find Area 
Lesson 1: Tiling the PlaneUnit 1
Lesson 1: Shapes on a Plane [Free lesson]
Lesson 2: Finding Area by Decomposing and Rearranging
Lesson 3: Reasoning to Find Area
Unit 1
Lesson 2: Letters
Topic 2: Parallelograms
Lesson 4: Parallelograms
Lesson 5: Bases and Heights of Parallelograms
Lesson 6: Area of Parallelograms
Unit 1
Lesson 3: Exploring Parallelograms (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 4: Off the Grid
Topic 3: Triangles
Lesson 7: From Parallelograms to TrianglesUnit 1
Lesson 3: Exploring Parallelograms (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 4: Off the Grid
Lesson 6: Triangles and Parallelograms
Lesson 8: Area of TrianglesUnit 1
Lesson 5: Exploring Triangles (Print available)
Lesson 9: Formula for the Area of a Triangle
Lesson 10: Bases and Heights of Triangles
Unit 1
Lesson 4: Off the Grid
Lesson 6: Triangles and Parallelograms
Topic 4: Polygons
Lesson 11: PolygonsUnit 1
Lesson 2: Letters
Lesson 8: Pile of Polygons
Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Unit 7
Lesson 11: Polygon Maker
Topic 5: Surface Area
Lesson 12: What is Surface Area?Unit 1
Lesson 9: Renata´s Stickers [Free lesson]
Lesson 13: PolyhedraUnit 1Lesson 10: Plenty of Polyhedra
Lesson 14: Nets and Surface AreaUnit 1
Lesson 10: Plenty of Polyhedra
Lesson 11: Nothing But Nets (Print available)
Lesson 13: Take It To Go
Lesson 15: More Nets, More Surface AreaUnit 1
Lesson 10: Plenty of Polyhedra
Lesson 11: Nothing But Nets (Print available)
Lesson 12: Face Value
Lesson 13: Take It To Go (Print available)
Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 16: Distinguishing Between Surface Area and Volume
Topic 6: Squares and Cubes 
Lesson 17: Squares and CubesUnit 6
Lesson 12: Squares and Cubes
Lesson 18: Surface Area of a Cube 
Topic 7: Let’s Put It to Work 
Lesson 19: Designing a TentUnit 1
Lesson 13: Take It To Go (Print available)

Unit 2: Introducing Ratios

Topic 1: Introducing Ratios
Lesson 1: Introducing Ratios and Ratio LanguageUnit 2Lesson 1: Pizza Maker [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Ratio Rounds (Print available)
Lesson 2: Representing Ratios with DiagramsUnit 2Lesson 1: Pizza Maker [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Ratio Rounds (Print available)Lesson 3: Rice Ratios (Print available)
Topic 2: Equivalent Ratios
Lesson 3: RecipesUnit 2Lesson 1: Pizza Maker [Free lesson]Lesson 3: Rice Ratios (Print available)
Lesson 4: Color MixturesUnit 2Lesson 7: Mixing Paint, Part 1Lesson 12: Mixing paint, Part 2
Lesson 5: Defining Equivalent RatiosUnit 2Lesson 3: Rice Ratios (Print available)Lesson 4: Fruit Lab [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Community LifePractice Day 1 (Print available)
Topic 3: Representing Equivalent ratios
Lesson 6: Introducing Double Number Line DiagramsUnit 2Lesson 5: Balancing Act
Lesson 7: Creating Double Line DiagramsUnit 2Lesson 5: Balancing ActLesson 6: Product prices (Print available)
Lesson 8: How Much for One?Unit 2Lesson 6: Product prices (Print available)
Lesson 9: Constant SpeedUnit 2Lesson 8: World Records (Print available)
Lesson 10: Comparing Situations by Examining RatiosUnit 2Lesson 7: Mixing Paint, Part 1 
Topic 4: Solving Ratio and Rate Problems
Lesson 11: Representing Ratios with TablesUnit 2Lesson 9: Disaster Preparation [Free lesson]
Lesson 12: Navigating a Table of Equivalent Ratios
Lesson 13: Tables and Double Line Diagrams
Unit 2Lesson 6: Product prices (Print available)Lesson 7: Mixing Paint, Part 1
Lesson 14: Solving Equivalent Ratio ProblemsUnit 2Lesson 6: Product prices (Print available)Lesson 7: Mixing Paint, Part 1Lesson 10: BalloonsLesson 11: Community Life (Print available)
Topic 5: Part-Part-Whole Ratios
Lesson 15: Part-Part-Whole RatiosUnit 2Lesson 12: Mixing paint, Part 2Lesson 13: City Planning
Lesson 16: Solving More Ratio ProblemsUnit 2Lesson 13: City PlanningLesson 14: Lunch Waste (Print available)
Topic 6: Let’s Put It to Work 
Lesson 17: A Fermi ProblemUnit 2Lesson 13: City PlanningLesson 14: Lunch Waste (Print available)Practice Day 2 (Print available)

Unit 3: Rates and Percentages

Topic 1: Units of Measurement 
Lesson 1: The Burj KhalifaUnit 3
Lesson 4: Model Trains
Topic 2: Unit Conversion
Lesson 2: Anchoring Units of MeasurementUnit 3
Lesson 1: Many Measurements (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 3: Measuring with Different-Sized Units
Lesson 4: Converting Units
Unit 3
Lesson 2: Counting Classrooms
Lesson 3: Pen Pals
Topic 3: Rates
Lesson 5: Comparing Speeds and PricesUnit 2
Lesson 8: World Records (Print available) 

Unit 3
Lesson 4: Model Trains
Lesson 5: Soft Serve [Free lesson]
Lesson 6: Welcome to the Robot Factory
Lesson 6: Interpreting Rates
Lesson 7: Equivalent Ratios Have the Same Unit Rates
Unit 3
Lesson 4: Model Trains
Lesson 5: Soft Serve [Free lesson]
Lesson 8: More About Constant SpeedUnit 2
Lesson 8: World Records (Print available) 

Unit 3
Lesson 4: Model Trains
Lesson 9: Solving Rate ProblemsUnit 3
Lesson 7: More Soft Serve
Topic 4: Percentages
Lesson 10: What Are percentagesUnit 3
Lesson 8: Lucky Duckies [Free lesson]
Lesson 9: Bicycle Goals
Lesson 11: Percentages and Double Number LinesUnit 3
Lesson 9: Bicycle Goals
Lesson 10: What’s Missing? (Print available)
Lesson 12: Percentages and Tape DiagramsUnit 3
Lesson 10: What’s Missing? (Print available)
Lesson 13: Benchmark percentagesUnit 3
Lesson 8: Lucky Duckies [Free lesson]
Lesson 14: Solving Percentage Problems
Lesson 15: Finding This Percent of That
Lesson 16: Finding the Percentage
Unit 3
Lesson 10: What’s Missing? (Print available)
Lesson 11: Cost Breakdown
Lesson 12: More Bicycle Goals
Lesson 13: A Country as a Village
Topic 5: Let’s Put It to Work 
Lesson 17: Painting a RoomUnit 3
Lesson 13: A Country as a Village
Lesson 7: Equivalent Ratios Have the Same Unit RatesUnit 3
Lesson 4: Model Trains
Lesson 5: Soft Serve [Free lesson]

Unit 4: Dividing Fractions

Topic 1: Making Sense of Division 
Lesson 1: Size of Divisor and Size of Quotient
Lesson 2: Meanings of Division
Unit 4Lesson 1: Cookie Cutter
Lesson 3: Interpreting Division SituationsUnit 4Lesson 2: Making Connections (Print available)
Topic 2: Meanings of Fraction Division
Lesson 4: How Many Groups (Part 1)Unit 4Lesson 3: Flour Planner [Free lesson]Lesson 4: Flower Planters 
Lesson 5: How Many Groups (Part 2)Unit 4Lesson 5: Garden Bricks (Print available)
Lesson 6: Using Diagrams to Find the Number of GroupsUnit 4Lesson 5: Garden Bricks (Print available)Lesson 6: Fill the Gap [Free lesson]
Lesson 7: What Fraction of a Group?
Lesson 8: How Much in Each Group? (Part 1)
Lesson 9: How Much in Each Group? (Part 2)
Unit 4Lesson 8: Potting Soil
Topic 3: Algorithm for Fraction Division
Lesson 10: Dividing by Unit and Non-Unit FractionsUnit 4Lesson 7: Break It DownLesson 8: Potting SoilLesson 9: Division Challenges 
Lesson 11: Using an Algorithm to Divide FractionsUnit 4Lesson 9: Division ChallengesPractice Day
Topic 4: Fractions in Lengths, Areas, and Volumes
Lesson 12: Fractional LengthsUnit 4Lesson 11: Classroom Comparisons
Lesson 13: Rectangles with Fractional Side LengthsUnit 4Lesson 12: Puzzling Areas (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 14: Fractional Lengths in Triangles and Prisms
Lesson 15: Volume of PrismsUnit 4Lesson 13: Volume Challenges
Topic 5: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 16: Solving Problems with FractionsUnit 4Lesson 10: Swap Meet (Print available)
Lesson 17: Fitting Boxes into BoxesUnit 4Lesson 14: Planter Planner (Print available)

Unit 5: Arithmetic in Base Ten

Topic 1: Warming Up to Decimals 
Lesson 1: Using Decimals in a Shopping ContextUnit 5Lesson 1: Dishing Out Decimals (Print available) [Free lesson]
Topic 2: Adding and Subtracting Decimals
Lesson 2: Using Decimals to Represent Addition and SubtractionUnit 5Lesson 3: Fruit by the PoundLesson 4: Missing Digits
Lesson 3: Adding and Subtracting Decimals with Few Non-Zero DigitsUnit 5Lesson 4: Missing Digits
Lesson 4: Adding and Subtracting Decimals with Many Non-Zero Digits 
Topic 3: Multiplying Decimals
Lesson 5: Decimal Points in ProductsUnit 5Lesson 5: Decimal Multiplication
Lesson 6: Methods for Multiplying DecimalsUnit 5Lesson 5: Decimal MultiplicationLesson 6: Multiplying with AreasLesson 7: Multiplication methods (Print available)
Lesson 7: Using Diagrams to Represent MultiplicationUnit 5Lesson 5: Decimal MultiplicationLesson 6: Multiplying with Areas
Lesson 8: Calculating Products of DecimalsUnit 5Lesson 6: Multiplying with Areas
Topic 4: Dividing Decimals
Lesson 9: Using the Partial Quotients MethodUnit 5Lesson 8: Division Diagrams
Lesson 10: Using Long DivisionUnit 5Lesson 8: Division DiagramsLesson 9: Long Division Launch (Print available)Lesson 10: Return of the Long Division (Print available)
Lesson 11: Dividing Numbers That Result in Decimals
Lesson 12: Dividing Decimals by Whole Numbers
Lesson 13: Dividing Decimals by Decimals
Unit 5Lesson 9: Long Division Launch (Print available)Lesson 10: Return of the Long Division (Print available)
Topic 5: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 14: Using Operations on Decimals to Solve ProblemsUnit 5Lesson 11: Movie Time [Free lesson]
Lesson 15: Making and Measuring Boxes
Lesson 12: Dividing Decimals by Whole Numbers 
Lesson 13: Dividing Decimals by DecimalsUnit 5Lesson 9: Long Division Launch (Print available)Lesson 10: Return of the Long Division (Print available)

Unit 6: Expressions and Equations

Lesson 1: Tape Diagrams and Equations
Lesson 2: Truth and Equations
Unit 6Lesson 1: Weight for It [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Five Equations (Print available)
Lesson 3: Staying in BalanceUnit 6Lesson 1: Weight for It [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Five Equations (Print available)Lesson 3: Hanging Around
Lesson 4: Practice Solving Equations and Representing Situations with EquationsUnit 6Lesson 3: Hanging AroundLesson 4: Hanging It UpLesson 5: Swap and Solve (Print available)
Lesson 5: A New Way to Interpret a and bUnit 6Lesson 4: Hanging It UpLesson 5: Swap and Solve (Print available)
Topic 2: Equal and Equivalent
Lesson 6: Write Expressions Where Letters Stand for NumbersUnit 6Lesson 6: Vari-applesLesson 7: Border Tiles
Lesson 7: Revisit PercentagesUnit 3Lesson 10: What’s Missing?Lesson 11: Cost BreakdownLesson 12: More Bicycle Goals
Lesson 8: Equal and EquivalentUnit 6Lesson 1: Weight for It [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Five Equations (Print available)Lesson 3: Hanging AroundLesson 6: Vari-apples
Topic 9: The Distributive Property, Part 1Unit 6Lesson 8: Products and Sums [Free lesson]
Lesson 10: The Distributive Property, Part 2
Lesson 11: The Distributive Property, Part 3
Unit 6Lesson 8: Products and Sums [Free lesson]Lesson 9: Products, Sums, and Differences (Print available)
Topic 3: Expressions with Exponents
Lesson 12: Meaning of ExponentsUnit 6Lesson 10: PowersLesson 11: Exponent Expressions (Print available)
Lesson 13: Expressions with Exponents
Lesson 14: Evaluating Expressions with Exponents
Lesson 15: Equivalent Exponential Expressions
Unit 6Lesson 11: Exponent Expressions (Print available)Lesson 12: Squares and Cubes
Topic 4: Relationships Between Quantities 
Lesson 16: Two Related Quantities, Part 1
Lesson 17: Two Related Quantities, Part 2
Lesson 18: More Relationships
Unit 6Lesson 13: Turtles All the WayLesson 14: Representing RelationshipsLesson 15: Connecting Representations (Print available)
Topic 5: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 19: Tables, Equations, and Graphs, Oh My!Unit 6Lesson 16: Subway fares (Print available) [Free lesson]

Unit 7: Rational Numbers

Topic 1: Positive and Negative Numbers
Lesson 1: Positive and Negative NumbersUnit 7Lesson 1: Can You Dig In [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Digging Deeper
Lesson 2: Points on the Number LineUnit 7Lesson 2: Digging Deeper
Lesson 3: Comparing Positive and Negative Numbers
Lesson 4: Ordering Rational Numbers
Unit 7Lesson 3: Order in the Class (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 5: Using Negative Numbers to make Sense of ContextsUnit 7 Lesson 4: Sub-Zero
Lesson 6: Absolute Value of Numbers
Lesson 7: Comparing Numbers and Distance from Zero
Unit 7Lesson 5: Distance on the Number Line
Topic 2: Inequalities
Lesson 8: Writing and Graphing InequalitiesUnit 7Lesson 13: Popcorn Possibilities
Lesson 9: Solutions of Inequalities
Lesson 10: Interpreting Inequalities
Unit 7Lesson 6: Tunnel Travel [Free lesson]Lesson 7: Comparing WeightsLesson 8: Shira´s Solutions
Topic 3: The Coordinate Plane
Lesson 11: Points on the Coordinate Plane
Lesson 12: Constructing the Coordinate Plane
Unit 7Lesson 9: Sand Dollar SearchLesson 10: The A-maze-ing Coordinate Plane
Lesson 13: Interpreting Points on a Coordinate PlaneUnit 7Lesson 9: Sand Dollar SearchLesson 10: The A-maze-ing Coordinate PlaneLesson 11: Polygon Maker
Lesson 14: Distances on a Coordinate PlaneUnit 7Lesson 11: Polygon MakerLesson 12: Graph Telephone (Print available)
Lesson 15: Shapes on the Coordinate PlaneUnit 1Lesson 1: Shapes on a Plane [Free lesson]Lesson 2: LettersLesson 5: Exploring Triangles (Print available)Lesson 6: Triangles and ParallelogramsUnit 7Lesson 3: Exploring Parallelograms (Print available)Lesson 11: Polygon MakerLesson 12: Graph Telephone (Print available)
Topic 4: Common Factors and Common Multiples
Lesson 16: Common FactorsUnit 5Lesson 15: Common factors
Lesson 17: Common MultiplesUnit 5Lesson 14: Common Multiples
Lesson 18: Using Common Multiples and Common FactorsUnit 5Lesson 14: Common MultiplesLesson 15: Common factorsPractice Day 2 (Print available)
Topic 5: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 19: Drawing on the Coordinate PlaneUnit 7Lesson 11: Polygon MakerLesson 12: Graph Telephone (Print available)

Unit 8: Data Sets and Distributions

Topic 1: Data, Variability, and Statistical Questions
Lesson 1: Got Data?
Lesson 2: Statistical Questions
Unit 8Lesson 1: Screen TimeLesson 2: Dot Plots
Topic 2: Dot Plots and Distributions
Lesson 3: Representing Data Graphically
Lesson 4: Dot Plots
Lesson 5: Using Dot Plots to Answer Statistical Questions
Unit 8Lesson 2: Dot PlotsLesson 3: Minimum Wage (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 4: Lots More Dots
Lesson 6: Interpreting Histograms
Lesson 7: Using Histograms to Answer Statistical Questions
Lesson 8: Describing Distributions on Histograms
Unit 8Lesson 5: The Plot Thickens [Free lesson]Lesson 6: DIY Histograms (Print available)
Topic 3: Measures of Center and Variability
Lesson 9: Mean
Lesson 10: Finding and Interpreting the Mean as a Balance Point
Unit 8Lesson 7: Snack Time
Lesson 11: Variability and MADUnit 8Lesson 8: Pop It!
Lesson 12: Using Mean and MAD to Make ComparisonsUnit 8Lesson 9: Hoops
Topic 4: Median and IQR
Lesson 13: MedianUnit 8Lesson 11: Toy Cars [Free lesson]Lesson 12: In the News
Lesson 14: Comparing Mean and MedianUnit 8Lesson 12: In the News
Lesson 15: Quartiles and Interquartile RangeUnit 8Lesson 13: Pumpkin Patch
Lesson 16: Box PlotsUnit 8Lesson 14: Car, Plane, Bus, or Train? (Print available)
Lesson 17: Using Box PlotsUnit 8Lesson 14: Car, Plane, Bus, or Train? (Print available)Lesson 15: Hollywood Part 2Lesson 16: Hollywood Part 3 (Print available)Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Topic 5: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 18: Using Data to Solve ProblemsUnit 8Lesson 16: Hollywood Part 3 (Print available)

Unit 9: Putting It All Together

Topic 1: Making Connections
Lesson 1: Fermi Problems
Lesson 2: In Our Class Were the World
Unit 3Lesson 13: A Country as a Village
Lesson 3: Rectangle MadnessUnit 5Lesson 14: Common MultiplesLesson 15: Common factors
Topic 2: Voting
Lesson 4: How Do We Choose?Unit 2Lesson 13: City PlanningLesson 14: Lunch Waste (Print available)
Lesson 5: More than Two ChoicesUnit 3Lesson 13: A Country as a Village
Lesson 6: Picking RepresentativesUnit 8Lesson 16: Hollywood Part 3 (Print available)

Grade 7

Unit 1: Scale Drawings

Illustrative MathematicsDesmos Math 6–A1
Topic 1: Scaled Copies 
Lesson 1: What are Scaled Copies?Unit 1Lesson 1: Scaling Machines [Free lesson]
Lesson 2: Corresponding Parts and Scale FactorsUnit 1Lesson 2: Scaling Robots Unit 3Lesson 1: Toothpicks
Lesson 3: Making Scaled Copies
Lesson 4: Scaled Relationship
Unit 1Lesson 3: Make It Scale Unit 4Lesson 3: Sticker Sizes
Lesson 5: The Size and the Scale FactorUnit 1Lesson 4: Scale Factor Challenges
Lesson 6: Scaling and AreaUnit 1Lesson 5: TilesPractice Day 1 (Print available)
Topic 2: Scale Drawings 
Lesson 7: Scale DrawingsUnit 1Lesson 6: Introducing ScaleLesson 7: Will It Fit? (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 8: Scale Drawings and Maps 
Lesson 9: Creating Scale Drawings
Lesson 10: Changing Scales in Scale Drawings
Unit 1Lesson 8: Scaling StatesLesson 9: Scaling BuildingsLesson 10: Room Redesign (Print available)
Lesson 11: Scales without Units 
Lesson 12: Units in Scale DrawingsUnit 1Lesson 8: Scaling StatesLesson 9: Scaling BuildingsLesson 10: Room Redesign (Print available)Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Topic 3: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 13: Draw It to ScaleUnit 1Lesson 10: Room Redesign (Print available)

Unit 2: Introducing Proportional Relationships

Topic 1: Representing Proportional Relationships with Tables
Lesson 1: One of These Things Is Not Like the OthersUnit 2Lesson 1: Paint [Free lesson] 
Lesson 2: Introducing Proportional Relationships with TablesUnit 2Lesson 2: Balloon FloatLesson 3: Sugary Drinks (Print available)Lesson 4: Robot Factory
Lesson 3: More About Constant of ProportionalityUnit 2Lesson 3: Sugary Drinks (Print available)Unit 4Lesson 3: Sticker Sizes
Topic 2: Representing Proportional Relationships with Equations 
Lesson 4: Proportional Relationships with EquationsUnit 2Lesson 4: Robot FactoryLesson 5: SnapshotsLesson 6: Two and Two (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 7: All Kinds of Equations
Lesson 5: Two Equations for Each Relationship
Lesson 6: Using Equations to Solve Problems
Unit 2Lesson 6: Two and Two (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 7: All Kinds of EquationsPractice Day
Topic 3: Comparing Proportional and Nonproportional Relationships 
Lesson 7: Comparing Relationships with TablesUnit 2Lesson 2: Balloon FloatLesson 3: Sugary Drinks (Print available)Lesson 4: Robot Factory
Lesson 8: Comparing Relationships with EquationsUnit 2Lesson 4: Robot FactoryLesson 5: SnapshotsLesson 6: Two and Two (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 7: All Kinds of EquationsLesson 11: Four RepresentationsLesson 12: Water Efficiency
Lesson 9: Solving Problems About Proportional RelationshipsUnit 2Lesson 12: Water Efficiency
Topic 4: Representing Proportional Relationships with Graphs
Lesson 10: Introducing Graphs of Proportional Relationships
Lesson 11: Interpreting Graphs of Proportional Relationships
Lesson 12: Using Graphs to Compare Relationships
Lesson 13: Two Graphs for Each Relationship
Unit 2Lesson 8: Dino Pops [Free lesson]Lesson 9: Gallon ChallengeLesson 10: Three TurtlesLesson 11: Four RepresentationsLesson 12: Water Efficiency
Topic 5: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 14: For RepresentationsUnit 2Lesson 11: Four Representations (Print available)
Lesson 15: Using Water EfficiencyUnit 2Lesson 12: Water Efficiency

Unit 3: Measuring Circles

Topic 1: Circumference of a Circle 
Lesson 1: How Well Can You Measure?Unit 3Lesson 1: Toothpicks
Lesson 2: Exploring Circles
Lesson 3: Exploring Circumference
Lesson 4: Applying Circumference
Unit 3Lesson 2: Is It a Circle?Lesson 3: Measuring Around [Free lesson]
Lesson 5: Circumference and Wheels 
Topic 2: Area of a Circle
Lesson 6: Estimating AreasUnit 3Lesson 5: Area Strategies
Lesson 7: Exploring the Area of a Circle
Lesson 8: Relating Area to Circumference
Unit 3Lesson 5: Area StrategiesLesson 6: Radius Squares (Print available)Lesson 7: Why Pi?Lesson 8: Area Challenges [Free lesson]Lesson 9: Circle vs. SquarePractice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 9: Applying Area of CirclesUnit 3Lesson 6: Radius Squares (Print available)
Topic 3: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 10: Distinguishing Circumference and AreaUnit 3Lesson 7: Why Pi?
Lesson 11: Stained-Glass WindowsUnit 3Lesson 5: Area StrategiesLesson 6: Radius Squares (Print available)

Unit 4: Proportional Relationships and Percentages

Topic 1: Proportional Relationships with Fractions 
Lesson 1: Lots of Flags
Lesson 2: Ratios and Rates with Fractions
Lesson 3: Revisiting Proportional Relationships
Lesson 4: Half as Much Again
Unit 4Lesson 1: Mosaics [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Peach Cobbler (Print available)Lesson 3: Sticker Sizes
Lesson 5: Say It with Decimals 
Topic 2: Percent Increase and Decrease 
Lesson 6: Increasing and DecreasingUnit 4Lesson 4: More and LessLesson 5: All the EquationsLesson 6: 100% (Print available)Lesson 7: Percent machines [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Tax and TipLesson 9: Minimum Wage (Print available)Lesson 10: Cost of College (Print available)Lesson 11: Bookcase BuilderLesson 12: Posing Percent Problems [Free lesson]
Lesson 7: One Hundred percentUnit 4Lesson 6: 100% (Print available)
Lesson 8: Percent Increase and Decrease with EquationsUnit 4Lesson 5: All the Equations
Lesson 9: More and Less than 1% 
Topic 3: Applying Percentages
Lesson 10: Tax and Tip
Lesson 11: Percentage Contexts
Unit 4Lesson 8: Tax and TipLesson 9: Minimum Wage (Print available)Lesson 10: Cost of College (Print available)Lesson 11: Bookcase BuilderLesson 12: Posing Percent Problems [Free lesson]
Lesson 12: Finding the PercentagesUnit 4Lesson 4: More and Less
Lesson 13: Measurement Error
Lesson 14: Percent Error
Lesson 15: Error Intervals
Unit 4Lesson 11: Bookcase Builder
Topic 4: Let’s Put It to Work 
Lesson 16: Posing Percent ProblemsUnit 4Lesson 8: Tax and TipLesson 9: Minimum Wage (Print available)Lesson 10: Cost of College (Print available)Lesson 11: Bookcase BuilderLesson 12: Posing Percent Problems [Free lesson]Practice Day

Unit 5: Rational Number Arithmetic

Topic 1: Interpreting Negative Numbers 
Lesson 1: Interpreting Negative NumbersUnit 5Lesson 1: Floats and Anchors [Free lesson]
Topic 2: Adding and Subtracting Rational Numbers
Lesson 2: Changing Temperatures
Lesson 3: Changing Elevation
Unit 5Lesson 2: More Floats and AnchorsLesson 3: BumpersLesson 4: Draw Your Own (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 4: Money and Debts 
Lesson 5: Representing SubtractionUnit 5Lesson 5: Number Puzzles
Lesson 6: Subtracting Rational Numbers
Lesson 7: Adding and Subtracting to Solve Problems
Unit 5Lesson 3: BumpersLesson 4: Draw Your Own (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 5: Number PuzzlesLesson 10: Integer Puzzles [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Changing TemperaturesLesson 13: Solar Panels and More (Print available)Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Topic 3: Multiplying and Dividing Rational Numbers
Lesson 8: Position, Speed, and Direction
Lesson 9: Multiplying Rational Numbers
Lesson 10: Multiply!
Unit 5Lesson 7: Back in Time
Lesson 11: Dividing Rational NumbersUnit 5Lesson 8: Speeding Turtles
Lesson 12: Negative Rates 
Topic 4: Four Operations with Rational Numbers 
Lesson 13: Expressions with Rational NumbersUnit 5Lesson 9: Expressions (Print available)
Lesson 14: Solving Problems with Rational NumbersLesson 11: Changing Temperatures
Lesson 12: Arctic Ice Sea (Print available)
Lesson 13: Solar Panels and More (Print available)
Topic 5: Solving Equations When There Are Negative Numbers 
Lesson 15: Making and Measuring Boxes 
Lesson 16: Representing Contexts with Equations 
Topic 6: Let’s Put It to Work 
Lesson 17: The Stock market

Unit 6: Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities

Topic 1: Representing Situations of the Form px + q and p(+ q) = r
Lesson 1: Relationships Between Quantities
Unit 2 Lesson 1: Paint [Free lesson] Lesson 2: Balloon Float
Unit 4 Lesson 1: Mosaics [Free lesson] Lesson 2: Peach Cobbler (Print available)
Unit 6 Lesson 1: Toothpicks and Tiles
Lesson 2: Reasoning about Contexts with Tape Diagrams
Lesson 3: Reasoning about Equations with Tape Diagrams
Lesson 4: Reasoning about Equations and Tape Diagrams (Part 1)
Lesson 5: Reasoning about Equations and Tape Diagrams (Part 2)
Unit 6Lesson 2: Smudged ReceiptsLesson 3: EquationsLesson 4: Seeing Structure (Print available)
Lesson 6: Distinguishing between Two Types of SituationsUnit 6Lesson 6: Balancing EquationsLesson 7: Keeping It True (Print available)
Topic 2: Solving Equations of the Form px + q and p(+ q) = and Problems That lead to Those Equations 
Lesson 7: Reasoning about Solving Equations (Part 1)Unit 6Lesson 5: Balancing MovesLesson 6: Balancing EquationsLesson 7: Keeping It True (Print available) 
Lesson 8: Reasoning about Solving Equations (Part 2)Unit 6Lesson 5: Balancing MovesLesson 6: Balancing EquationsLesson 7: Keeping It True (Print available)Lesson 9: Always-Equal Machines
Topic 9 Dealing with Negative Numbers 
Lesson 10: Different Options for Solving One EquationUnit 6Lesson 7: Keeping It True (Print available)Lesson 9: Always-Equal MachinesLesson 10: Collect the Squares [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Equation Roundtable (Print available)
Lesson 11: Using Equations to Solve ProblemsUnit 6Lesson 12: Community Day (Print available)
Lesson 12: Solving Problems about Percent Increase or DecreaseUnit 4Lesson 10: Cost of College (Print available)
Topic 3: Inequalities 
Lesson 13: Reintroducing InequalitiesUnit 6Lesson 13: I Saw the SignsLesson 15: BudgetingLesson 16: Shira the Sheep [Free lesson]
Lesson 14: Finding Solutions to Inequalities in Context
Lesson 15: Efficiency Solving Inequalities
Unit 6Lesson 14: Unbalanced HangersLesson 15 Budgeting (Print available)Lesson 16: Shira the Sheep [Free lesson]Lesson 17: Write Them and Solve Them (Print available)
Lesson 16: Interpreting Inequalities
Lesson 17: Modeling with Inequalities
Unit 6Lesson 16: Shira the Sheep [Free lesson]Lesson 17: Write Them and Solve Them (Print available)Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Topic 4: Writing Equivalent Expressions 
Lesson 18: Subtraction in Equivalent ExpressionsUnit 6Lesson 9: Always-Equal MachinesLesson 10: Collect the Squares [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Equation Roundtable (Print available) 
Lesson 19: Expanding and FactoringUnit 6Lesson 8: Factoring and Expanding (Print available)Lesson 11: Equation Roundtable (Print available)
Lesson 20: Combining Like Terms (Part 1)
Lesson 21: Combining Like Terms (Part 2)
Lesson 22: Combining Like Terms (Part 3)
Unit 6Lesson 2: Smudged ReceiptsLesson 6: Balancing EquationsLesson 8: Factoring and Expanding (Print available)Lesson 9: Always-Equal MachinesLesson 10: Collect the Squares [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Equation Roundtable (Print available)Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Topic 5: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 23: Applications of ExpressionsUnit 6Lesson 12: Community Day (Print available)

Unit 7: Angles, Triangles, and Prisms

Topic 1: Angle Relationships
Lesson 1:Relationships of Angles
Unit 7 Lesson 1: Pinwheels Lesson 2: Friendly Angles [Free lesson] Lesson 3: Angle Diagrams
Lesson 2: Adjacent Angles
Lesson 3: Nonadjacent Angles
Unit 7Lesson 2: Friendly Angles [Free lesson]Lesson 3: Angle Diagrams
Lesson 4: Solving for Unknown AnglesUnit 7Lesson 2: Friendly Angles [Free lesson]Lesson 3: Angle DiagramsLesson 4: Missing Measures (Print available)
Lesson 5: Using Equations to Solve for Unknown AnglesUnit 7Lesson 3: Angle DiagramsLesson 4: Missing Measures (Print available) [Free lesson]
Topic 2: Drawing Polygons with Given Conditions 
Lesson 6: Building Polygons (Part 1)
Lesson 7: Building Polygons (Part 2)
Unit 7Lesson 6: Is It Enough?
Lesson 8: Triangles with 3 Common MeasuresUnit 7Lesson 13: Popcorn Possibilities
Lesson 9: Drawing Triangles (Part 1)
Lesson 10: Drawing Triangles (Part 2)
Unit 7Lesson 5: Can You Build It? [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Is It Enough?Lesson 7: More Than OneLesson 8: Can You Draw It? (Print available)Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Topic 3: Solid Geometry
Lesson 11: Slicing SolidsUnit 7Lesson 9: Slicing Solids
Lesson 12: Volume of Right PrismsUnit 7Lesson 10: Simple Prisms
Lesson 13: Decomposing Bases for AreasUnit 7Lesson 11: More Complicated Prisms
Lesson 14: Surface Area of Right PrismsUnit 7Lesson 10: Simple PrismsLesson 11: More Complicated PrismsLesson 12: Surface Area Strategies (Print available)
Lesson 15: Distinguishing Volume and Surface Area
Lesson 16: Applying Volume and Surface AreaUnit 7Lesson 13: Popcorn Possibilities
Topic 4: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 17: Building Prisms

Unit 8: Probability and Sampling

Topic 1: Probabilities of Single Step Events
Lesson 1: Mystery Bags
Lesson 2: Chance Experiments
Lesson 3: What Are Probabilities?
Unit 8 Lesson 1: How Likely? (Print available) [Free lesson] Lesson 2: Prob-bear-bilities [Free lesson] Lesson 3: Mystery Bag
Lesson 4: Estimating Probabilities Through Repeated ExperimentsUnit 8Lesson 4: Spin ClassLesson 5: Is It Fair?Lesson 6: Fair Games
Lesson 5: More Estimating ProbabilitiesUnit 8Lesson 6: Fair GamesLesson 7: Weather or NotLesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)
Lesson 6: Estimating Probabilities Using SimulationUnit 8Lesson 6: Fair GamesLesson 7: Weather or NotLesson 8: Simulate ItLesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)
Topic 2: Probabilities of Multi-step Events
Lesson 7: Simulating Multi-step EventsUnit 8Lesson 7: Weather or NotLesson 8: Simulate ItLesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)
Lesson 8: Keeping Track of All Possible OutcomesUnit 8Lesson 4: Spin ClassLesson 5: Is It Fair?Lesson 6: Fair Games
Topic 9: Multi-step experiments
Lesson 10: Designing SimulationsUnit 8Lesson 7: Weather or NotLesson 8: Simulate ItLesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)
Topic 3: Sampling
Lesson 11: Comparing Groups
Lesson 12: Larger Populations
Lesson 13: What Makes a Good Sample?
Lesson 14: Sampling in a Fair Way
Unit 8Lesson 10: Crab Island [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Headlines
Topic 4: Using Samples
Lesson 15: Estimating Population Measures of Center
Lesson 16: Estimating Population Proportions
Unit 8 Lesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)Lesson 10: Crab Island [Free lesson]Lesson 11: HeadlinesLesson 12: Flower Power
Lesson 17: More about Sampling Variability
Lesson 18: Comparing Populations Using Samples
Lesson 19: Comparing Populations with Friends
Unit 8Lesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)Lesson 10: Crab Island [Free lesson]Lesson 13: Plots and SamplesLesson 14: School Newspaper (Print available)Lesson 15: Asthma Rates (Print available)
Topic 5: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 20: Memory TestUnit 8Lesson 14: School Newspaper (Print available)Lesson 15: Asthma Rates (Print available)

Grade 8

Unit 1: Rigid Transformations and Congruence

Illustrative MathematicsDesmos Math 6–A1
Topic 1: Rigid Transformations 
Lesson 1: Moving in the PlaneUnit 1Lesson 1: Transformers [Free lesson]
Lesson 2: Naming the MovesUnit 1Lesson 2: Spinning, Flipping, Sliding [Free lesson]
Lesson 3: Grid MovesUnit 1Lesson 3: Transformation GolfLesson 4: Moving Day (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 5: Getting CoordinatedUnit 3Lesson 6: Translations
Lesson 4: Making the MovesUnit 1Lesson 1: Transformers [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Spinning, Flipping, Sliding [Free lesson]Lesson 4: Moving Day (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 5: Getting Coordinated
Lesson 5: Coordinate MovesUnit 1Lesson 4: Moving Day (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 5: Getting Coordinated
Lesson 6: Describing TransformationsUnit 1Lesson 5: Getting CoordinatedLesson 6: Connecting the Dots [Free lesson]
Topic 2: Properties of Rigid Transformations 
Lesson 7: No Bending or StretchingUnit 1Lesson 7: No Bending, No Stretching
Lesson 8: Rotation PatternsUnit 1Lesson 1: Transformers [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Spinning, Flipping, Sliding [Free lesson]Lesson 4: Moving Day (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 5: Getting Coordinated
Lesson 9: Moves in Parallel
Lesson 10: Composing Figures
Unit 1 Lesson 10: Transforming Angles
Topic 3: Congruence 
Lesson 11: What is the Same?
Lesson 12: Congruent Polygons
Lesson 13: Congruence
Unit 1 Lesson 7: Are They the Same?Lesson 9: Are They Congruent?Practice Day (Print available)
Topic 4: Angles in a Triangle
Lesson 14: Alternate Interior Angles
Lesson 15: Adding the Angles in a Triangle
Unit 1 Lesson 11: Tearing It Up (Print available)
Lesson 16: Parallel Lines and the Angles in a TriangleUnit 1 Lesson 10: Transforming Angles
Topic 5: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 17: Rotate and TessellateLesson 13: Tessellate [Free lesson]

Unit 2: Dilations, Similarity, and Introducing Slope

Topic 1: Dilations
Lesson 1: Projecting and ScalingUnit 2Lesson 1: Sketchy Dilations [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Dilation Mini Golf (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 2: Circular Grid
Lesson 3: Dilations with No Grid
Lesson 4: Dilations on a Square Grid
Lesson 5: More Dilations
Unit 2Lesson 1: Sketchy Dilations [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Dilation Mini Golf (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 3: Match My DilationLesson 4: Dilations on a Plane
Topic 2: Similarity 
Lesson 6: SimilarityUnit 2Lesson 5: Transformations Golf with DilationsLesson 6: Social Scavenger Hunt (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 7: Similar Polygons 
Lesson 8: Similar Triangles
Lesson 9: Side Length Quotients in Similar Triangles
Unit 2Lesson 7: Are Angles Enough?Lesson 8: Shadows
Topic 3: Slope
Lesson 10: Meet SlopeUnit 2Lesson 9: Water SlideLesson 10: Points on a PlanePractice Day (Print available)Unit 3Lesson 3: PostersLesson 4: Stacking CupsLesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Translations Unit 4Lesson 8: When Are They the Same?
Lesson 11: Writing Equations of LinesUnit 3Lesson 3: PostersLesson 6: TranslationsLesson 10: SolutionsLesson 11: Pennies and Quarters Unit 4Lesson 3: Balanced MovesLesson 4: More Balanced Moves (Print available)
Lesson 12: Using Equations of LinesUnit 3Lesson 9: Coin Capture
Topic 4: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 13: The Shadow KnowsUnit 2Lesson 8: Shadows

Unit 3: Linear Relationships

Topic 1: Proportional Relationships 
Lesson 1: Understanding Proportional RelationshipsUnit 3Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials [Free lesson]
Lesson 2: Graphs of Proportional RelationshipsUnit 3Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Water Tank Unit 5Lesson 4: Window Frames
Lesson 3: Representing Proportional RelationshipsUnit 3Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials [Free lesson] Unit 5Lesson 4: Window FramesLesson 6: Graphing StoriesLesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Charge! (Print available)
Lesson 4: Comparing Proportional RelationshipsUnit 3Lesson 3: Posters
Topic 2: Representing Linear Relationships
Lesson 5: Introduction to Linear RelationshipsUnit 3Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials [Free lesson]Lesson 4: Stacking CupsUnit 5Lesson 6: Graphing StoriesLesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Charge! (Print available)
Lesson 6: More Linear RelationshipsUnit 5Lesson 6: Graphing StoriesLesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Charge! (Print available)
Lesson 7: Representations of Linear RelationshipsUnit 3Lesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Graphing StoriesLesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Charge! (Print available)
Lesson 8: Translating mx + bUnit 3Lesson 3: PostersLesson 6: Translations
Topic 3: Finding Slopes 
Lesson 9: Slopes Don’t Have to be PositiveUnit 3Lesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 6: TranslationsLesson 7: Water CoolerLesson 8: Landing Planes
Lesson 10: Calculating SlopeUnit 3Lesson 7: Water CoolerLesson 8: Landing Planes
Lesson 11: Equations of All Kinds of LinesUnit 3Lesson 3: PostersLesson 4: Stacking CupsLesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Translations
Topic 4: Linear Equations 
Lesson 12: Solutions to Linear EquationsUnit 3Lesson 3: PostersLesson 6: TranslationsLesson 10: Solutions Unit 4Lesson 3: Balanced MovesLesson 4: More Balanced Moves (Print available)
Lesson 13: More Solutions to Linear EquationsUnit 3 Lesson 4: Stacking CupsLesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 6: TranslationsLesson 7: Water CoolerLesson 10: Solutions
Topic 5: Let’s Put It to Work 
Lesson 14: Using Linear Relations to Solve ProblemsUnit 3 Lesson 11: Pennies and Quarters

Unit 4: Linear Equations and Linear Systems

Topic 1: Puzzle Problems 
Lesson 1: Number PuzzlesUnit 4Lesson 1: Number machines
Topic 2: Linear Equation in One Variable 
Lesson 2: Keeping the Equation BalancedUnit 4Lesson 2: Keep It Balanced
Lesson 3: Balanced MovesUnit 4Lesson 3: Balanced Moves
Lesson 4: More Balanced MovesUnit 4Lesson 4: More Balanced Moves (Print available)
Lesson 5: Solving Any Linear EquationUnit 4Lesson 4: More Balanced Moves (Print available)Lesson 5: Equation Roundtable (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Strategic Solving (Print available)
Lesson 6: Strategic SolvingUnit 4Lesson 5: Equation Roundtable (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Strategic Solving (Print available)
Lesson 7: All, Some, or No Solutions
Lesson 8: How many Solutions?
Unit 4Lesson 7: All, Some, or None?
Lesson 9: When Are They the SameUnit 4Lesson 8: When Are They the Same?
Topic 3: Systems of Linear Equations
Lesson 10: On or Off the Line?Unit 4Lesson 7: All, Some, or None?Lesson 8: When Are They the Same?Lesson 13: All, Some, or None? Part 2
Lesson 11: On Both of the Lines
Lesson 12: Systems of Equations
Lesson 13: Solving Systems of Equations
Unit 4 Lesson 9: On or Off the Line?Lesson 10: On Both LinesLesson 11: Make Them Balance [Free lesson]Lesson 12: Line Zapper [Free lesson]Lesson 13: All, Some, or None? Part 2Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 14: Solving More Systems 
Lesson 15: Writing Systems of EquationsUnit 4 Lesson 14: Strategic Solving, Part 2 (Print available)
Topic 4: Let’s Put It to Work 
Lesson 16: Posing Problems with Systems of EquationsUnit 4 Lesson 14: Strategic Solving, Part 2 (Print available)

Unit 5: Functions and Volume

Topic 1: Inputs and Outputs 
Lesson 1: Inputs and OutputsUnit 5Lesson 1: Turtle Crossing [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Guess My Rule [Free lesson]
Lesson 2: Introduction to FunctionsUnit 5Lesson 1: Turtle Crossing [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Guess My Rule [Free lesson]Lesson 3: Function or Not?
Topic 2: Representing and Interpreting Functions 
Lesson 3: Equations of FunctionsUnit 3Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials [Free lesson] Unit 5Lesson 3: Function or Not?Lesson 4: Window Frames
Lesson 4: Tables, Equations, and Graphs of Functions
Lesson 5: More Graphs of Functions
Unit 5Lesson 4: Window FramesLesson 5: The Tortoise and the Hare [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Graphing StoriesLesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Charge! (Print available)
Lesson 6: Even More Graphs of Functions 
Lesson 7: Connecting Representations of FunctionsUnit 5Lesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 8: (Print available)Charge!
Topic 3: Linear Functions and Rates of Change
Lesson 8: Linear FunctionsUnit 2Lesson 9: Water SlideLesson 10: Points on a PlaneUnit 3Lesson 4: Stacking CupsLesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Translations
Lesson 9: Linear ModelsUnit 5Lesson 3: PostersLesson 5: The Tortoise and the Hare [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Graphing StoriesLesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 10: Piecewise Linear FunctionsUnit 5Lesson 9: Piecing It Together
Topic 4: Cylinder and Cones 
Lesson 11: Filling Containers 
Lesson 12: How Much Will Fit? 
Lesson 13: The Volume of a CylinderUnit 5Lesson 10: Volume LabLesson 11: Cylinders [Free lesson]Lesson 12: Scaling Cylinders
Lesson 14: Finding Cylinder DimensionsUnit 5Lesson 10: Volume LabLesson 11: Cylinders [Free lesson]Lesson 12: Scaling CylindersLesson 14: Missing Dimensions (Print available)
Lesson 15: The Volume of a ConeUnit 5Lesson 10: Volume LabLesson 13: Cones [Free lesson]Lesson 14: Missing Dimensions (Print available)
Lesson 16: Finding Cone DimensionsUnit 5Lesson 12: Scaling CylindersLesson 13: Cones [Free lesson]Lesson 14: Missing Dimensions (Print available)
Topic 5: Dimensions and Spheres 
Lesson 17: Scaling One DimensionUnit 5Lesson 12: Scaling Cylinders
Lesson 18: Scaling Two Dimensions 
Lesson 19: Estimating a Hemisphere 
Lesson 20: The Volume of a Sphere
Lesson 21: Cylinders, Cones, and Spheres
Unit 5Lesson 15: SpheresPractice Day 2 (Print available)
Topic 6: Let’s Put It to Work 
Lesson 22: Volume As a Function of …Unit 5Lesson 15: Spheres

Unit 6: Associations in Data

Topic 1: Does This Predict That? 
Lesson 1: Organizing DataUnit 6 Lesson 1: Click Battle
Lesson 2: Plotting DataUnit 6 Lesson 2: Wing Span
Topic 2: Associations in Numerical Data 
Lesson 3: What a Point in a Scatter Plot MeansUnit 6 Lesson 1: Click BattleLesson 2: Wing SpanLesson 3: Robots [Free lesson]Lesson 7: Scatter Plot City
Lesson 4: Fitting a LineUnit 6 Lesson 4: Dapper Cats [Free lesson]Lesson 5: Fit Fights [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Interpreting SlopesLesson 8: Animal BrainsPractice Day 1 (Print available) [Free lesson]Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 5: Describing Trends in Scatter PlotsUnit 6 Lesson 1: Click BattleLesson 2: Wing SpanLesson 3: Robots [Free lesson]Lesson 7: Scatter Plot City(Print available)Practice Day 1 [Free lesson]
Lesson 6: The Slope of a Fitted LineUnit 6 Lesson 6: Interpreting SlopesLesson 7: Scatter Plot CityPractice Day 1 (Print available) [Free lesson]Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 7: Observing More patterns in Scatter PlotsUnit 6 Lesson 1: Click BattleLesson 2: Wing SpanLesson 3: Robots [Free lesson]Lesson 7: Scatter Plot City
Lesson 8: Analyzing Bivariate DataUnit 6Lesson 9: Tasty Fruit
Topic 3: Associations in Categorical data 
Lesson 9: Looking for AssociationsUnit 6Lesson 10: Finding Associations [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Federal BudgetsPractice Day 3 (Print available)
Lesson 10: Using Data Displays to Find associationsUnit 6Lesson 10: Finding Associations [Free lesson]Lesson 9: Tasty Fruit
Topic 4: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 11: Gone in 30 SecondsUnit 6Lesson 11: Federal Budgets

Unit 7: Exponents and Scientific Notation

Topic 1: Exponent Review 
Lesson 1: Exponent ReviewUnit 7 Lesson 1: Circles [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Combining Exponents
Topic 2: Exponent Rules 
Lesson 2: Multiplying Powers of 10
Lesson 3: Powers of Powers of 10
Lesson 4: Dividing Powers of 10
Unit 7 Lesson 3: Power Pairs (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 4: Rewriting Powers  
Lesson 5: Negative Exponents with Powers of 10Unit 7 Lesson 5: Zero and Negative ExponentsLesson 6: Write a Rule (Print available)Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 6: What about Other Bases? 
Lesson 7: Practice with Rational Bases
Lesson 8: Combining Bases 
Topic 3: Scientific Notation 
Lesson 9: Describing Large and Small Numbers using Powers of 10Unit 7 Lesson 7: Scales and Weights
Lesson 10: Representing Large Numbers on the Number Line
Lesson 11: Representing Small Numbers on the Number Line
Unit 7 Lesson 8: Point Zapper
Lesson 12: Applications of Arithmetic with Powers of 10Unit 7  Lesson 8: Point ZapperLesson 9: Use Your Powers
Lesson 13: Defining Scientific Notation
Lesson 14: Multiplying, Dividing, and Estimating with Scientific Notation
Unit 7 Lesson 10: Solar System [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Balance the Scales [Free lesson]Lesson 13: Star Power
Lesson 15: Adding and Subtracting with Scientific NotationUnit 7 Lesson 10: Solar System [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Balance the Scales [Free lesson]Lesson 12: City LightsLesson 13: Star Power
Topic 4: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 16: Is a Smartphone Smart Enough to Go to the Moon?Lesson 13: Star Power Practice Day 2 (Print available)

Unit 8: Pythagorean Theorem and Irrational Numbers

Topic 1: Side Lengths and Areas of Squares
Lesson 1: The Areas of Squares and Their Side LengthsUnit 8Lesson 1: Tilted Squares
Lesson 2: Side Lengths and AreasUnit 8Lesson 2: From Squares to RootsLesson 3: Between Squares
Lesson 3: Rational and Irrational Numbers
Lesson 4: Square Roots on the Number Line
Lesson 5: Reasoning about Square RootsUnit 8Lesson 2: From Squares to RootsLesson 3: Between SquaresLesson 4: Root Down [Free lesson]Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Topic 2: The Pythagorean Theorem
Lesson 6: Finding Side Lengths of TrianglesUnit 8Lesson 6: The Pythagorean TheoremLesson 7: Pictures to Prove ItLesson 8: Triangle-Tracing Turtle [Free lesson]
Lesson 7: A Proof of the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8Lesson 7: Pictures to Prove It
Lesson 8: Finding Unknown Side LengthsUnit 8Lesson 11: Pond Hopper
Lesson 9: The ConverseUnit 8Lesson 9: Make It Right
Lesson 10: Applications of the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8Lesson 10: Taco Truck [Free lesson]
Lesson 11: Finding Distances in the Coordinate PlaneUnit 8Lesson 11: Pond Hopper
Topic 3: Side Lengths and Volumes of Cubes
Lesson 12: Edge Lengths and Volumes
Lesson 13: Cube Roots
Unit 8Lesson 5: Filling Cubes
Topic 4: Decimal Representation of Rational and Irrational Numbers
Lesson 14: Decimal Representation of Rational and Numbers
Lesson 15: Infinite Decimal expansions
Unit 8Lesson 12: Fractions to DecimalsLesson 13: Decimals to Fractions
Topic 5: Let’s Put It to Work
Lesson 16: When Is the Same Size Not the Same Size?Unit 8Lesson 10: Taco Truck [Free lesson]

Unit 9: Putting It All Together

Topic 1: Tessellations
Lesson 1: Tessellations of the Plane
Lesson 2: Regular Tessellations
Lesson 3: Tessellating Polygons
Topic 2: The Weather
Lesson 4: What Influences Temperature?
Lesson 5: Plotting the Weather
Lesson 6: Using and Interpreting a Mathematical Model

Grade 6

Module 1: Ratios and Unit Rates

Eureka MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Topic A Representing and Reasoning About Ratios 
Lesson 1: Ratios
Lesson 2: Ratios
Unit 2
Lesson 1: Pizza Maker [Free lesson]
Lesson 2: Ratio Rounds (Print available)
Lesson 3: Equivalent Ratios
Lesson 4: Equivalent Ratios
Unit 2
Lesson 3: Rice Ratios
Lesson 4: Fruit Lab [Free lesson]
Lesson 5: Balancing Act
Lesson 7: Mixing Paint, Part 1
Lesson 8 World Records (Print available)
Lesson 11 Community Life (Print available)
Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 5: Solving Problems by Finding Equivalent Ratios
Lesson 6: Solving Problems by Finding Equivalent Ratios
Unit 2
Lesson 5 Balancing Act
 
Lesson 7: Associated Ratios and the Value of a Ratio
Lesson 8: Equivalent Ratios Defined Through the Value of a Ratio
Unit 2
Lesson 6: Product Prices (Print available)
Lesson 7: Mixing Paint, Part 1
Topic B Collections of Equivalent Ratios 
Lesson 9: Tables of Equivalent RatiosUnit 2
Lesson 6: Product Prices (Print available)
Lesson 7: Mixing Paint, Part 1
Lesson 10: The Structure of Ratio Tables-Additive and MultiplicativeUnit 2
Lesson 10: Balloons
Lesson 11: Community Life (Print available)
Lesson 11: Comparing Ratios Using Ratio TablesUnit 2
Lesson 10: Balloons
Lesson 12: From Ratio Tables to Double Number Line DiagramsUnit 2
Lesson 6: Product Prices (Print available)
Lesson 8: World Records (Print available)
Lesson 12: Mixing Paint, Part 2
Lesson 14: Lunch Waste (Print available)
Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 13: From Ratio Tables to Equations Using the Value of a Ratio 
Lesson 14: From Ratio Tables, Equations, and Double Number Line Diagrams to Plots on the Coordinate Plane 
Lesson 15: A Synthesis of Representations of Equivalent Ratio Collections 
Topic C Unit Rates 
Lesson 16: From Ratio to RatesUnit 2
Lesson 8: World Records (Print available)
 
Unit 3
Lesson 4: Model Trains
Lesson 5: Soft Serve [Free lesson]
Lesson 6: Welcome to the Robot Factory
Lesson 17: From Rates to Ratios 
Lesson 18: Finding a Rate by Dividing Two QuantitiesUnit 3
Lesson 4: Model Trains
Lesson 5: Soft Serve [Free lesson]
Lesson 6: Welcome to the Robot Factory
Lesson 7: More Soft Serve
Lesson 19: Comparison Shopping-Unit Price and Related Measurement Conversions
Lesson 20: Comparison Shopping-Unit Price and Related Measurement Conversions
Lesson 21: Getting the Job Done—Speed, Work, and Measurement Units
Lesson 22: Getting the Job Done—Speed, Work, and Measurement Units
Unit 3
Lesson 2: Counting Classrooms
Lesson 3: Pen Pals
Lesson 23: Problem-Solving Using Rates, Unit Rates, and Conversions.Unit 3
Lesson 13: A Country as a Village
Topic D Percent 
Lesson 24: Percent and Rates per 100Unit 3
Lesson 8: Lucky Duckies [Free lesson]
Lesson 9: Bicycle Goals
Lesson 25: A Fraction as a Percent 
Lesson 26: Percent of a Quantity.Unit 3
Lesson 10: What´s Missing? (Print available)
Lesson 11: Cost Breakdown
Lesson 27: Solving Percent Problems
Lesson 28: Solving Percent Problems
Lesson 29: Solving Percent Problems
Unit 3
Lesson 10: What´s Missing? (Print available)
Lesson 11: Cost Breakdown
Lesson 12: More Bicycle Goals
Lesson 13: A Country as a Village
Practice Day 2 (Print available)

Module 2: Arithmetic Operations Including Division of Fractions

Lesson 1: Interpreting Division of a Fraction by a Whole Number—Visual Models.Unit 4
Lesson 2: Making Connections (Print available)
Lesson 2: Interpreting Division of a Whole Number by a Fraction —Visual Models.Unit 4
Lesson 1: Cookie Cutter
Lesson 3: Flour Planner [Free lesson]
Lesson 4: Flower Planters
Lesson 5: Garden Bricks (Print available)
Lesson 3: Interpreting and Computing Division of a Fraction by a Fraction—More Models
Lesson 4: Interpreting and Computing Division of a Fraction by a Fraction—More Models
Unit 4
Lesson 5: Garden Bricks
Lesson 6: Fill the Gap [Free lesson]
Lesson 7: Break It Down
Lesson 8: Potting Soil
Lesson 9: Division Challenges
Lesson 10: Swap Meet (Print available)
Practice Day
Lesson 5: Creating Division Stories. 
Lesson 6: More Division Stories. 
Lesson 7: The Relationship Between Visual Fraction Models and Equations 
Lesson 8: Dividing Fractions and Mixed NumbersUnit 4
Lesson 5: Garden Bricks (Print available)
Lesson 6: Fill the Gap [Free lesson]
Topic B Multi-Digit Decimal Operations—Adding, Subtracting, and Multiplying
Lesson 9: Sums and Differences of DecimalsUnit 5
Lesson 2: Decimal Diagrams [Free lesson]
Lesson 3: Fruit by the Pound
Lesson 4: Missing Digits
Lesson 10: The Distributive Property and the Products of DecimalsUnit 5
Lesson 5: Decimal Multiplication
Lesson 6: Multiplying with Areas
Lesson 7: Multiplication Methods (Print available)
Lesson 11: Fraction Multiplication and the Products of DecimalsUnit 5
Lesson 7: Multiplication Methods (Print available)
Topic C Dividing Whole Numbers and Decimals
Lesson 12: Estimating Digits in a Quotient 
Lesson 13: Dividing Multi-Digit Numbers Using the AlgorithmUnit 5
Lesson 9: Long Division Launch
Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 14: The Division Algorithm—Converting Decimal Division into Whole Number Division Using Fractions. 
Lesson 15: The Division Algorithm—Converting Decimal Division into Whole Number Division Using Mental Math 
Topic D Number Theory—Thinking Logically About Multiplicative Arithmetic 
Lesson 16: Even and Odd Numbers 
Lesson 17: Divisibility Tests for 3 and 9 
Lesson 18: Least Common Multiple and Greatest Common FactorUnit 5
Lesson 14: Common Multiples
Lesson 15: Common Factors
Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 19: The Euclidean Algorithm as an Application of the Long Division Algorithm 

Module 3: Rational Numbers

Lesson 1: Positive and Negative Numbers on the Number Line—Opposite Direction and ValueUnit 7Lesson 2: Digging Deeper
Lesson 2: Real-World Positive and Negative Numbers and Zero.
Lesson 3: Real-World Positive and Negative Numbers and Zero.
Unit 7 Lesson 4: Sub-Zero
Lesson 4: The Opposite of a Number
Lesson 5: The Opposite of a Number’s Opposite
Lesson 6: Rational Numbers on the Number Line
Unit 7Lesson 2: Digging Deeper
Topic B Order and Absolute Value
Lesson 7: Ordering Integers and Other Rational Numbers
Lesson 8: Ordering Integers and Other Rational Numbers
Lesson 9: Comparing Integers and Other Rational Numbers
Unit 7Lesson 3: Order in the Class (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 10: Writing and Interpreting Inequality Statements Involving Rational Numbers 
Lesson 11: Absolute Value—Magnitude and Distance
Lesson 12: The Relationship Between Absolute Value and Order
Unit 7Lesson 5: Distance on the Number Line
Lesson 13: Statements of Order in the Real World. 
Topic C Rational Numbers and the Coordinate Plane 
Lesson 14: Ordered Pairs
Lesson 15: Locating Ordered Pairs on the Coordinate Plane
Unit 7Lesson 9: Sand Dollar SearchLesson 10: The A-maze-ing Coordinate PlaneLesson 11: Polygon Maker
Lesson 16: Symmetry in the Coordinate Plane. 
Lesson 17: Drawing the Coordinate Plane and Points on the PlaneLesson 10: The A-maze-ing Coordinate Plane
Lesson 18: Distance on the Coordinate PlaneUnit 7Lesson 11: Polygon Maker
Lesson 19: Problem Solving and the Coordinate PlaneUnit 7Lesson 12: Graph Telephone (Print available)Practice Day 2 (Print available)

Module 4: Expressions and Equations

Topic A Relationships of the Operations 
Lesson 1: The Relationship of Addition and Subtraction 
Lesson 2: The Relationship of Multiplication and Division 
Lesson 3: The Relationship of Multiplication and Addition. 
Lesson 4: The Relationship of Division and Subtraction 
Topic B Special Notations of Operations 
Lesson 5: ExponentsUnit 6Lesson 10: PowersLesson 11: Exponent Expressions (Print available)Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 6: The Order of Operations 
Topic C Replacing Letters and Numbers 
Lesson 7: Replacing Letters with Numbers
Lesson 8: Replacing Numbers with Letters
Unit 6Lesson 7: Border TilesLesson 12: Squares and Cubes
Topic D Expanding, Factoring, and Distributing Expressions 
Lesson 9: Writing Addition and Subtraction ExpressionsUnit 6Lesson 6: Vari-applesLesson 8: Products and Sums [Free lesson]Lesson 9: Products, Sums, and Differences
Lesson 10: Writing and Expanding Multiplication Expressions
Lesson 11: Factoring Expressions
Lesson 12: Distributing Expressions
Unit 6Lesson 8: Products and Sums [Free lesson]Lesson 9: Products, Sums, and Differences
Lesson 13: Writing Division Expressions 
Lesson 14: Writing Division Expressions 
Topic E Expressing Operations in Algebraic Form 
Lesson 15: Read Expressions in Which Letters Stand for Numbers
Lesson 16: Write Expressions in Which Letters Stand for Numbers
Lesson 17: Write Expressions in Which Letters Stand for Numbers
Unit 6Lesson 6: Vari-applesLesson 7: Border Tiles
Topic F Writing and Evaluating Expressions and Formulas 
Lesson 18: Writing and Evaluating Expressions—Addition and Subtraction
Lesson 19: Substituting to Evaluate Addition and Subtraction Expressions
Lesson 20: Writing and Evaluating Expressions—Multiplication and Division
Lesson 21: Writing and Evaluating Expressions—Multiplication and Addition
Unit 6Lesson 7: Border TilesLesson 8: Products and Sums [Free lesson]Lesson 9: Products, Sums, and DifferencesLesson 12: Squares and Cubes
Lesson 22: Writing and Evaluating Expressions—ExponentsUnit 6Lesson 10: PowersLesson 11: Exponent Expressions (Print available)Lesson 12: Squares and CubesPractice Day 2 (Print available)
Topic G Solving Equations 
Lesson 23: True and False Number Sentences
Lesson 24: True and False Number Sentences
Unit 6Lesson 1: Weight for It [Free lesson]
Lesson 25: Finding Solutions to Make Equations TrueUnit 6Lesson 1: Weight for It [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Five Equations
Lesson 26: One-Step Equations—Addition and SubtractionUnit 6Lesson 1: Weight for It [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Five EquationsLesson 3: Hanging Around
Lesson 27: One-Step Equations—Multiplication and Division
Lesson 28: Two-Step Problems—All Operations
Lesson 29: Multi-Step Problems—All Operations
Unit 6Lesson 3: Hanging AroundLesson 4: Hanging It UpLesson 5: Swap and Solve
Topic H Applications of Equations 
Lesson 30: One-Step Problems in the Real World
Lesson 31: Problems in Mathematical TermsLesson Lesson 32: Multi-Step Problems in the Real World
Unit 6Lesson 3: Hanging AroundLesson 4: Hanging It UpLesson 5: Swap and SolvePractice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 33: From Equations to Inequalities
Lesson 34: Writing and Graphing Inequalities in Real-World Problems
Unit 7Lesson 6: Tunnel Travel [Free lesson]Lesson 7: Comparing WeightsLesson 8: Shira´s Solutions

Module 5: Area, Surface Area, and Volume Problems

Topic A: Area of Triangles, Quadrilaterals, and Polygons
Lesson 1: The Area of Parallelograms Through Rectangle FactsUnit 1Lesson 3: Exploring Parallelograms (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 4: Off the Grid
Lesson 2: The Area of Right Triangles
Lesson 3: The Area of Acute Triangles Using Height and Base
Unit 1Lesson 5: Exploring Triangles (Print available)Lesson 6: Triangles and ParallelogramsLesson 7: Off the Grid, Part 2
Lesson 4: The Area of All Triangles Using Height and BaseUnit 1Lesson 6: Triangles and ParallelogramsLesson 7: Off the Grid, Part 2
Lesson 5: The Area of Polygons Through Composition and DecompositionUnit 1Lesson 2: LettersLesson 8: Pile of PolygonsPractice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 6: Area in the Real World 
Topic B Polygons on the Coordinate Plane 
Lesson 7: Distance on the Coordinate PlaneUnit 1Lesson 8: Pile of Polygons
Lesson 8: Drawing Polygons in the Coordinate PlaneUnit 7Lesson 11: Polygon Maker
Lesson 9: Determining Perimeter and Area of Polygons on the Coordinate PlaneUnit 1Lesson 8: Pile of Polygons
Lesson 10: Distance, Perimeter, and Area in the Real World 
Topic C Volume of Right Rectangular Prisms 
Lesson 11: Volume with Fractional Edge Lengths and Unit CubesUnit 4Lesson 11: Classroom ComparisonsLesson 12: Puzzling Areas (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 13: Volume ChallengesLesson 14: Planter Planner (Print available)
Lesson 12: From Unit Cubes to the Formulas for Volume  
Lesson 13: The Formulas for Volume 
Lesson 14: Volume in the Real WorldUnit 4Lesson 14: Planter Planner (Print available)
Topic D Nets and Surface Area 
Lesson 15: Representing Three-Dimensional Figures Using Nets
Lesson 16: Constructing Nets
Lesson 17: From Nets to Surface Area
Unit 1Lesson 10: Plenty of PolyhedraLesson 11: Nothing But Nets (Print available)Lesson 13: Take It To Go (Print available)
Lesson 18: Determining Surface Area of Three-Dimensional FiguresUnit 1Lesson 9: Renata´s Stickers [Free lesson]Lesson 10: Plenty of PolyhedraLesson 11: Nothing But Nets (Print available)Lesson 13: Take It To Go (Print available)Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 19: Surface Area and Volume in the Real World 
Lesson 19a: Addendum Lesson for Modeling―Applying Surface Area and Volume to Aquariums 
Lesson 3: The Area of Acute Triangles Using Height and BaseUnit 1Lesson 5 Exploring TrianglesLesson 6 Triangles and ParallelogramsLesson 7 Off the Grid, Part 2

Module 6: Statistics

Topic A Understanding Distributions 
Lesson 1: Posing Statistical QuestionsUnit 8 Lesson 1: Screen TimeLesson 2: Dot Plots
Lesson 2: Displaying a Data Distribution
Lesson 3: Creating a Dot Plot
Unit 8 Lesson 2: Dot PlotsLesson 3: Minimum Wage (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 4: Lots More Dots
Lesson 4: Creating a Histogram
Lesson 5: Describing a Distribution Displayed in a Histogram
Unit 8Lesson 5: The Plot Thickens [Free lesson]Lesson 6: DIY Histograms (Print available)
Topic B Summarizing a Distribution That Is Approximately Symmetric Using the Mean and Mean Absolute Deviation 
Lesson 6: Describing the Center of a Distribution Using the Mean
Lesson 7: The Mean as a Balance Point
Unit 8Lesson 7: Snack Time
Lesson 8: Variability in a Data DistributionUnit 8Lesson 8: Pop It!
Topic 9: The Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD).Unit 8Lesson 9: Hoops
Lesson 10: Describing Distributions Using the Mean and MAD
Lesson 11: Describing Distributions Using the Mean and MAD
Unit 8Lesson 10 Hollywood Part 1Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Topic C Summarizing a Distribution That Is Skewed Using the Median and the Interquartile Range 
Lesson 12: Describing the Center of a Distribution Using the MedianUnit 8Lesson 11: Toy Cars [Free lesson]Lesson 12: In the News
Lesson 13: Describing Variability Using the Interquartile Range (IQR)Unit 8Lesson 13: Pumpkin Patch
Lesson 14: Summarizing a Distribution Using a Box Plot
Lesson 15: More Practice with Box Plots
Unit 8Lesson 14: Car, Plane, Bus, or Train? (Print available)
Lesson 16: Understanding Box PlotsUnit 8Lesson 14: Car, Plane, Bus, or Train? (Print available)Lesson 15: Hollywood Part 2Lesson 16: Hollywood Part 3 (Print available)Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Topic D Summarizing and Describing Distributions 
Lesson 17: Developing a Statistical Project 
Lesson 18: Connecting Graphical Representations and Numerical SummariesUnit 8Lesson 5: The Plot Thickens [Free lesson]
Lesson 19: Comparing Data DistributionsUnit 8Lesson 15: Hollywood Part 2
Lesson 20: Describing Center, Variability, and Shape of a Data Distribution from a Graphical Representation
Lesson 21: Summarizing a Data Distribution by Describing Center, Variability, and Shape
Unit 8Lesson 16: Hollywood Part 3 (Print available)
Lesson 22: Presenting a Summary of a Statistical Project 
Lesson 3: Creating a Dot PlotUnit 8Lesson 2 Dot PlotsLesson 3 Minimum Wage [Free lesson]Lesson 4 Lots More Dots

Grade 7

Module 1: Ratios and Proportional Relationships

Eureka MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Topic A Proportional Relationships 
Lesson 1: An Experience in Relationships as Measuring RateUnit 2
Lesson 1: Paint [Free lesson]
Lesson 2: Balloon Float
 
Unit 4
Lesson 1: Mosaics [Free lesson]
Lesson 2: Peach Cobbler (Print available)
Lesson 2: Proportional RelationshipsUnit 2  
Lesson 2: Balloon Float
Lesson 3: Sugary Drinks (Print available)
 
Unit 4
Lesson 3: Sticker Sizes
Lesson 3: Identifying Proportional and Non-Proportional Relationships in Tables
Lesson 4: Identifying Proportional and Non-Proportional Relationships in Tables
Unit 2
Lesson 2: Balloon Float
Lesson 3: Sugary Drinks (Print available)
Lesson 4: Robot Factory
Lesson 5: Identifying Proportional and Non-Proportional Relationships in Graphs
Lesson 6: Identifying Proportional and Non-Proportional Relationships in Graphs
Unit 2
Lesson 8: Dino Pops [Free lesson]
Lesson 9: Gallon Challenge
Lesson 10: Three Turtles
Lesson 11: Four Representations (Print available)
Lesson 12: Water Efficiency
Topic B Unit Rate and the Constant of Proportionality 
Lesson 7: Unit Rate as the Constant of ProportionalityUnit 2
Lesson 2: Balloon Float
Lesson 8: Representing Proportional Relationships with Equations
Lesson 9: Representing Proportional Relationships with Equations
Unit 2
Lesson 4: Robot Factory
Lesson 5: Snapshots
Lesson 6: Two and Two (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 7: All Kinds of Equations
Lesson 10: Interpreting Graphs of Proportional RelationshipsUnit 2
Lesson 8: Dino Pops [Free lesson]
Lesson 9: Gallon Challenge
Lesson 10: Three Turtles
Lesson 11: Four Representations (Print available)
Lesson 12: Water Efficiency
Topic C Ratios and Rates Involving Fractions 
Lesson 11: Ratios of Fractions and Their Unit Rates
Lesson 12: Ratios of Fractions and Their Unit Rates
Unit 2
Lesson 3: Sugary Drinks (Print available)
Lesson 4: Robot Factory
Lesson 5: Snapshots
Lesson 6: Two and Two [Free lesson]
Lesson 13: Finding Equivalent Ratios Given the Total QuantityUnit 2  
Lesson 2: Balloon Float
Lesson 3: Sugary Drinks (Print available)
Lesson 14: Multi-Step Ratio Problems 
Lesson 15: Equations of Graphs of Proportional Relationships Involving FractionsUnit 2
Lesson 8: Dino Pops [Free lesson]
Lesson 9: Gallon Challenge
Lesson 10: Three Turtles
Lesson 11: Four Representations
Lesson 12: Water Efficiency
Topic D Ratios of Scale Drawings 
Lesson 16: Relating Scale Drawings to Ratios and RatesUnit 1
Lesson 1: Scaling Machines [Free lesson]
Lesson 17: The Unit Rate as the Scale FactorUnit 1
Lesson 2: Scaling Robots
Lesson 3: Make It Scale
Lesson 4: Scale Factor Challenges
Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 18: Computing Actual Lengths from a Scale DrawingUnit 1
Lesson 6: Introducing Scale
Lesson 7: Will It Fit? (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 19: Computing Actual Areas from a Scale DrawingUnit 1
Lesson 5: Tiles
Lesson 6: Introducing Scale
Lesson 7: Will It Fit? (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 8: Scaling States (Print available)
Lesson 20: An Exercise in Creating a Scale Drawing
Lesson 21: An Exercise in Changing Scales
Lesson 22: An Exercise in Changing Scales
Unit 1
Lesson 8: Scaling States (Print available)
Lesson 9: Scaling Buildings
Lesson 10: Room Redesign (Print available)
Practice Day 2 (Print available)

Module 2: Rational Numbers

Topic A Addition and Subtraction of Integers and Rational Numbers 
Lesson 1: Opposite Quantities Combine to Make ZeroUnit 5
Lesson 1: Floats and Anchors [Free lesson]
Lesson 2: Using the Number Line to Model the Addition of Integers
Lesson 3: Understanding Addition of Integers
Lesson 4: Efficiently Adding Integers and Other Rational Numbers
Lesson 5: Understanding Subtraction of Integers and Other Rational Numbers
Unit 5
Lesson 2: More Floats and Anchors
Lesson 4: Draw Your Own (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 5: Number Puzzles
Lesson 10: Integer Puzzles [Free lesson]
Lesson 11: Changing Temperatures
Lesson 13: Solar Panels and More (Print available)
Lesson 6: The Distance Between Two Rational Numbers 
Lesson 7: Addition and Subtraction of Rational NumbersUnit 5
Lesson 3: Bumpers
Lesson 4: Draw Your Own (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 5: Number Puzzles
Lesson 10; Integer Puzzles [Free lesson]
Lesson 11: Changing Temperatures
Lesson 13: Solar Panels and More (Print available)
Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 8: Applying the Properties of Operations to Add and Subtract Rational Numbers 
Lesson 9: Applying the Properties of Operations to Add and Subtract Rational Numbers 
Topic B Multiplication and Division of Integers and Rational Numbers 
Lesson 10: Understanding Multiplication of Integers
Lesson 11: Develop Rules for Multiplying Signed Numbers
Unit 5
Lesson 6: Floating in Groups
Lesson 7: Back in Time
Lesson 8: Speeding Turtles
Lesson 10: Integer Puzzles [Free lesson]
Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 12: Division of IntegersUnit 5
Lesson 8: Speeding Turtles
Lesson 13: Converting Between Fractions and Decimals Using Equivalent Fractions 
Lesson 14: Converting Rational Numbers to Decimals Using Long DivisionUnit 4
Lesson 13: Decimal Deep Dive (Print available)
Lesson 15: Multiplication and Division of Rational NumbersUnit 5
Lesson 8: Speeding Turtles
Lesson 10: Integer Puzzles [Free lesson]
Lesson 12: Arctic Sea Ice (Print available)
Lesson 13: Solar Panels and More (Print available)
Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 16: Applying the Properties of Operations to Multiply and Divide Rational Numbers 
Topic C Applying Operations with Rational Numbers to Expressions and Equations 
Lesson 17: Comparing Tape Diagram Solutions to Algebraic SolutionsUnit 6
Lesson 2: Smudged Receipts
Lesson 3: Equations
Lesson 4: Seeing Structure (Print available)
Lesson 18: Writing, Evaluating, and Finding Equivalent Expressions with Rational Numbers
Lesson 19: Writing, Evaluating, and Finding Equivalent Expressions with Rational Numbers
Unit 5
Lesson 9 Expressions
Lesson 20: Investments—Performing Operations with Rational Numbers
Lesson 21: If-Then Moves with Integer Number Cards
Lesson 22: Solving Equations Using Algebra
Lesson 23: Solving Equations Using Algebra
Unit 6
Lesson 3: Equations
Lesson 4: Seeing Structure (Print available)
Lesson 6: Balancing Equations
Lesson 7: Keeping It True (Print available)
Lesson 12: Community Day (Print available)
 
Unit 5
Lesson 3: Bumpers

Module 3: Expressions and Equations

Topic A Use Properties of Operations to Generate Equivalent Expressions 
Lesson 1: Generating Equivalent Expressions
Lesson 2: Generating Equivalent Expressions
Unit 5 Lesson 9: Expressions (Print available)Unit 6Lesson 9: Always-Equal MachinesLesson 11: Equation Roundtable (Print available)
Lesson 3: Writing Products as Sums and Sums as Products
Lesson 4: Writing Products as Sums and Sums as Products
Unit 6 Lesson 2: Smudged ReceiptsLesson 6: Balancing EquationsLesson 7: Keeping It True (Print available)Lesson 8: Factoring and ExpandingLesson 9: Always-Equal MachinesLesson 10: Collect the Squares [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Equation Roundtable (Print available)Lesson 12: Community Day (Print available)
Lesson 5: Using the Identity and Inverse to Write Equivalent Expressions 
Lesson 6: Collecting Rational Number Like Terms 
Topic B Solve Problems Using Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities 
Lesson 7: Understanding EquationsUnit 6Lesson 2: Smudged ReceiptsLesson 5: Balancing MovesLesson 6: Balancing Equations
Lesson 8: Using If-Then Moves in Solving Equations
Lesson 9: Using If-Then Moves in Solving Equations
Unit 6Lesson 2: Smudged ReceiptsLesson 6: Balancing EquationsLesson 7: Keeping It True (Print available)Lesson 8: Factoring and Expanding (Print available)Lesson 9: Always-Equal MachinesLesson 10: Collect the Squares [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Equation Roundtable (Print available)Lesson 12: Community Day (Print available)Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 10: Angle Problems and Solving EquationsUnit 7Lesson 2: Friendly Angles [Free lesson]Lesson 3: Angle DiagramsLesson 4: Missing Measures (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 11: Angle Problems and Solving Equations 
Lesson 12: Properties of Inequalities
Lesson 13: Inequalities
Lesson 14: Solving Inequalities
Unit 6Lesson 14: Unbalanced HangersLesson 15: Budgeting (Print available)Lesson 16: Shira the Sheep [Free lesson]Lesson 17: Write Them and Solve Them (Print available)
Lesson 15: Graphing Solutions to InequalitiesUnit 6Lesson 13: I Saw the SignsPractice Day 2 (Print available)
Topic C Use Equations and Inequalities to Solve Geometry Problems 
Lesson 16: The Most Famous Ratio of AllUnit 3Lesson 2: Is It a Circle?Lesson 3: Measuring Around [Free lesson]
Lesson 17: The Area of a CircleUnit 3Lesson 5: Area StrategiesLesson 6: Radius Squares (Print available)Lesson 7: Why Pi? (Print available)Lesson 8: Area Challenges [Free lesson]Lesson 9: Circle vs. SquarePractice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 18: More Problems on Area and CircumferenceUnit 3Lesson 4: Perimeter ChallengesLesson 5: Area StrategiesLesson 6: Radius Squares (Print available)Lesson 7: Why Pi? (Print available)Lesson 8: Area Challenges [Free lesson]Lesson 9: Circle vs. Square
Lesson 19: Unknown Area Problems on the Coordinate Plane
Lesson 20: Composite Area Problems
Unit 3Lesson 4: Perimeter ChallengesPractice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 21: Surface Area
Lesson 22: Surface Area
Lesson 23: The Volume of a Right Prism
Lesson 24: The Volume of a Right Prism
Unit 7Lesson 10: Simple PrismsLesson 11: More Complicated Prisms Lesson 12: Surface Area Strategies (Print Available)Lesson 13: Popcorn PossibilitiesPractice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 25: Volume and Surface Area
Lesson 26: Volume and Surface Area
Unit 7Lesson 13: Popcorn PossibilitiesPractice Day 2

Module 4: Percent and Proportional Relationships

Topic A Finding the Whole 
Lesson 1: PercentUnit 4Lesson 1: Mosaics [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Peach Cobbler (Print available)Lesson 3: Sticker Sizes
Lesson 2: Part of a Whole as a PercentUnit 4Lesson 1: Mosaics [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Peach Cobbler (Print available)
Lesson 3: Comparing Quantities with PercentUnit 4Lesson 1: Mosaics [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Peach Cobbler (Print available)Lesson 3: Sticker Sizes
Lesson 4: Percent Increase and DecreaseUnit 4Lesson 4: More and LessLesson 5: All the EquationsLesson 6: 100% (Print available)Lesson 7: Percent machines [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Tax and TipLesson 9: Minimum Wage (Print available)Lesson 10: Cost of College (Print available)Lesson 11: Bookcase BuilderLesson 12: Posing Percent Problems [Free lesson]
Lesson 5: Finding One Hundred Percent Given Another Percent 
Lesson 6: Fluency with PercentsUnit 4Lesson 7: Percent machines [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Tax and TipLesson 9: Minimum Wage (Print available)Lesson 10: Cost of College (Print available)Lesson 11: Bookcase BuilderLesson 12: Posing Percent Problems [Free lesson]
Topic B Percent Problems Including More Than One Whole 
Lesson 7: Markup and Markdown ProblemsUnit 4Lesson 7: Percent machines [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Tax and TipLesson 9: Minimum Wage (Print available)Lesson 10: Cost of College (Print available)Lesson 11: Bookcase BuilderLesson 12: Posing Percent Problems [Free lesson]
Lesson 8: Percent Error Problems
Lesson 9: Problem Solving When the Percent Changes
Unit 4Lesson 4: More and LessLesson 5: All the EquationsLesson 6: 100% (Print available)Lesson 7: Percent machines [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Tax and TipLesson 9: Minimum Wage (Print available)Lesson 10: Cost of College (Print available)Lesson 11: Bookcase BuilderLesson 12: Posing Percent Problems [Free lesson]
Lesson 10: Simple Interest 
Lesson 11: Tax, Commissions, Fees, and Other Real-World Percent ApplicationsUnit 4Lesson 8: Tax and TipLesson 9: Minimum Wage (Print available)Lesson 10: Cost of College (Print available)Lesson 11: Bookcase BuilderLesson 12: Posing Percent Problems [Free lesson]Practice Day (Print available)
Topic C Scale Drawings 
Lesson 12: The Scale Factor as a Percent for a Scale Drawing 
Lesson 13: Changing ScalesUnit 1Lesson 1: Scaling Machines [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Scaling RobotsLesson 3: Make It ScaleLesson 4: Scale Factor ChallengesLesson 5: TilesLesson 6: Introducing ScaleLesson 7: Will It Fit? (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Scaling States (Print available)Lesson 9: Scaling BuildingsLesson 10: Room Redesign (Print available)Practice Day 1 (Print available)Practice Day 2 (Print available) Unit 3Lesson 1 Toothpicks
Lesson 14: Computing Actual Lengths from a Scale DrawingUnit 1Lesson 6: Introducing ScaleLesson 7: Will It Fit? (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Scaling States (Print available)Lesson 9: Scaling BuildingsLesson 10: Room Redesign (Print available) Unit 3Lesson 1: Toothpicks
Lesson 15: Solving Area Problems Using Scale DrawingsUnit 1Lesson 5: Tiles
Topic D Population, Mixture, and Counting Problems Involving Percents 
Lesson 16: Population ProblemsUnit 8Lesson 10: Crab Island [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Headlines
Lesson 17: Mixture Problems 
Lesson 18: Counting Problems 

Module 5: Statistics and Probability

Topic A Calculating and Interpreting Probabilities 
Lesson 1: Chance ExperimentsUnit 8Lesson 1: How Likely? (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Prob-bear-bilities [Free lesson]Lesson 3: Mystery Bag
Lesson 2: Estimating Probabilities by Collecting Data
Lesson 3: Chance Experiments with Equally Likely Outcomes
Lesson 4: Calculating Probabilities for Chance Experiments with Equally Likely Outcomes
Unit 8Lesson 3: Mystery BagLesson 4: Spin ClassLesson 5: Is It Fair?Lesson 6: Fair Games
Lesson 5: Chance Experiments with Outcomes That Are Not Equally LikelyUnit 8Lesson 4: Spin ClassLesson 5: Is It Fair?Lesson 6: Fair GamesLesson 7: Weather or Not
Lesson 6: Using Tree Diagrams to Represent a Sample Space and to Calculate ProbabilitiesUnit 8Lesson 6: Fair GamesLesson 7: Weather or Not
Lesson 7: Calculating Probabilities of Compound EventsUnit 8Lesson 8: Simulate It! (Print available)Lesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Topic B Estimating Probabilities 
Lesson 8: The Difference Between Theoretical Probabilities and Estimated Probabilities
Lesson 9: Comparing Estimated Probabilities to Probabilities Predicted by a Model
Unit 8Lesson 6: Fair GamesLesson 7: Weather or NotLesson 8: Simulate It! (Print available)Lesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)
Lesson 10: Conducting a Simulation to Estimate the Probability of an EventUnit 8Lesson 7: Weather or NotLesson 8: Simulate It! (Print available)Lesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)
Lesson 11: Conducting a Simulation to Estimate the Probability of an Event
Lesson 12: Applying Probability to Make Informed Decisions
Unit 8Lesson 7: Weather or NotLesson 8: Simulate It! (Print available)
Topic C Random Sampling and Estimating Population Characteristics 
Lesson 13: Populations, Samples, and Generalizing from a Sample to a PopulationUnit 8Lesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)Lesson 10: Crab Island [Free lesson]Lesson 11: HeadlinesLesson 12: Flower Power
Lesson 14: Selecting a Sample
Lesson 15: Random Sampling
Lesson 16: Methods for Selecting a Random Sample
Unit 8Lesson 10: Crab Island [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Headlines
Lesson 17: Sampling VariabilityUnit 8Lesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)Lesson 13: Plots and Samples
Lesson 18: Sampling Variability and the Effect of Sample Size
Lesson 19: Understanding Variability When Estimating a Population Proportion
Unit 8Lesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)Lesson 13: Plots and SamplesLesson 14: School Newspaper (Print available)
Lesson 20: Estimating a Population Proportion 
Topic D Comparing Populations 
Lesson 21: Why Worry About Sampling Variability?Unit 8Lesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)Lesson 13: Plots and SamplesLesson 14: School Newspaper (Print available)
Lesson 22: Using Sample Data to Compare the Means of Two or More Populations
Lesson 23: Using Sample Data to Compare the Means of Two or More Populations
Unit 8Lesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train? (Print available)Lesson 10: Crab Island [Free lesson]Lesson 13: Plots and SamplesLesson 14: School Newspaper (Print available)Lesson 15: Asthma Rates (Print available)

Module 6: Geometry

Topic A Unknown Angles 
Lesson 1: Complementary and Supplementary AnglesUnit 7Lesson 2: Friendly Angles [Free lesson]Lesson 3: Angle Diagrams
Lesson 2: Solving for Unknown Angles Using Equations
Lesson 3: Solving for Unknown Angles Using Equations
Lesson 4: Solving for Unknown Angles Using Equations
Unit 7Lesson 1: PinwheelsLesson 2: Friendly AnglesLesson 3: Angle DiagramsLesson 4: Missing Measures (Print available) [Free lesson]
Topic B Constructing Triangles 
Lesson 5: Identical TrianglesUnit 7Lesson 6: Is It Enough?Lesson 7: More Than One
Lesson 6: Drawing Geometric ShapesUnit 7Lesson 6: Is It Enough?Lesson 7: More Than OneLesson 8: Can You Draw It? (Print available)
Lesson 7: Drawing Parallelograms 
Lesson 8: Drawing TrianglesUnit 7Lesson 5: Can You Build It? [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Is It Enough?Lesson 7: More Than OneLesson 8: Can You Draw It? (Print available)Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 9: Conditions for a Unique Triangle―Three Sides and Two Sides and the Included
Lesson 10: Conditions for a Unique Triangle—Two Angles and a Given Side Angle
Unit 7Lesson 8: Can You Draw It? (Print available)
Lesson 11: Conditions on Measurements That Determine a TriangleUnit 7Lesson 5: Can You Build It? [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Is It Enough?Lesson 7: More Than OneLesson 8: Can You Draw It? (Print available)Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 12: Unique Triangles―Two Sides and a Non-Included Angle 
Lesson 13: Checking for Identical Triangles
Lesson 14: Checking for Identical Triangles
Unit 7Lesson 6: Is It Enough?Lesson 7: More Than OnePractice Day 1
Lesson 15: Using Unique Triangles to Solve Real-World and Mathematical Problems 
Topic C Slicing Solids 
Lesson 16: Slicing a Right Rectangular Prism with a Plane
Lesson 17: Slicing a Right Rectangular Pyramid with a Plane
Lesson 18: Slicing on an Angle
Unit 7Lesson 9: Slicing Solids
Lesson 19: Understanding Three-Dimensional Figures 
Topic D Problems Involving Area and Surface Area 
Lesson 20: Real-World Area ProblemsUnit 3Lesson 5: Area Strategies
Lesson 21: Mathematical Area ProblemsUnit 3Lesson 5: Area StrategiesLesson 6: Radius Squares (Print available)
Lesson 22: Area Problems with Circular RegionsUnit 3Lesson 5: Area StrategiesLesson 8: Area Challenges [Free lesson]
Lesson 23: Surface Area
Lesson 24: Surface Area
Unit 7Lesson 12: Surface Area Strategies (Print available)Lesson 13: Popcorn Possibilities
Topic E Problems Involving Volume 
Lesson 25: Volume of Right PrismsUnit 7Lesson 10: Simple PrismsLesson 11: More Complicated PrismsLesson 13: Popcorn Possibilities
Lesson 26: Volume of Composite Three-Dimensional ObjectsUnit 7Lesson 11: More Complicated Prisms
Lesson 27: Real-World Volume ProblemsUnit 7Lesson 13: Popcorn Possibilities

Grade 8

Module 1: Integer Exponents and Scientific Notation

Eureka MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Topic A Exponential Notation and Properties of Integer Exponents 
Lesson 1: Exponential NotationUnit 7 Lesson 1 Circles [Free lesson]Lesson 2 Combining Exponents
Lesson 2: Multiplication of Numbers in Exponential Form
Lesson 3: Numbers in Exponential Form Raised to a Power
Unit 7 Lesson 2 Combining ExponentsLesson 3 Power Pairs (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 4 Rewriting Powers
Lesson 4: Numbers Raised to the Zeroth Power
Lesson 5: Negative Exponents and the Laws of Exponents
Unit 7 Lesson 5 Zero and Negative ExponentsLesson 6 Write a Rule (Print available)Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 6: Proofs of Laws of Exponents 
Topic B Magnitude and Scientific Notation 
Lesson 7: MagnitudeUnit 7 Lesson 7 Scales and Weights
Lesson 8: Estimating QuantitiesUnit 7 Lesson 7: Scales and WeightsLesson 8: Point ZapperLesson 9: Use Your Powers
Lesson 9: Scientific Notation
Lesson 10: Operations with Numbers in Scientific Notation
Unit 7 Lesson 10: Solar System [Free lesson]Lesson 11: Balance the Scales [Free lesson]Lesson 13: Star Power
Lesson 11: Efficacy of Scientific NotationUnit 7 Lesson 13: Star Power
Lesson 12: Choice of Unit 
Lesson 13: Comparison of Numbers Written in Scientific Notation and Interpreting Scientific Notation Using TechnologyUnit 7  Lesson 13: Star Power Practice Day 2 (Print available)

Module 2: The Concept of Congruence

Topic A Definitions and Properties of the Basic Rigid Motions 
Lesson 1: Why Move Things Around?
Lesson 2: Definition of Translation and Three Basic Properties
Unit 1Lesson 1: Transformers [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Spinning, Flipping, Sliding [Free lesson]
Lesson 3: Translating LinesUnit 1Lesson 1: Transformers [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Spinning, Flipping, Sliding [Free lesson] Unit 3Lesson 6: Translations
Lesson 4: Definition of Reflection and Basic Properties
Lesson 5: Definition of Rotation and Basic Properties
Lesson 6: Rotations of 180 Degrees
Unit 1Lesson 1: Transformers [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Spinning, Flipping, Sliding [Free lesson]Lesson 4: Moving Day (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 5: Getting Coordinated
Topic B Sequencing the Basic Rigid Motions 
Lesson 7: Sequencing Translations
Lesson 8: Sequencing Reflections and Translations
Unit 1Lesson 3: Transformation GolfLesson 6: Connecting the Dots [Free lesson]
Lesson 9: Sequencing Rotations
Lesson 10: Sequences of Rigid Motions
Unit 1Lesson 3: Transformation GolfLesson 6: Connecting the Dots [Free lesson]Lesson 13: Tessellate [Free lesson]Practice Day
Topic C Congruence and Angle Relationships 
Lesson 11: Definition of Congruence and Some Basic PropertiesUnit 1 Lesson 7: Are They the Same?Lesson 8: No Bending, No StretchingLesson 9: Are They Congruent?Practice Day
Lesson 12: Angles Associated with Parallel LinesUnit 1 Lesson 10: Transforming Angles  
Lesson 13: Angle Sum of a TriangleUnit 1 Lesson 11: Tearing It Up (Print available)
Lesson 14: More on the Angles of a TriangleUnit 1 Lesson 11: Tearing It Up (Print available)Lesson 12: Puzzling It Out [Free lesson]
Topic D: The Pythagorean Theorem 
Lesson 15: Informal Proof of the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8Lesson 7: Pictures to Prove It
Lesson 16: Applications of the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8Lesson 10: Taco TruckPractice Day 2 (Print available)

Module 3: Similarity

Topic A Dilation 
Lesson 1: What Lies Behind “Same Shape”?Unit 2Lesson 1: Sketchy Dilations [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Dilation Mini Golf [Free lesson]
Lesson 2: Properties of Dilations
Lesson 3: Examples of Dilations
Unit 2Lesson 1: Sketchy Dilations [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Dilation Mini Golf [Free lesson]Lesson 3: Match My DilationLesson 4: Dilations on a Plane (Print available)
Lesson 4: Fundamental Theorem of Similarity
Lesson 5: First Consequences of FTS
Unit 2Lesson 5: Transformations Golf with DilationsLesson 6: Social Scavenger Hunt (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 6: Dilations on the Coordinate PlaneUnit 8Lesson 4: Dilations on a Plane (Print available)
Lesson 7: Informal Proofs of Properties of Dilations 
Topic B Similar Figures 
Lesson 8: Similarity
Lesson 9: Basic Properties of Similarity
Unit 2Lesson 5: Transformations Golf with DilationsLesson 6: Social Scavenger Hunt (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 10: Informal Proof of AA Criterion for SimilarityUnit 2Lesson 7: Are Angles Enough?
Lesson 11: More About Similar TrianglesUnit 2Lesson 7: Are Angles Enough?Lesson 8: Shadows
Lesson 12: Modeling Using SimilarityUnit 2Lesson 8: ShadowsLesson 9: Water SlideLesson 10: Points on a PlanePractice Day 
Topic C The Pythagorean Theorem 
Lesson 13: Proof of the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8Lesson 6: The Pythagorean TheoremLesson 7: Pictures to Prove ItLesson 8: Triangle-Tracing Turtle [Free lesson]
Lesson 14: The Converse of the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8 Lesson 9: Make It Right

Module 4: Linear Equations

Topic A Writing and Solving Linear Equations 
Lesson 1: Writing Equations Using Symbols 
Lesson 2: Linear and Nonlinear Expressions in x 
Lesson 3: Linear Equations in xUnit 4Lesson 3: Balanced MovesLesson 4: More Balanced Moves (Print available)
Lesson 4: Solving a Linear EquationUnit 4Lesson 3: Balanced MovesLesson 4: More Balanced MovesLesson 4: More Balanced Moves (Print available)Lesson 5: Equation Roundtable (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Strategic Solving (Print available)
Lesson 5: Writing and Solving Linear EquationsUnit 3Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials Unit 4Lesson 3: Balanced MovesLesson 4: More Balanced Moves (Print available)Lesson 5: Equation Roundtable (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Strategic Solving (Print available)
Lesson 6: Solutions of a Linear EquationUnit 3Lesson 10: Solutions Unit 4Lesson 3: Balanced MovesLesson 4: More Balanced Moves (Print available)Lesson 5: Equation Roundtable (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Strategic Solving (Print available)
Lesson 7: Classification of SolutionsUnit 4Lesson 7: All, Some, or None?
Lesson 8: Linear Equations in Disguise 
Lesson 9: An Application of Linear Equations 
Topic B Linear Equations in Two Variables and Their GraphsUnit 3Lesson 2: Water TankLesson 3: PostersLesson 4: Stacking CupsLesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Translations
Lesson 10: A Critical Look at Proportional RelationshipsUnit 3Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Water TankLesson 4: Stacking CupsLesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 7: Water CoolerLesson 8: Landing PlanesLesson 9: Coin Capture
Lesson 11: Constant RateUnit 2Lesson 9: Water SlideLesson 10: Points on a PlanePractice Day  Unit 3Lesson 3: PostersLesson 4: Stacking CupsLesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Translations Unit 4Lesson 8: When Are They the Same?
Lesson 12: Linear Equations in Two VariablesUnit 3Lesson 3: PostersLesson 6: Translations Unit 4Lesson 3: Balanced MovesLesson 4: More Balanced Moves (Print available)
Lesson 13: The Graph of a Linear Equation in Two VariablesUnit 3 Lesson 4: Stacking CupsLesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 6: TranslationsLesson 7: Water CoolerLesson 10: SolutionsLesson 11: Pennies and Quarters
Lesson 14: The Graph of a Linear Equation―Horizontal and Vertical LinesUnit 3 Lesson 9: Coin CapturePractice Day  [Free lesson]
Topic C Slope and Equations of Lines 
Lesson 15: The Slope of a Non-Vertical LineUnit 3Lesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 6: TranslationsLesson 7: Water CoolerLesson 8: Landing Planes
Lesson 16: The Computation of the Slope of a Non-Vertical LineUnit 3Lesson 7: Water CoolerLesson 8: Landing Planes
Lesson 17: The Line Joining Two Distinct Points of the Graph 𝑦 = 𝑚x + 𝑏 Has Slope mUnit 3Lesson 7: Water Cooler
Lesson 18: There Is Only One Line Passing Through a Given Point with a Given SlopeUnit 3Lesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 7: Water Cooler
Lesson 19: The Graph of a Linear Equation in Two Variables Is a LineUnit 3Lesson 4: Stacking CupsLesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Translations
Lesson 20: Every Line Is a Graph of a Linear EquationUnit 3Lesson 3: PostersLesson 4: Stacking CupsLesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Translations
Lesson 21: Some Facts About Graphs of Linear Equations in Two VariablesUnit 3Lesson 3: PostersLesson 6: TranslationsPractice Day 
Lesson 22: Constant Rates RevisitedUnit 2Lesson 9: Water SlideLesson 10: Points on a Plane Unit 3Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Water TankLesson 3: Posters
Lesson 23: The Defining Equation of a LineUnit 3Lesson 10: SolutionsLesson 11: Pennies and Quarters
Topic D Systems of Linear Equations and Their Solutions 
Lesson 24: Introduction to Simultaneous EquationsUnit 4Lesson 7: All, Some, or None?Lesson 8: When Are They the Same?Lesson 13: All, Some, or None? Part 2
Lesson 25: Geometric Interpretation of the Solutions of a Linear SystemUnit 4  Lesson 9: On or Off the Line?Lesson 10: On Both LinesLesson 11: Make Them Balance [Free lesson]Lesson 12: Line Zapper [Free lesson]Lesson 13: All, Some, or None? Part 2Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 26: Characterization of Parallel LinesUnit 3 Lesson 6: Translations
Lesson 27: Nature of Solutions of a System of Linear EquationsUnit 4  Lesson 9: On or Off the Line?
Lesson 28: Another Computational Method of Solving a Linear System 
Lesson 29: Word Problems 
Lesson 30: Conversion Between Celsius and Fahrenheit 
Topic E Pythagorean Theorem 
Lesson 31: System of Equations Leading to Pythagorean Triples 

Module 5: Examples of Functions from Geometry

Topic A Functions 
Lesson 1: The Concept of a FunctionUnit 5 Lesson 1: Turtle Crossing [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Guess My Rule [Free lesson]
Lesson 2: Formal Definition of a FunctionUnit 5 Lesson 1: Turtle Crossing [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Guess My Rule [Free lesson] Lesson 3: Function or Not?
Lesson 3: Linear Functions and ProportionalityUnit 3Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials [Free lesson] Unit 5Lesson 4: Window Frames
Lesson 4: More Examples of FunctionsUnit 5Lesson 3: Function or Not?Lesson 4: Window Frames
Lesson 5: Graphs of Functions and EquationsUnit 5Lesson 4: Window FramesLesson 5: The Tortoise and the Hare [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Graphing StoriesLesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Charge! (Print available)
Lesson 6: Graphs of Linear Functions and Rate of ChangeUnit 2Lesson 9: Water SlideLesson 10: Points on a Plane Unit 3Lesson 4: Stacking CupsLesson 5: Flags [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Translations
Lesson 7: Comparing Linear Functions and GraphsUnit 5Lesson 3: PostersLesson 5: The Tortoise and the Hare [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Graphing StoriesLesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 8: Graphs of Simple Nonlinear Functions 
Topic B Volume 
Lesson 9: Examples of Functions from GeometryUnit 8Lesson 1: Tilted SquaresLesson 2: From Squares to Roots
Lesson 10: Volumes of Familiar Solids—Cones and CylindersUnit 5Lesson 10: Volume LabLesson 11: Cylinders [Free lesson]Lesson 12: Scaling CylindersLesson 13: Cones [Free lesson]Lesson 14: Missing Dimensions (Print available)
Lesson 11: Volume of a SphereUnit 5 Lesson 15: Spheres Practice Day 2 (Print available)

Module 6: Linear Functions

Topic A Linear Functions 
Lesson 1: Modeling Linear RelationshipsUnit 5 Lesson 6: Graphing StoriesLesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Charge! (Print available)
Lesson 2: Interpreting Rate of Change and Initial ValueUnit 2Lesson 9: Water SlideLesson 10: Points on a Plane Unit 3Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Water TankLesson 3: PostersLesson 4: Stacking Cups
Lesson 3: Representations of a LineUnit 5Lesson 6: Graphing StoriesLesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 8: Charge! (Print available)
Lesson 4: Increasing and Decreasing Functions
Lesson 5: Increasing and Decreasing Functions
Unit 5Lesson 1: Turtle Crossing [Free lesson]Lesson 5: The Tortoise and the Hare [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Graphing Stories
Topic B Bivariate Numerical Data 
Lesson 6: Scatter Plots
Lesson 7: Patterns in Scatter Plots
Unit 6 Lesson 1: Click BattleLesson 2: Wing SpanLesson 3: Robots [Free lesson]Practice Day 1 (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 8: Informally Fitting a LineUnit 6 Lesson 4: Dapper Cats [Free lesson]Lesson 5: Fit Fights [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Interpreting SlopesLesson 7: Scatter Plot CityLesson 8: Animal BrainsPractice Day 1 (Print available) [Free lesson]Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 9: Determining the Equation of a Line Fit to Data 
Topic C Linear and Nonlinear Models 
Lesson 10: Linear Models
Lesson 11: Using Linear Models in a Data Context
Unit 5 Lesson 4: Window FramesLesson 5: The Tortoise and the Hare [Free lesson]Lesson 6: Graphing StoriesUnit 6 Lesson 6: Interpreting SlopesLesson 8: Animal BrainsPractice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 12: Nonlinear Models in a Data Context 
Topic D Bivariate Categorical Data 
Lesson 13: Summarizing Bivariate Categorical Data in a Two-Way TableUnit 6 Lesson 9: Tasty Fruit
Lesson 14: Association Between Categorical VariablesUnit 6 Lesson 10: Finding Associations [Free lesson] Lesson 11: Federal Budgets Practice Day 3

Module 7: Introduction to Irrational Numbers Using Geometry

Topic A Square and Cube Roots 
Lesson 1: The Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8
Lesson 6: The Pythagorean Theorem
Lesson 2: Square RootsUnit 8
Lesson 2: From Squares to Roots
Lesson 3: Between Squares
Lesson 4: Root Down [Free lesson]
Lesson 3: Existence and Uniqueness of Square Roots and Cube RootsUnit 8
Lesson 5: Filling Cubes
Lesson 4: Simplifying Square RootsUnit 8
Lesson 2: From Squares to Roots
Lesson 3: Between Squares
Lesson 4: Root Down [Free lesson]
Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 5: Solving Equations with Radicals 
Topic B Decimal Expansions of Numbers 
Lesson 6: Finite and Infinite Decimals
Lesson 7: Infinite Decimals
Lesson 8: The Long Division Algorithm
Lesson 9: Decimal Expansions of Fractions, Part 1
Lesson 10: Converting Repeating Decimals to Fractions
Unit 8
Lesson 12: Fractions to Decimals
Lesson 13: Decimals to Fractions
Lesson 11: The Decimal Expansion of Some Irrational Numbers 
Lesson 12: Decimal Expansions of Fractions, Part 2 
Lesson 13: Comparing Irrational NumbersUnit 8
Lesson 14: Hit the Target
Lesson 14: Decimal Expansion of π 
Topic C The Pythagorean Theorem 
Lesson 15: Pythagorean Theorem, RevisitedUnit 8
Lesson 6: The Pythagorean Theorem
Lesson 7: Pictures to Prove It
Lesson 16: Converse of the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8
Lesson 9: Make It Right
Lesson 17: Distance on the Coordinate PlaneUnit 8
Lesson 11: Pond Hopper
Lesson 18: Applications of the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8
Lesson 10: Taco Truck [Free lesson]
Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Topic D Applications of Radicals and Roots 
Lesson 19: Cones and Spheres 
Lesson 20: Truncated Cones 
Lesson 21: Volume of Composite Solids 
Lesson 22: Average Rate of Change 
Lesson 23: Nonlinear Motion 

Oregon Enhanced ELA State Review for K–5

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Plan your professional development

We’re excited to partner with you on your Amplify journey. Flexible professional development pathways have been designed to meet your needs.

Illustration of three educational phases: a teacher launches a rocket, another reads a book, and four individuals discuss in a meeting setting.

Recommended Professional Development Plan

Our team has curated a recommended professional learning path from initial launch to continuous support. Use the Professional Development Planning Guide below to discuss the plan that best meets your school or district needs with your Account Executive.

Sessions overview

Recommended sessions are highlighted below.
AudienceTitleDurationModality
mCLASS Texas Edition Launch
All mCLASS Texas Edition customersInitial training2 half days or self-pacedRemote/Online course
New mCLASS Texas Edition customersInitial training1 dayOnsite
Initial training: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
New mCLASS Texas Edition customers with limited time for PDmCLASS program overview, English measures onlyHalf dayOnsite/Remote
mCLASS program overview, Spanish measures onlyHalf dayOnsite/Remote
Experienced mCLASS Texas Edition customersRefresher trainingHalf dayOnsite/Remote
mCLASS Texas Edition and Amplify Reading Launch
New mCLASS Texas Edition and Amplify Reading customersInitial training with Amplify Reading overview1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Initial training with Amplify Reading overview: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
mCLASS Texas Edition and TRC Launch
New mCLASS Texas Edition and TRC customersInitial training with TRC overview1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Initial training with TRC overview: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Experienced mCLASS Texas Edition customersTRC initial trainingHalf dayOnsite/Remote
TRC initial training: Train the TrainerHalf dayOnsite/Remote
mCLASS Express Launch
New mCLASS Express customersInitial trainingHalf dayOnsite/Remote
Initial trainingSelf-pacedOnline course
mCLASS Texas Edition Strengthen
All mCLASS Texas Edition customers with limited time for PDUnderstanding your classroom dataHalf dayOnsite/Remote
All mCLASS Texas Edition customersClassroom data analysis and instructional planning1 day Onsite
All mCLASS Texas Edition customersClassroom data analysis and instructional planning 2 half daysRemote
Classroom data analysis and instructional planning: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Classroom data analysis and instructional planningSelf-pacedOnline
All mCLASS Texas Edition customersData-driven leadership practices1 day onsiteOnsite
All mCLASS Texas Edition customersData-driven leadership practices 2 half daysRemote
Data-driven leadership practices: Train the Trainer1 day onsite or 2 half days remoteOnsite/Remote
Data-driven leadership practicesSelf-pacedOnline
Understanding your school or district dataHalf dayOnsite/Remote
Strengthening consultation session1-hour sessionRemote
All mCLASS Texas Edition customersStrengthening consultation session package3 1-hour sessionsRemote
mCLASS Texas Edition Coach
All mCLASS Texas Edition customersCoaching session1 dayOnsite
All mCLASS Texas Edition customersCoaching sessionHalf dayOnsite/Remote

Launch

mCLASS Texas Edition

Initial training

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, and use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS to drive differentiated instruction.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, and use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS to drive differentiated instruction. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

mCLASS program overview, English measures only

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the English measures of the mCLASS Texas assessment and collect reliable data using standardized guidelines. Only English measures are covered in this half-day training.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

mCLASS program overview, Spanish measures only

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to implement the Spanish measures of the mCLASS Texas assessment and collect reliable data using standardized guidelines. Only Spanish measures are covered in this half-day training.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Refresher training

Half day (3 hours)

The half-day refresher training is designed for teachers and instructional leaders who are experienced with any version of DIBELS® and/or Acadience Reading and are invested in successfully implementing mCLASS Texas Edition. This session will help educators focus on what’s new to the assessment and understand mCLASS Texas Edition’s potential to impact all students through improved measures, stronger insight into students’ instructional needs, and bolstered skills-focused lessons to support instructional planning. Upon completion of this session, participants will be prepared to implement the new assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, and use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS Texas Edition to drive differentiated instruction as part of their regular classroom practice.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

mCLASS Texas Edition and Amplify Reading

Initial training with Amplify Reading overview

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

Take the first step in launching mCLASS Texas Edition and Amplify Reading! The initial training will help educators understand how mCLASS Texas Edition assesses the basic early literacy skills that are crucial for reading development, gain hands-on experience administering and scoring the assessment using standardized guidelines, and access the Instruction page in order to find skills-focused lessons that will support instructional planning. A high-level overview of how to get started with Amplify Reading will also be provided at the end of the training along with supplementary, on-demand resources. Upon completion of this session, participants will be prepared to implement the new assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS Texas Edition to drive differentiated instruction as part of their regular classroom practice, and understand key Amplify Reading features.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training with Amplify Reading overview: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

Take the first step in launching mCLASS Texas Edition and Amplify Reading! The initial training will help educators understand how mCLASS Texas Edition assesses the basic early literacy skills that are crucial for reading development, gain hands-on experience administering and scoring the assessment using standardized guidelines, and access the Instruction page in order to find skills-focused lessons that will support instructional planning. A high-level overview of how to get started with Amplify Reading will also be provided at the end of the training along with supplementary, on-demand resources. Upon completion of this session, participants will be prepared to implement the new assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS Texas Edition to drive differentiated instruction as part of their regular classroom practice, and understand key Amplify Reading features. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

mCLASS Texas Edition and TRC

Initial training with TRC overview

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

Take the first step in launching mCLASS Texas Edition and Amplify Reading! The initial training will help educators understand how mCLASS Texas Edition assesses the basic early literacy skills that are crucial for reading development, gain hands-on experience administering and scoring the assessment using standardized guidelines, and access the Instruction page in order to find skills-focused lessons that will support instructional planning. A high-level overview of how to get started with Amplify Reading will also be provided at the end of the training along with supplementary, on-demand resources. Upon completion of this session, participants will be prepared to implement the new assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS Texas Edition to drive differentiated instruction as part of their regular classroom practice, and understand key Amplify Reading features.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Initial training with TRC overview: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

Take the first step in launching mCLASS Texas Edition and TRC! The initial training will help educators understand how mCLASS Texas Edition assesses the basic early literacy skills that are crucial for reading development, gain hands-on experience administering and scoring the assessment using standardized guidelines, and access the Instruction page in order to find skills-focused lessons that will support instructional planning. A high-level overview of how to get started with TRC will also be provided at the end of the training along with supplementary, on-demand resources. Upon completion of this session, participants will be prepared to implement the new assessment, collect reliable data using standardized guidelines, use the targeted lessons available on mCLASS Texas Edition to drive differentiated instruction as part of their regular classroom practice, and understand key TRC features. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

TRC initial training

Half day (3 hours)

Take the first step in launching TRC! The half-day initial training will help educators understand how TRC assesses the basic early literacy skills that are crucial for reading development, gain hands-on experience administering and scoring the assessment using standardized guidelines, and access the Instruction page in order to find skills-focused lessons that will support instructional planning.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Remote

TRC initial training: Train the Trainer

Half day (3 hours)

Take the first step in launching TRC! The half-day initial training will help educators understand how TRC assesses the basic early literacy skills that are crucial for reading development, gain hands-on experience administering and scoring the assessment using standardized guidelines, and access the Instruction page in order to find skills-focused lessons that will support instructional planning. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Remote

mCLASS Express

Initial training

Half day (3 hours)

Take the first step in launching mCLASS Express! The half-day initial training will help educators understand how mCLASS Express’ voice-recognition scoring generates immediate instructional recommendations for students reading below grade level. Educators will also learn how to utilize the teacher portal to assign assessments, review and correct scoring, track student growth over time, and leverage the program’s activities to create an action plan for a single classroom or across classes/grades.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Remote

Initial training

Self-paced

Take the first step in launching mCLASS Express! The two-hour initial training will help educators understand how mCLASS Express’ voice-recognition scoring generates immediate instructional recommendations for students reading below grade level. Educators will also learn how to utilize the teacher portal to assign assessments, review and correct scoring, track student growth over time, and leverage the program’s activities to create an action plan for a single classroom or across classes/grades. As this is a self-paced, on-demand online course, participants will be able to access the course anytime, move as quickly or as slowly as needed through different sections, and revisit the course for up to one year as a refresher in the future.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome)
Modality: Remote

Strengthen

Understanding your classroom data

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to understand their students’ data by utilizing the reports available on mCLASS. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Classroom data analysis and instructional planning

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to deeply understand their students’ data and create actionable instructional plans by utilizing the reports and skills-focused lesson plans available on mCLASS.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

*This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Classroom data analysis and instructional planning: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to deeply understand their students’ data and create actionable instructional plans by utilizing the reports and skills-focused lesson plans available on mCLASS. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome), maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

*This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Classroom data analysis and instructional planning

Self-paced

This PD is an individual seat to our self-paced, on-demand online course that contains approximately 6 hours of training. Participants will learn how to deeply understand their students’ data and create actionable instructional plans by utilizing the reports and skills-focused lesson plans available on mCLASS. Participants will access and revisit the course anytime for up to one year as a refresher. Note: The online course focuses on the English measures only.

Audience: Teachers (administrators welcome)
Modality: Online

Understanding your school or district data

Half day (3 hours)

This PD prepares participants to use their data in making schoolwide decisions. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Data-driven leadership practices

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to use their data in making schoolwide decisions and build a schoolwide culture of data-driven instruction. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Data-driven leadership practices: Train the Trainer

1 day onsite (6 hours) or 2 half days remote (6 hours)

This PD prepares participants to use their data in making schoolwide decisions and build a schoolwide culture of data-driven instruction. This session should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed so that participants can work with their own data. Participants receive annotated session materials to turnkey the session to colleagues.

Audience: Administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Data driven leadership practices

Self-paced

This PD is an individual seat to our self-paced, on-demand online course that contains approximately 6 hours of training. Participants will learn how to use their data in making schoolwide decisions and build a schoolwide culture of data-driven instruction. Participants will access and revisit the course anytime for up to one year as a refresher. Note: The online course focuses on the English measures only.

Audience: Administrators
Modality: Online

Strengthening consultation session

60 minutes

This 60-minute session will focus on a specific topic that will deepen educators’ understanding of mCLASS and equip them in driving towards stronger student outcomes. An Amplify facilitator will align with the school or district’s leadership team in advance on the topic from a menu of options that will best meet educators’ unique needs. Topics include progress monitoring, zones of growth, and a data walkthrough for leaders.

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Remote

Strengthening consultation session package

3 hours

This package consists of three 60-minute sessions that can be delivered on the same day or on different days. Each session will focus on a specific topic that will deepen educators’ understanding of mCLASS and equip them in driving towards stronger student outcomes. An Amplify facilitator will align with the school or district’s leadership team in advance on the topics that will best meet educators’ unique needs. Topics include progress monitoring, zones of growth, and a data walkthrough for leaders.

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Remote

Coach

Coaching session

1 day onsite (6 hours)

This PD will deepen educators’ understanding of how to utilize mCLASS in order to accelerate data-driven student outcomes. An Amplify facilitator will visit one or two school sites for one day and work with teachers and/or leaders. Prior to the visit, the Amplify facilitator will align with each school’s leadership team on their needs and customize the visit schedule accordingly.

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Onsite/Remote

Coaching session

Half day (3 hours)

This PD is up to 3 hours of training and will deepen educators’ understanding of how to utilize mCLASS in order to accelerate data-driven student outcomes. An Amplify facilitator will visit one school site for a half-day and work with teachers and/or leaders. Prior to the visit, the Amplify facilitator will align with each school’s leadership team on their needs and customize the visit schedule accordingly.

Audience: Teachers and/or administrators, maximum 30 participants
Modality: Remote

Pricing

We offer the following pricing for training sessions and packages:

Session typePricing
1-day onsite session$3,200
1-day onsite session: Train the Trainer$3,500
2 half-day remote sessions$1,500
2 half-day remote sessions: Train the Trainer$2,000
Half-day onsite session$2,500
Half-day remote session$750
2-hour self-paced online course$20 per individual seat
6-hour self-paced online course$49 per individual seat

Please note that the prices are general ranges and may be subject to change.

Contact

Amplify welcomes the opportunity to partner with schools and districts to design professional development plans and answer your questions.

If you would like to order any of our professional development services, please contact your local Amplify sales representative or call (800) 823-1969.

Welcome to Boost Reading: Remote Learning Edition!

Amplify is committed to helping school and district partners make instructional resources like Boost Reading: Remote Edition available to students who may be unable to attend school. 

This site contains all the resources you’ll need to get started using Boost Reading: Remote Edition with your students as soon as possible. We’re confident that as a community, we can continue to support learning to read remotely.

Are you an mCLASS® user? Click here to get started.

Colorful cartoon animals and objects surround a circular portal with a purple glowing ring, featuring silhouetted figures in its center.

Getting started

What you need to know about Boost Reading

Boost Reading is a student-driven, digital literacy program that provides students with differentiated and adaptive practice in all key areas of literacy instruction. Teachers have access to rich data insights into student usage and progress they can use to inform remote instruction.

 

How does it work with other programs?

Boost Reading is a great complement to any core or assessment program, especially Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) and mCLASS.

 

 

When and how to use Boost Reading

We recommend students use the program independently for 30-45 minutes a week. This implementation model has led to student growth, especially for dual language learners.

 

Students will need access to one of the following devices: Windows Devices with Windows 7+, Chromebooks with Chrome OS, and Mac devices with OS 10.11+ or iOS 11+.

 

How do I get started with Amplify Reading?

Good news! Amplify Reading has already been enabled within your mCLASS and Acadience Reading accounts. To get started with the program, you’ve got only two steps left: creating your class code and setting up your devices.

 

  • [Video] How to access Amplify Reading from within mCLASS and Acadience Reading
  • [Video] How to enable class login
  • [Video] How to create shortcuts on devices
  • [PDF] Amplify Reading launch packet

 

Note: Amplify Reading works on most classroom devices, including Windows Devices with Windows 7+, Chromebooks with Chrome OS, and Mac devices with OS 10.11+ or iOS 11+.

What else can you tell me about Amplify Reading?

As students engage in skill practice, their paths through the game world adapt to meet their unique learning needs. Amplify Reading includes more than 40 standards-aligned games that build language, foundational skills, and comprehension skills, while also developing:

  • Phonological awareness
  • Phonics
  • Vocabulary
  • Text analysis
  • Comprehension
  • Microcomprehension (i.e., the smaller aspects of comprehension that make up the reader’s mental model of a text)

 

Some additional resources that you might find helpful:

 

How do I get started with Boost Reading?

Good news! You and your students now have access to Boost Reading. To get started, you’ll need to sign in with your Amplify credentials at mclass.devamplify.wpengine.com. Next, you’ll want to distribute Boost Reading credentials to your students.

 

Where do I find my credentials?

You should have received an email from noreply@devamplify.wpengine.com with your new account information. If you do not see it in your inbox, please check your spam folder.

 

How to download and distribute student credentials:

 

How to support login at home:

You can direct parents to the following videos for an overview of the program and how to get started.

 

After students start playing, you can check in on their progress via your teacher dashboard. 

 

 

Printable extension activities

Consider sending the following activities home with your students as part of their weekly Boost Reading routine. Each printable activity has instructions in both English and Spanish.

Packet 1

Access support

Intercom chat

Our Intercom feature gives you the ability to chat with customer support, technical support, and pedagogical support teams in real time directly from the digital platform. This ensures that issues that arise in the classroom can be addressed as quickly as possible. Support teams can be reached from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday.

Email

Our customer support, technical support, and pedagogical support teams can be reached by email at help@devamplify.wpengine.com from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday.

Grade 6

Module 1: Ratios and Rates

Module 2: Fractions, Decimals, and Percents

Lesson 1: Understand PercentsUnit 3Lesson 8: Lucky Duckies [Free lesson]Lesson 9: Bicycle Goals
Lesson 2: Percents Greater Than 100% and Less Than 1% 
Lesson 3: Relate Fractions, Decimals, and PercentsUnit 5Lesson 2: Decimal Diagrams [Free lesson]Lesson 13: Grocery Prices (Print available)
Lesson 4: Find the Percent of a NumberUnit 3Lesson 10: What’s Missing? (Print available)Lesson 11: Cost Breakdown
Lesson 5: Estimate the Percent of a Number 
Lesson 6: Find the WholeUnit 3Lesson 10: What’s Missing? (Print available)

Module 3: Compute with Multi-Digit Numbers and Fractions

Module 4: Integers, Rational Numbers, and the Coordinate Plane

Lesson 1: Represent IntegersUnit 7Lesson 1: Can You Dig It [Free lesson]Lesson 4: Sub-Zero
Lesson 2: Opposites and Absolute ValueUnit 7Lesson 5: Distance on the Number Line
Lesson 3: Compare and Order IntegersUnit 7Lesson 2: Digging DeeperLesson 3: Order in the Class (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 4: Rational NumbersUnit 7Lesson 2: Digging Deeper
Lesson 5: The Coordinate PlaneUnit 7Lesson 9: Sand Dollar SearchLesson 10: The A-maze-ing Coordinate Plane
Lesson 6: Graph Reflections of Points
Lesson 7: Absolute Value and DistanceUnit 7Lesson 5: Distance on the Number Line

Module 5: Numerical and Algebraic Expressions

Module 6: Relationships in Geometry

Module 7: Relationships Between Two Variables

Module 8: Area

Module 9: Volume and Surface Area

Module 10: Statistical Measures and Displays

Grade 7

Module 1: Proportional Relationships

Module 2: Solve Percent Problems

Module 3: Operations with Integers

Module 4: Operations with Rational Numbers

Module 5: Simplify Algebraic Expressions

Module 6: Write and Solve Equations

Lesson 1: Write and Solve One-Step EquationsUnit 6Lesson 3: EquationsLesson 4: Seeing Structure (Print available)Lesson 14: Unbalanced HangersLesson 15: BudgetingLesson 16: Shira the Sheep [Free lesson]Lesson 17: Write Them and Solve Them (Print available)
Lesson 2: Solve Two-Step Equations: px + q = r
Lesson 3: Write and Solve Two-Step Equations: px + q = r
Lesson 4: Solve Two-Step Equations: p(x + q) = r
Lesson 5: Write and Solve Two-Step Equations: p(x + q) = r
Unit 6Lesson 4: Seeing Structure (Print available)Lesson 6: Balancing EquationsLesson 7: Keeping It True (Print available)Lesson 12: Community Day (Print available)Practice Day 1 (Print available)

Module 7: Write and Solve Inequalities

Lesson 1: Solve One-Step Addition and Subtraction Inequalities
Lesson 2: Write and Solve One-Step Addition and Subtraction Inequalities
Lesson 3: Solve One-Step Multiplication and Division Inequalities
Lesson 4: Solve One-Step Multiplication and Division Inequalities with Negative Coefficients
Unit 6Lesson 14: Unbalanced HangersLesson 15: Budgeting (Print available)Lesson 16: Shira the SheepLesson 17: Write Them and Solve Them (Print available)
Lesson 5: Write and Solve One-Step Multiplication and Division InequalitiesUnit 6Lesson 15: Budgeting (Print available)
Lesson 6: Write and Solve Two-Step InequalitiesUnit 6Lesson 15: Budgeting (Print available)Lesson 16: Shira the Sheep [Free lesson]Lesson 17: Write Them and Solve Them (Print available)Practice Day 2 (Print available)

Module 8: Geometric Figures

Module 9: Measure Figures

Module 10: Probability

Lesson 1: Find Likelihoods
Lesson 2: Relative Frequency of Simple Events
Lesson 3: Theoretical Probability of Events
Unit 8Lesson 1: How Likely? (Print available) [Free lesson]Lesson 2: Prob-bear-bilities [Free lesson]Lesson 3: Mystery Bag
Lesson 4: Compare Probabilities of Simple EventsUnit 8Lesson 4: Spin ClassLesson 5: Is It Fair?
Lesson 5: Probability of Compound EventsUnit 8Lesson 6: Fair GamesLesson 7: Weather or NotLesson 8: Simulate It
Lesson 6: Simulate Chance EventsUnit 8Lesson 8: Simulate ItPractice Day 1 (Print available)

Module 11: Sampling and Statistics

Grade 8

Module 1: Exponents and Scientific Notation

Module 2: Real Numbers

Lesson 1: Terminating and Repeating DecimalsUnit 8
Lesson 12: Fractions to Decimals
Lesson 13: Decimals to Fractions
Lesson 2: RootsUnit 8
Lesson 2: From Squares to Roots
Lesson 3: Between Squares
Lesson 4: Root Down [Free lesson]
Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 3: Real NumbersUnit 8
Lesson 14: Hit the Target
Lesson 4: Estimate Irrational NumbersUnit 8
Lesson 3: Between Squares
Lesson 5: Compare and Order Real NumbersUnit 8
Lesson 14: Hit the Target

Module 3: Solve Equations with Variables on Each Side

Module 4: Linear Relationships and Slope

Module 5: Functions

Module 6: Systems of Linear Equations

Lesson 1: Solve Systems of Equations by GraphingUnit 4 
Lesson 9: On or Off the Line?
Lesson 10: On Both Lines
Lesson 11: Make Them Balance [Free lesson]
Lesson 12: Line Zapper
Lesson 13: All, Some, or None? Part 2
(Print available)Practice Day 2 
Lesson 2: Determine Number of SolutionsUnit 4 
Lesson 13: All, Some, or None? Part 2
Lesson 3: Solve Systems of Equations by Substitution
Lesson 4: Solve Systems of Equations by Elimination
Lesson 5: Write and Solve Systems of EquationsUnit 4 
Lesson 14: Strategic Solving, Part 2 (Print available)

Module 7: Triangles and the Pythagorean Theorem

Lesson 1: Angle Relationships and Parallel LinesUnit 1 Lesson 10: Transforming Angles
Lesson 2: Angle Relationships and TrianglesUnit 1 Lesson 10: Transforming Angles Lesson 11: Tearing It Up (Print available)Lesson 12: Puzzling It Out [Free lesson]
Lesson 3: The Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8Lesson 6: The Pythagorean TheoremLesson 7: Pictures to Prove It
Lesson 4: Converse of the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8Lesson 9: Make It Right
Lesson 5: Distance on the Coordinate PlaneUnit 8Lesson 11: Pond HopperPractice day 2 (Print available)

Module 8: Transformations

Module 9: Congruence and Similarity

Lesson 1: Congruence and Transformations
Lesson 2: Congruence and Corresponding Parts
Unit 1 Lesson 7: Are They the Same?Lesson 9: Are They Congruent?
Lesson 3: Similarity and TransformationsUnit 2Lesson 5: Transformations Golf with DilationsLesson 6: Social Scavenger Hunt (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 4: Similarity and Corresponding PartsUnit 2Lesson 7: Are Angles Enough?Lesson 8: Shadows
Lesson 5: Indirect MeasurementUnit 2Lesson 8: Shadows

Module 10: Volume

Lesson 1: Volume of CylindersUnit 5Lesson 10: Volume LabLesson 11: Cylinders [Free lesson]Lesson 12: Scaling Cylinders
Lesson 2: Volume of ConesUnit 5Lesson 10: Volume LabLesson 13: Cones [Free lesson]Lesson 14: Missing Dimensions (Print available)
Lesson 3: Volume of SpheresUnit 5Lesson 15: Spheres
Lesson 4: Finding Missing DimensionsUnit 5Lesson 14: Missing Dimensions (Print available)
Lesson 5: Volume of Composite SolidsUnit 5Lesson 15: Spheres

Module 11: Scatter Plots and Two-Way Tables

Expect more from your assessments with mCLASS Math.

Understanding student thinking is the key to accelerating student performance.

Welcome to mCLASS® Math, the benchmarking and progress monitoring system for grades K–8 that measures proficiency, reveals underlying mathematical thinking, and informs instructional support for every learner. Analyzing student responses to reveal valid underlying mathematical thinking—even in wrong answers—helps better target individualized instructional recommendations that build grade-level proficiency.

Meet mCLASS Math.

mCLASS Math’s research-based benchmark and progress monitoring assessment system tracks performance against grade-level expectations to help predict later growth outcomes.

With screening and diagnostic capabilities and empirically established cut scores to assess risk, mCLASS Math reporting helps educators pinpoint strengths and areas of growth for individualized instructional support for every student. Together, these establish a strong Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).

This powerful assessment is digitally assigned to the whole class three times annually: beginning-of-year (BOY), middle-of-year (MOY), and end-of-year (EOY). The open responses of the assessment give more robust data-points gathered from each item, and it only takes 30 to 40 minutes to complete.

Designed to target critical grade-level skills that predict success, the rich data can be used as a diagnostic tool for Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention and flags for the potential risk of dyscalculia.

mCLASS Progress Monitoring assessments help teachers chart students’ progression between benchmark assessment windows. For students receiving targeted support, mCLASS Progress Monitoring determines if intervention is effective or adjustments are needed to enhance student learning.

These short yet effective assessments enable teachers to monitor a student’s math performance between mCLASS Benchmark assessments. mCLASS Progress Monitoring assessments can be assigned to a select group of students needing targeted support in a specific skill or Tier 2 or Tier 3 intervention, and are aligned around crucial math domains for each grade level.

Assess in less time.

With the groundbreaking digital analysis of student thinking, mCLASS Math teachers can rely on the predictive validity of assessments in less time.

The powerful Student Response Analysis of open-ended questions provides deep insight into what and how students think—faster and with fewer questions.

A laptop displays a classroom results dashboard for supplemental math, featuring a table of student scores, colored rating bars, and side labels showing numbers 250, 310, and 320.

Access deeper insights.

mCLASS Math’s dynamic data reports offer a window into student thinking, reliably guiding intervention across Tiers 1–3.

The more teachers understand how their students think, the better they can support their growth. The assessment system recognizes students’ individual strengths, experiences, understandings, and strategies—or assets, as we collectively refer to them—to inform the robust data that powers mCLASS Math.

Educator and caregiver reports

Empirically established cut scores and domain-specific measures help teachers plan for tiered intervention with classroom, school, and district-level performance reports set to predict end-of-year outcomes.

To reinforce learning at home, Home Connect letters provide caregivers with easy-to-use reports on their child’s math development.

Student Thinking Report

The Student Thinking Report gives teachers actionable recommendations tailored to how individual students or groups of students approach problems. By understanding the different ways of thinking in skimmable, yet robust, reports, teachers have the tools they need to efficiently plan differentiation to achieve instructional targets.

Actionable recommendations enable teachers to quickly differentiate with intervention resources aligned to common misconceptions.

Research behind mCLASS Math

Based on decades of research for best practices in math, mCLASS Math efficiently assesses students’ skills and thinking to give teachers instant recommendations for small group and individualized instruction.

Following research from leading math experts and an in-depth validation analysis through WestEd, a technical report will be released summer 2025.

A teacher provides instructional support to students wearing headphones as they work on laptops during a math intervention session. Other students are visible in the background.

A dedicated team at Amplify with over 500 combined years of classroom teaching, school leadership, and assessment experience thoughtfully created mCLASS Math with teachers and students in mind.

Following research from leading math experts and an in-depth validation analysis through WestEd, data will be continuously released starting in spring 2025.

A woman with long dark hair, smiling and wearing a dark top, embodies the essence of individualized instruction against a neutral background.

Sandra Pappas

Associate Director of Research

A person in a suit and tie smiles while standing in front of a wall with ivy, embodying the essence of individualized instruction and progress monitoring.

Patrick Callahan, Ph.D.

Educator and Founder of Math ANEX

A man in a suit and tie stands against a gray background, arms crossed, exuding confidence as if ready to offer instructional support. He gazes at the camera with an air of determination and expertise.

Jason Zimba, Ph.D.

Chief Academic Officer of STEM
at Amplify

The mCLASS Math K–5 assessment system is designed to provide educators with reliable and valid measures to identify students needing additional support in mathematics and to inform instructional decisions. Preliminary data presents evidence supporting the psychometric quality of the assessment using the technical standards outlined by the National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII) and state requirements for screening measures.

Data informs
instruction

mCLASS Math works alongside your core instruction, differentiation, and intervention. The data model behind mCLASS Math provides comprehensive data for each student across grades K–8, easily connecting teachers to the immediate next steps that will support, strengthen, and stretch all learners.

Math activity interface with three ten-frames showing flowers and leaves, a prompt to find the sum 9 + 4 + 3, and movable flowers for counting—ideal for math intervention and progress monitoring.

Personalized Learning accelerates student growth with daily, targeted 15-minute digital activities. Supported by a virtual tutor, students tackle individualized tasks linked to daily lessons, receiving just-in-time support to foster grade-level success.

Explore sample activities

Two educational pages titled "Writing Equations With Unknown Variables" under Teacher Guide ML L06, featuring problem examples, vocabulary, and recommended next steps for teaching. Includes progress monitoring tools to enhance individualized instruction and boost learning outcomes.

Teacher-led, 15-minute Mini-Lessons can build grade-level proficiency by providing research-based, targeted intervention to small groups of students who need additional support.

Explore sample Mini-Lessons

Three educational math worksheets titled "Capture Squares" and "Cover Up," featuring instructions and a multiplication grid, provide instructional support as engaging supplemental math activities for classroom use.

Reinforce students’ understanding of concepts through collaborative, hands-on Centers (grades K–5). These student-led routines provide additional practice with vertical alignment across grade levels.

Explore sample Centers

Fluency Practice uses spaced repetition, an evidence-based approach to promoting memory retention, to teach basic facts. The adaptive nature of the practice allows students to focus less and less on the facts they already know. We’ve partnered with Math for Love to iterate on the popular Multiplication by Heart to create Division by Heart and Addition and Subtraction by Heart I & II. These proven fluency decks—plus Skills Fluency for supporting procedural fluency practice—help students practice crucial skills independently.

Try Fluency Practice

A laptop screen showcases a software interface with an "Item Bank" of selectable cards, ideal for progress monitoring. The interface features sorting options and a left sidebar menu, offering seamless integration for instructional support.

Item Banks provide space for teachers to create custom practice and assessments by using filters and searching for standards, summative-style items, and more.

Collage of math exercises featuring cubes, an avocado-themed problem, and geometric shapes. Includes instruction for selection and explanation, offering instructional support to aid in progress monitoring.

All students should have access to fun and challenging problems. Extensions are 10- to 15-minute activities aligned to the most critical topics for the grade, providing flexible, low-lift activities for the whole class or targeted intervention to small groups of students ready for an extra challenge.

See a sample Extension

One cohesive math experience

As part of Amplify Desmos Math, Amplify’s comprehensive math suite, mCLASS Math provides a strong foundation of actionable data to help teachers diagnose and capitalize on student strengths. Amplify Desmos Math ensures that you have all the core, intervention, and personalized instruction you need to support each stage of a student’s math journey.

Welcome, Minnesota educators!

Thank you for taking the time to review Amplify’s CKLA resources for K–5.

Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts® (CKLA) is an effective core literacy resource for students in grades K–5. CKLA was developed in partnership with the Core Knowledge Foundation and was specifically designed to help teachers implement proven evidence-based instructional practices. CKLA is all green on EdReports- read the full review on EdReports.org.

Click here for correlations to the Minnesota Learning Standards.

Illustration featuring diverse cultural and historical elements like an african woman, an egyptian sphinx, a space rocket, and urban and natural landscapes under a starry sky.

Virtual presentations

Amplify CKLA for Grades K–2

Amplify CKLA for Grades 3–5

About CKLA

Amplify CKLA is a core ELA program for grades K–5 that delivers:

  • A combination of explicit foundational skills with meaningful knowledge-building.
  • Embedded support and differentiation that get all students reading grade-level texts together.
  • Opportunities for students to see the strengths and experiences that all people share while celebrating each others’ unique identities and experiences.
  • Authentic Spanish language arts instruction with Amplify Caminos.

How it Works

Amplify CKLA teaches both foundational skills and background knowledge in grades K–2 and combines them in 3–5.

  • In grades K–2, students complete one full lesson that builds foundational reading skills and one full lesson that builds background knowledge.
  • In grades 3–5, students complete one integrated lesson combining skills and knowledge with increasingly complex texts, close reading, and a greater emphasis on writing

What students Explore

Amplify CKLA builds knowledge coherently across subjects and grades.

Students make connections from year to year by exploring grade-appropriate subject-area knowledge and vocabulary in history, science, literature, and the arts while learning to read, write, and think creatively and for themselves.

What students read

Amplify CKLA puts a variety of texts in the hands of students every day to build and strengthen background knowledge and vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension, and decoding and fluency skills.

A comprehensive approach to literacy instruction requires students to have a wide range of text experiences, including reading, listening, discussing, and writing. Check out our text complexity guide to learn more by clicking here. Most questions, tasks, and assignments in CKLA materials are text-dependent. See how we use questioning and analysis skills to help students understand text in CKLA here.

More than that, we ensure the texts students read represent the world around them. With a diverse range of authors, topics, and characters, all students have ample access to both windows and mirrors. Our texts include the following:

  • Authentic books
  • Authentic text passages
  • Student Readers
  • Novel Guides (grades 3–5)

Download a list of K-5 student texts.

Six children's book covers arranged in two rows, featuring colorful illustrations of animals, people, and nature. Titles include "Rain Player," "A More Perfect Union," and "The Busy Body Book.

Supports LETRS

Amplify CKLA aligns with the instructional principles recommended by LETRS.

  • Structured: Concepts are taught through consistent routines.
  • Sequential: Concepts are taught in a logical, well-planned sequence.
  • Systematic: Phonemes are taught from simplest to most complex.
  • Explicit: Decoding and encoding concepts are taught directly and explicitly.
  • Multi-sensory: Instruction is delivered through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways.
  • Cumulative: Concepts are applied in decodable, connected texts with constant review and reinforcement.

A comprehensive and cohesive solution

A strong literacy program is more than a reading program or an assessment tool: it combines curriculum, instruction, regular practice, intervention, and assessments.

Amplify has brought these components together in our early literacy curriculum suite to ensure you have what you need for multi-tiered support.

Infographic describing a cycle of K–5 literacy solutions: mCLASS screening, Amplify CKLA instruction, digital and staff-led interventions, and professional development within an early literacy suite grounded in the science of reading.

Trial Access

Ready to explore on your own? Follow the instructions below to access your demo account.

Explore CKLA’s digital site:

Go to my.amplify.com
Select Log in with Amplify
Teacher login: t1.mde-mn@demo.tryamplify.net
Password: Amplify1-mde-mn
Select the CKLA icon and your desired grade level

Screenshot of the CKLA curriculum webpage displaying a list of materials, including Activity Book, Teacher Guide, Answer Key, and other educational resources.

Additional Resources

Check out the information below to learn more about Amplify CKLA and see how Amplify CKLA is impacting classrooms all over the country.

Amplify Reading for international partners

We’re thrilled you’re considering giving Amplify Reading a try! This site contains all the resources you’ll need to learn more about the program and to get started using it to support remote learning or classroom instruction. We’re confident you’re going to love how Amplify Reading provides targeted support for every student.

Colorful illustrated animals surround a futuristic portal with silhouettes, while books, dice, and a card deck are arranged in the foreground.

Getting started

What you need to know about Amplify Reading

Amplify Reading is a student-driven, digital literacy program that provides students with differentiated and adaptive practice in all key areas of literacy instruction. Teachers have access to rich data insights into student usage and progress they can use to inform remote instruction.

How does it work with other programs?

Amplify Reading is a great complement to any core or assessment program, especially Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) and mCLASS.

When and how to use Amplify Reading

We recommend students use the program independently for 30-45 minutes a week. This implementation model has led to student growth, especially for dual language learners.

Students will need access to one of the following devices: Windows Devices with Windows 7+, Chromebooks with Chrome OS, and Mac devices with OS 10.11+ or iOS 11+.

How do I get started with Amplify Reading?

Good news! You and your students now have access to Amplify Reading. To get started, you’ll need to sign in with your Amplify credentials at mclass.amplify.com. Next, you’ll want to distribute Amplify Reading credentials to your students.

Where do I find my credentials?

You should have received an email from noreply@amplify.com with your new account information. If you do not see it in your inbox, please check your spam folder.

How to download and distribute student credentials:

How to support login at home:

You can direct parents to the following videos for an overview of the program and how to get started.

After students start playing, you can check in on their progress via your teacher dashboard. 

Amplify Reading Dashboard Tour

Printable extension activities

Consider sending the following activities home with your students as part of their weekly Amplify Reading routine. Each printable activity has instructions in both English and Spanish.
Packet 1
Activity Packet: Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5
Answer Key: Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5

A young boy in a red shirt focuses on writing in a notebook with a pen at a desk, with a bright background.

Access support

A science education website features animal and plant defense topics with turtle illustrations; a chat support window for teachers appears on the right side.

Intercom chat

Our Intercom feature gives you the ability to chat with customer support, technical support, and pedagogical support teams in real time directly from the digital platform. This ensures that issues that arise in the classroom can be addressed as quickly as possible. Support teams can be reached from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday.

Email

Our customer support, technical support, and pedagogical support teams can be reached by email at help@amplify.com from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday.

Open-plan office with multiple people working at desks with computers, plants by windows, and bright overhead lighting.

What’s new

The Tech User Manual has been updated for EOY.

About mCLASS in Louisiana

The Louisiana Department of Education is committed to providing literacy instruction for all by:

  • Aligning core curriculum, instruction, and assessments with the Science of Reading.
  • Providing appropriate literacy interventions to address difficulty with reading development.
  • Implementing practices based on the Science of Reading in every classroom, every day.
  • Offering aligned resources to parents, guardians, and family members.

Built on decades of research at the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon (a national center for early childhood assessment and instruction), the mCLASS suite meets Louisiana’s early literacy goals for its students with a robust core curriculum and a suite of reporting, grouping, lesson, and caregiver support features.

DIBELS measures at each grade level 
Measure Grade K Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3
Letter naming fluency A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.    
Phonemic segmentation fluency A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.    
Nonsense word fluency A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Word reading fluency A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Oral reading fluency   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Maze (basic comprehension)     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.

Enrollment resources

EOY enrollment timeline: 

  • 3/3- 3/17: Admin Portal closed 
    • Students and staff are still able to log into mCLASS
    • Students are still able to assess Progress Monitoring
    • No EOY assessments taking place at this time 
    • Data Reporting (classroom and aggregate reports) is still available
  • 3/18: Admin Portal reopens 
  • 4/1: EOY begins

Student Transfers:

For instructions on transferring students into a district from a different district within the state, see the Transferring Students section of the Test Coordinator Manual: K–3 EOY.

To add students to your district who are transferring to your school from outside of LDOE, please follow the process in the Enrolling Students section of this article.

End of Year and G3 Summer window resources

  • Test Coordinator Manual (District and School Test Coordinators only): This manual provides instructions for administrative tasks for DTCs and STCs.
  • Test Administrator Manual for the Secure K–2 End of Year Literacy Assessment: This manual for Test Administrators provides instructions for administering the secure EOY assessment.
  • Test Administration Manual: Grade 3 End of Year Literacy Assessment:  This manual for Test Administrators provides instructions for administering EOY assessment to Grade 3 students.
  • Tech User Guide: This manual for District and School Technology Coordinators provides instructions for installing the safe browser (Windows/Mac) or kiosk mode applications (Chromebook) needed for secure EOY assessment.
  • Accessibility and Accommodations Manual: This manual includes information about the accessibility features offered for secure EOY assessment, as well as the standard DIBELS 8th Edition Accommodations.
  • For information about student demographics in the Admin Portal, see LDOE Admin Portal: Demographics.
  • New Troubleshooting for ChromeOS Kiosk Mode guide is available for Technology Coordinators supporting Test Administrators who encounter an error message when launching the Chrome kiosk mode applications.

How to: Install the Safe Exam Browser

This section provides instructions for installing the Safe Exam Browser (SEB), which is needed to assess K-2 students during EOY in Louisiana. Depending on your device type, download the SEB app from the Apple App Store or this site.

If you are using a Chromebook, you will use kiosk mode instead of the SEB. The Tech User Guide includes instructions for installing the applications needed to use kiosk mode, as well as instructions for installing the SEB and additional information to set up devices for secure End of Year (EOY) assessment.

Windows

Browser: Chrome (latest 2 versions)

iPad

  • Navigate to Safe Exam Browser in the App Store on your iPad.
  • Tap the Safe Exam Browser app icon to open the app page.
  • Tap Get to download and install the app.
  • For instructions on installing the SEB, see the Tech User Manual.

macOS

  • Download the DMG file.
  • Depending on your browser, a download page may open in a new tab, displaying the download progress. When the download is complete, close the tab. 
  • For instructions on installing the SEB, see the Tech User Manual.

Progress Monitoring

This guide provides instructions for administering progress monitoring (PM) assessments in Louisiana schools. 

Please note that the steps for accessing and administering PM assessments are different for schools with an mCLASS Intervention license than for schools that do not have an mCLASS Intervention license.

Amplify Tutoring: HDT driven by mCLASS data

An adult and child sit at a table, smiling and giving each other a high five. The child wears blue headphones and a laptop is on the table. The background is light blue.

Grounded in evidence-based practices and taught by caring, consistent tutors, our high-impact tutoring programs use high-quality instructional materials and data-driven mCLASS® products to empower students.

  • Data-driven, personalized instruction
  • Research-backed solutions tailored to support your MTSS framework
  • Customizable–before, during or after school year-long, semester-long and summer programming
  • Comprehensive program management and staffing support

Professional development

Amplify professional development (PD) provides learning experiences that intentionally develop the knowledge and skills you need for effective and self-sustaining implementation.

Go to the PD Library to access self-paced online courses, webinar recordings, videos, and more to help you learn how to administer and score the assessment and develop a deeper understanding of reporting and instruction.

If you are interested in purchasing additional PD for your school or district, please reach out to your account executive.

Additional mCLASS information

mCLASS gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student. Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

View the EOY mCLASS Reporting Guide to learn more.

View the BOY/MOY mCLASS Reporting Guide to learn more.

Additional resources around mCLASS reporting can be found by navigating to the Programs & Apps section and then selecting PD Library

Graph showing emma ashley's progress in letter sounds from august to may, starting well below benchmark at 20, reaching 74 by december, and surpassing the benchmark with 90 in may.

To continue your own professional learning around the Science of Reading, join your colleagues who’ve subscribed to our podcasts and communities!

Science of Reading: The Podcast delivers the latest insights from researchers and practitioners in early reading. Further your professional development with each episode by subscribing and downloading now.

Science of Reading: The Community is built for those committed to fostering conversation around the Science of Reading and implementing best practices in the classroom (including the virtual classroom).

What does classroom instruction look like when it is based on Science of Reading practices? We’ve outlined a Science of Reading action plan to guide your evaluation in our new FREE ebook, Science of Reading: Making the shift.

A presentation slide titled "Science of Reading: Making the shift" with subtitle "Surveying classroom instruction" and colorful ribbon graphics.

The mCLASS Home Connect website houses literacy resources for parents and caregivers, including at-home lessons organized by skill to help students at home during remote learning. Our mCLASS parent/caregiver letters in English and Spanish ensure that families know how to best support their students.

Screenshot of the mclass home connect website showing educational activities in three categories: word race, count the ways, and mystery game, with navigation options at the top.

mCLASS support

Our chat agents are standing by to assist you!
Simply log in at my.amplify.com/login/louisiana and select the orange button in the lower right corner to chat live with our support team.

Important note:
Our support hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.

Check out the DIBELS 8 LDOE Help Center for more help at any point during implementation.

A laptop screen displaying the AmplifyELA program with sections for different grade levels and core units, featuring colorful icons and a menu on the left side.

Additional Amplify products

Get in touch with us to learn more about bringing other high-quality Amplify programs to your school or district.

Grade 6

Unit 1: Area and Surface Area

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 1: Area and Surface AreaUnit 1: Area and Surface Area
Unit 7: Positive and Negative Numbers
Lesson 1: The TangramUnit 1
Lesson 1: Shapes on a Plane
Lesson 2: Exploring the TangramUnit 1
Lesson 2: Letters
Sub-Unit 1 : Area of Special Polygons
Lesson 3: Tilting the PlaneUnit 1
Lesson 1: Shapes on a Plane
Lesson 4: Compositing and Rearranging to Determine AreaUnit 1
Lesson 2: Letters
Lesson 5: Reasoning to Determine AreaUnit 1
Lesson 2: Letters
Lesson 6: ParallelogramsUnit 1
Lesson 3: Exploring Parallelograms (Print available)
Lesson 4: Off the Grid
Lesson 7: Bases and Heights of ParallelogramsUnit 1
Lesson 3: Exploring Parallelograms (Print available)
Lesson 4: Off the Grid
Lesson 8: Bases and Heights of ParallelogramsUnit 1
Lesson 3: Exploring Parallelograms (Print available)
Lesson 4: Off the Grid
Lesson 9: From Parallelograms to TrianglesUnit 1
Lesson 3: Exploring Parallelograms (Print available)
Lesson 4: Off the Grid
Lesson 6: Triangles and Parallelograms
Lesson 10: Bases and Heights of TrianglesUnit 1
Lesson 4: Off the Grid
Lesson 6: Triangles and Parallelograms
Lesson 11: Formula for the Area of a TriangleUnit 1
Lesson 5: Exploring Triangles (Print available)
Lesson 12: From Triangles to TrapezoidsUnit 1
Lesson 4: Off the Grid
Lesson 6: Triangles and Parallelograms
Lesson 13: PolygonsUnit 1
Lesson 2: Letters
Lesson 8: Pile of Polygons Practice Day 1 (Print available)

Unit 7
Lesson 11: Polygon Maker
Sub-Unit 2: Nets and Surface Area
Lesson 14: What is Surface Area?Unit 1
Lesson 9: Renata’s Stickers
Lesson 15: Nets and Surface Area of Rectangular PrismsUnit 1
Lesson 10: Plenty of Polyhedra
Lesson 11:Nothing but Nets(Print available)
Lesson 12: Face Value
Lesson 13: Take It To Go (Print available)
Lesson 16: Nets and Surface Area of PrismsUnit 1
Lesson 12: Face Value
Lesson 13: Take It To Go (Print available)
Lesson 17: Constructing a RhombicuboctahedronUnit 1
Lesson 13: Take It To Go (Print available)
Lesson 18: Simplifying Expressions for Squares and CubesUnit 1
Lesson 11: Exponent Expressions (Print available)
Lesson 12: Squares and Cubes
Lesson 19: Simplifying Expressions Even More Using ExponentsUnit 1
Lesson 11: Exponent Expressions (Print available)
Lesson 20: Designing a Suspended Tent 

Unit 2: Introducing Ratios

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 2: Introducing RatiosUnit 2: Introducing Ratios
Lesson 1: Fermi Problems 
Sub-Unit 1: What are Ratios?
Lesson 2: Introducing Ratios and Ratio LanguageUnit 2
Lesson 1: Pizza Maker
Lesson 2: Ratio Rounds (Print available)
Lesson 3: Representing Ratios with DiagramsUnit 2
Lesson 1: Pizza Maker
Lesson 2: Ratio Rounds (Print available)
Lesson 3:Rice Ratios (Print available)
Lesson 4: A Recipe for Purple Oobleck 
Lesson 5: Kapa Dyes 
Sub-Unit 2:Equivalent Ratios
Lesson 6: Defining Equivalent RatiosUnit 2
Lesson 3: Rice Ratios (Print available)
Lesson 4: Fruit Lab (Print available)
Lesson 11: Community Life (Print available)
Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 7: Representing Equivalent Ratios with Tables 
Lesson 8: Reasoning with Multiplication and Division (optional) 
Lesson 9: Common Factors 
Lesson 10: Common Multiples 
Lesson 11: Navigating a Table of Equivalent RatiosUnit 2
Lesson 6: Product Prices (Print available)
Lesson 7: Mixing Paint, Part 1
Lesson 12: Tables and Double Number Line DiagramsUnit 2
Lesson 6: Product Prices (Print available)
Lesson 7: Mixing Paint, Part 1
Lesson 13: Tempo and Double Number LinesUnit 2
Lesson 5: Balancing Act
Lesson 6: Product Prices (Print available)
Sub-Unit 3: Solving Ratio Problems 
Lesson 14: Solving Equivalent RatiosUnit 2
Lesson 6: Product Prices (Print available)
Lesson 7: Mixing Paint, Part 1
Lesson 10: Balloons
Lesson 11: Community Life (Print available)
Lesson 15: Part-Part-Whole RatiosUnit 2
Lesson 12 Mixing Paint, Part 2
Lesson 13: City Planning
Lesson 16: Comparing Ratios 
Lesson 17: More Comparing and Solving 
Lesson 18: Measuring with Different-Sized Units 
Lesson 20: More Fermi Problems 

Unit 3: Rates and Percentages

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 3: Rates and PercentagesUnit 2: Introducing Ratios
Unit 3: Unit Rates and percentages
Lesson 1: Choosing Representation for Student CouncilLaunch Lesson
Sub-Unit 1: Rates
Lesson 2: How Much for One?Unit 3
Lesson 4: Model Trains
Lesson 3: Constant Speed  
Lesson 4: Comparing SpeedsUnit 2
Lesson 8: World Records (Print available) 

Unit 3
Lesson 4: Model Trains
Lesson 5: Soft Serve
Lesson 6: Welcome to the Robot Factory
Lesson 5: Interpreting RatesUnit 3
Lesson 8: World Records (Print available) 

Unit 3
Lesson 4: Model Trains
Lesson 5: Soft Serve
Lesson 6: Welcome to the Robot Factory
Lesson 6: Comparing Rates 
Lesson 7: Solving Rate ProblemsUnit 3
Lesson 7: More Soft Serve
Sub-Unit 2: Percentages
Lesson 8: What Are percentages?Unit 3
Lesson 8: Lucky Duckies
Lesson 9: Bicycle Goals
Lesson 9: Determining Percentages 
Lesson 10: Benchmark PercentagesUnit 3
Lesson 7: Lucky Duckies
Lesson 11: Finding This Percent of ThatUnit 3
Lesson 10: What’s Missing? (Print available)
Lesson 11: Cost Breakdown
Lesson 12: More Bicycle Goals
Lesson 13: A Country as a Village
Lesson 12: This Percent of What 
Lesson 13: Solving Percentage ProblemsUnit 3
Lesson: 10: What’s Missing (Print available)
Lesson: 11: Cost Breakdown
Lesson: 12: More Bicycle Goals
Lesson: 13: A Country as a Village
Lesson 14: If Our Class Were the World 
Lesson 15: Voting for a School Mascot 

Unit 4: Dividing Fractions

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Lesson 1: Seeing Fractions
Sub-Unit 1: Interpreting Division Scenarios
Lesson 3: Relating Multiplication and Division 
Lesson 4: Size of Divisor and Size of QuotientUnit 4
Lesson 1: Cookie Cutter
Sub-Unit 2: Division with Fractions
Lesson 5: How Many GroupsUnit 4
Lesson 3: Flour Planner
Lesson 4: Flower Planters
Lesson 4: Garden Bricks (Print available) 
Lesson 6: Using Diagrams to Find the Number of GroupsUnit 4
Lesson 5: Garden Bricks (Print available)
Lesson 6: Fill the Gap
Lesson 7: Dividing with Common DenominatorsUnit 4
Lesson 6: Fill the Gap
Lesson 8: How Much in Each Group? (Part 1)Unit 4
Lesson 8: Potting Soil
Lesson 9: How Much in Each Group? (Part 2)Unit 4
Lesson 8: Potting Soil
Lesson 10: Dividing by Unit and Non-Unit FractionsUnit 4
Lesson 7: Break It Down
Lesson 8: Potting Soil
Lesson 9: Division Challenges
Lesson 11: Using an Algorithm to Divide FractionsUnit 4
Lesson 9: Division Challenges Practice Day
Lesson 13: Fractional LengthsUnit 4
Lesson 12: Puzzling 
Lesson 14: Area with Fractional LengthsUnit 4
Lesson 9: Puzzling Area (Print available)
Lesson 15: Volume of PrismsUnit 4
Lesson 13: Volume Challenges (Print available)
Lesson 16: Fish Tanks Inside of Fish TanksUnit 4
Lesson 10: Swap Meet
Lesson 17: Now, Where Was That Bus?Unit 4
Lesson 10: Capstone

Unit 5: Arithmetic in Base Ten

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Lesson 1: Precision and World Records 
Sub-Unit 1: Adding and Subtracting Decimals 
Lesson 2: Speaking of Decimals…Unit 5
Lesson 1: Dishing Out Decimals (Print available)
Lesson 3: Adding and Subtracting DecimalsUnit 5
Lesson 3: Fruit by the Pound
Lesson 4: Missing Digits
Lesson 4: X Games Medal ResultsUnit 5
Lesson 2: Decimal Diagrams
Sub-Unit 2: Multiplying Decimals
Lesson 5: Decimal Points in ProductsUnit 5
Lesson 5: Decimal Multiplication
Lesson 6: Methods for Multiplying DecimalsUnit 5
Lesson 5: Decimal Multiplication
Lesson 6: Multiplying with Areas
Lesson 7: Multiplication Methods (Print available)
Lesson 7: Using Diagrams to Represent MultiplicationUnit 5
Lesson 5: Decimal Multiplication
Lesson 6: Multiplying with Areas
Lesson 8: Calculating Products of DecimalsUnit 5
Lesson 6: Multiplying with Areas
Sub-Unit 3: Dividing Decimals
Lesson 9: Exploring Division 
Lesson 10: Using Long DivisionUnit 5
Lesson 8: Division Diagrams
Lesson 9: Long Division Launch (Print available)
Lesson 10: Return of the Long Division (Print available)
Lesson 11: Dividing Numbers That Result in DecimalsUnit 5
Lesson 9: Long Division Launch (Print available)
Lesson 10: Return of the Long Division (Print available)
Lesson 12: Using Related Expressions to Divide with Decimals 
Lesson 13: Dividing Multi-Digit DecimalsUnit 5
Lesson 9: Long Division Launch (Print available)
Lesson 10: Return of the Long Division (Print available)
Lesson 14: The So-called World’s Littlest Skyscraper

Unit 6: Expressions and Equations

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 6: Expressions and EquationsUnit 6: Expressions and Equations
Lesson 1: Detecting Counterfeit Coins
Sub-Unit 1: Expressions and Equations in One Variable
Lesson 2: Write Expressions Where Letters Stand for Numbers 
Lesson 3: Tape Diagrams and Equations 
Lesson 4: Truth and EquationsUnit 6
Lesson 1: Weight for It
Lesson 2: Five Equations (Print available)
Lesson 5: Staying in BalanceUnit 6
Lesson 1: Weight for It
Lesson 2: Five Equations (Print available)
Lesson 3: Hanging Around
Lesson 6: Staying in Balance with Variables 
Lesson 7: Practice Solving EquationsUnit 6
Lesson 3: Hanging Around
Lesson 4: Hanging It Up
Lesson 5: Swap and Solve (Print available)
Lesson 8: A New Way to Interpret a over bUnit 6
Lesson 4: Hanging It Up
Lesson 5: Swap and Solve (Print available)
Lesson 9: Revisiting Percentages
Sub-Unit 2: Equivalent Expressions
Lesson 10: Equal and Equivalent (Part 1)Unit 6
Lesson 1: Weight for It
Lesson 2: Five Equations (Print available)
Lesson 3: Hanging Around
Lesson 6: Vari-apples
Lesson 11: Equal and Equivalent (Part 2)Unit 6
Lesson 1: Weight for It
Lesson 2: Five Equations (Print available)
Lesson 3: Hanging Around
Lesson 6: Vari-apples
Lesson 12: The Distributive Property, Part 1Unit 6
Lesson 8: Products and Sums
Lesson 9: Products, Sums, and Differences (Print available)
Lesson 13: The Distributive Property, Part 2Unit 6
Lesson 8: Products and Sums
Lesson 9: Products, Sums, and Differences (Print available)
Lesson 14: Meaning of ExponentsUnit 6
Lesson 10: Powers
Lesson 11: Exponent Expressions (Print available)
Lesson 15: Evaluating Expressions with ExponentsUnit 6
Lesson 11: Exponent Expressions (Print available)
Lesson 12: Squares and Cubes
Lesson 16: Analyzing Exponential Expressions and EquationsUnit 6
Lesson 11: Exponent Expressions (Print available)
Lesson 12: Squares and Cubes
Sub-Unit 3: Relationships Between Quantities
Lesson 17: Two Related Quantities, Part 1Unit 6
Lesson 13: Turtles All the Way
Lesson 14: Representing Relationships
Lesson 15: Connecting Representations (Print available)
Lesson 18: Two Related Quantitites, Part 2Unit 6
Lesson 13: Turtles All the Way
Lesson 14: Representing Relationships
Lesson 15: Connecting Representations (Print available)
Lesson 19: Creating a Class Mobile 

Unit 7: Rational Numbers

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 7: Rational Numbers
Unit 1: Area and Surface Area
Unit 7: Positive and Negative Numbers
Lesson 1: How Far? Which Way?
Sub-unit 1: Negative Numbers and Absolute Value
Lesson 2: Positive and Negative NumbersUnit 7
Lesson 1: Can You Dig In
Lesson 2: Digging Deeper
Lesson 3: Points on the Number LineUnit 7
Lesson 2: Digging Deeper
Lesson 4: Comparing IntegersUnit 7
Lesson 3: Order in the Class (Print available)
Lesson 5: Comparing and Ordering Rational NumbersUnit 7 
Lesson 3: Order in the Class (Print available)
Lesson 6: Using Negative Numbers to Make Sense of Contexts>Unit 7
Lesson 4: Sub-Zero
Lesson 7: Absolute Value of NumbersUnit 7
Lesson 5: Distance on the Number Line
Lesson 8: Comparing Numbers and Distance from ZeroUnit 7
Lesson 5: Distance on the Number Line
Sub-Unit 2: Inequalities
Lesson 9: Writing Inequalities 
Lesson 10: Graphing Inequalities 
Lesson 11: Solutions to One or More InequalitiesUnit 7
Lesson 6: Tunnel Travel
Lesson 7: Comparing Weights
Lesson 8: Shira´s Solutions
Lesson 12: Interpreting InequalitiesUnit 7
Lesson 6: Tunnel Travel
Lesson 7: Comparing Weights
Lesson 8: Shira´s Solutions
Sub-Unit 3: The Coordinate Plane
Lesson 13: Extending the Coordinate Plane 
Lesson 14: Points on the Coordinate PlaneUnit 7
Lesson 9: Sand Dollar Search
Lesson 10: The A-maze-ing Coordinate Plane
Lesson 15: Interpreting Points on a Coordinate PlaneUnit 7
Lesson 9: Sand Dollar Search
Lesson 10: The A-maze-ing Coordinate Plane
Lesson 11: Polygon Maker
Lesson 16: Distances on a Coordinate PlaneUnit 7
Lesson 11: Polygon Maker
Lesson 12: Graph Telephone (Print available)
Lesson 17: Shapes on the Coordinate PlaneUnit 1
Lesson 1: Shapes on a Plane
Lesson 2: Letters
Lesson 5: Exploring Triangles (Print available)
Lesson 6: Triangles and Parallelograms

Unit 7
Lesson 3: Exploring Parallelograms (Print available)
Lesson 11: Polygon Maker
Lesson 12: Graph Telephone (Print available)
Lesson 18: Lost and Found Puzzles 
Lesson 19: Drawing on the Coordinate PlaneUnit 7
Lesson 11: Polygon Maker
Lesson 12: Graph Telephone (Print available)

Unit 8: Data Sets and Distributions

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 8: Data Sets and DistributionsUnit 8: Describing Data
Lesson 1: Plausible Variation or New Species?
Sub-Unit 1: Statistical Questions and Representing Data
Lesson 2: Statistical QuestionsUnit 8
Lesson 1: Screen Time
Lesson 2: Dot Plots
Lesson 3: Interpreting Dot PlotsUnit 8
Lesson 2: Dot Plots
Lesson 3: Minimum Wage (Print available)
Lesson 4: Lots More Dots
Lesson 4: USing Dot Plots to Answer Statistical QuestionsUnit 8
Lesson 2: Dot Plots
Lesson 3: Minimum Wage (Print available)
Lesson 4: Lots More Dots
Lesson 5: Interpreting HistogramsUnit 8
Lesson 5: The Plot Thickens
Lesson 6: DIY Histograms (Print available)
Lesson 6: Using Histograms to Answer Statistical QuestionsUnit 8
Lesson 5: The Plot Thickens
Lesson 6: DIY Histograms (Print available)
Lesson 7: Describing Distributions on HistogramsUnit 8
Lesson 5: The Plot Thickens
Lesson 6: DIY Histograms (Print available)
Sub-Unit 2: Measures of Center
Lesson 8: Mean as a Fair ShareUnit 8
Lesson 7: Snack Time
Lesson 9: Mean as a Balance PointUnit 8
Lesson 7: Snack Time
Lesson 10: MedianUnit 8
Lesson 11: Toy Cars
Lesson 12: In the News
Lesson 11: Comparing Mean and MedianUnit 8
Lesson 12: In the News
Sub-Unit 3: Measures of Variability
Lesson 12: Describing Variability 
Lesson 13: Variability and MAD 
Lesson 14: Variability and IQRUnit 8
Lesson 13: Pumpkin Patch
Lesson 15: Box PlotsUnit 8
Lesson 14: Car, Plane, Bus, or Train? (Print available)
Lesson 16: Comparing MAD and IQR 
Lesson 17: Asian Elephant Populations 

Grade 7

Unit 1: Scale Drawings

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 1: Scale DrawingsUnit 1: Scale Drawings
Unit 3: Measuring Circles
Unit 4: Proportional Relationships and Percentages
Lesson 1: Scale-y Shapes 
Sub-Unit 1: Scaled Copies 
Lesson 2: What are Scaled Copies?Unit 1
Lesson 1: Scaling Machines
Lesson 3: Corresponding Parts and Scale FactorsUnit 1
Lesson 2: Scaling Robots 
Unit 3
Lesson 1: Toothpicks
Lesson 4: Making Scaled CopiesUnit 1
Lesson 3: Make It Scale 
Unit 4
Lesson 3: Sticker Sizes
Lesson 5: The Size of the Scale FactorUnit 1
Lesson 4: Tiles
Lesson 6: Scaling and AreaUnit 1
Lesson 5: Tiles Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Sub-Unit 2: Scale Drawings 
Lesson 7: Scale DrawingsUnit 1
Lesson 6: Introducing Scale
Lesson 7: Will It Fit? (Print available)
Lesson 8: Creating Scale DrawingsUnit 1
Lesson 8: Scaling States
Lesson 9: Scaling Buildings
Lesson 10: Room Redesign (Print available)
Lesson 9: Scale Drawings and Maps 
Lesson 10: Changing Scale in Scale DrawingsUnit 1
Lesson 8: Scaling States
Lesson 9: Scaling Buildings
Lesson 10: Room Redesign (Print available)
Lesson 11: Scales without Units 
Lesson 12: Units in Scale DrawingsUnit 1
Lesson 8: Scaling States
Lesson 9: Scaling Buildings
Lesson 10: Room Redesign (Print available)Practice Day (Print available)
Lesson 13: Build Your Brand 

Unit 2: Introducing Proportional Relationships

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 2: Introducing Proportional RelationshipsUnit 2: Introducing Proportional Relationships
Unit 4: Proportional Relationships and Percentages
Lesson 1: Making Music 
Sub-Unit 1: Representing Proportional Relationships with Tables and Equations
Lesson 2: Introducing Proportional Relationships with TablesUnit 2
Lesson 2: Balloon Float
Lesson 3: Sugary Drinks (Print available)
Lesson 4: Robot Factory
Lesson 3: More About Constant of ProportionalityUnit 2
Lesson 3: Sugary Drinks (Print available)

Unit 4
Lesson 3: Sticker Sizes
Lesson 4: Comparing Relationships with TablesUnit 2
Lesson 4: Robot Factory
Lesson 5: Snapshots
Lesson 6: Two and Two (Print available)
Lesson 7: All Kinds of Equations
Lesson 5: Proportional Relationships and EquationsUnit 2
Lesson 4: Robot Factory
Lesson 5: Snapshots
Lesson 6: Two and Two (Print available)
Lesson 7: All Kinds of Equations
Lesson 6: Speed and Equations 
Lesson 7: Two Equations for Each RelationshipUnit 2
Lesson 4: Two and Two (Print available)
Lesson 5: Lesson 7: All Kinds of Equations
Lesson 8: Using Equations to Solve ProblemsUnit 2
Lesson 6: Two and Two (Print available)
Lesson 7: All Kinds of Equations
Lesson 9: Comparing Relationships with EquationsUnit 2
Lesson 4: Robot Factory
Lesson 5: Snapshots
Lesson 6: Two and Two (Print available)
Lesson 7: All Kinds of Equations
Lesson 11: Four Representations (Print available)
Lesson 12: Water Efficiency
Lesson 10: Solving Problems About Proportional RelationshipsUnit 2
Lesson 12: Water Efficiency
Sub-Unit 2: Representing Proportional Relationships with Graphs 
Lesson 11: Introducing Graphs of Proportional RelationshipsUnit 2
Lesson 8: Dino Pops
Lesson 9: Gallon Challenge
Lesson 10: Three Turtles
Lesson 11: Four Representations
Lesson 12: Water Efficiency
Lesson 12: Interpreting Graphs of Proportional RelationshipsUnit 2
Lesson 8: Dino Pops
Lesson 9: Gallon Challenge
Lesson 10: Three Turtles
Lesson 11: Four Representations
Lesson 12: Water Efficiency
Lesson 13: Using Graphs to Compare RelationshipsUnit 2
Lesson 8: Dino Pops
Lesson 9: Gallon Challenge
Lesson 10: Three Turtles
Lesson 11: Four Representations
Lesson 12: Water Efficiency
Lesson 14: Two Graphs for Each RelationshipUnit 2
Lesson 8: Dino Pops
Lesson 9: Gallon Challenge
Lesson 10: Three Turtles
Lesson 11: Four Representations
Lesson 12: Water Efficiency
Lesson 15: Four Ways to Tell One Story (Part 1) 
Lesson 16: Four Ways to Tell One Story (Part 2) 
Lesson 17: Welcoming Committee 

Unit 3: Measuring Circles

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 3: Measuring CirclesUnit 3: Measuring Circles
Lesson 1: The Wandering Goat 
Sub-unit 1: Circumference of a Circle 
Lesson 2: Exploring CirclesUnit 3
Lesson 2: Is it a Circle?
Lesson 3: Measuring Around
Lesson 3: How Well Can You Measure? 
Lesson 4: Exploring CircumferenceUnit 3
Lesson 2: Is It a Circle?
Lesson 3: Measuring Around
Lesson 5: Understanding π 
Lesson 6: Applying CircumferenceUnit 3
Lesson 2: Is It a Circle?
Lesson 3: Measuring Around
Lesson 7: Circumference and Wheels 
Sub-Unit 2: Area of a Circle
Lesson 8: Exploring the Area of a CircleUnit 3
Lesson 5: Area Strategies
Lesson 6: Radius Squares (Print available)
Lesson 7: Why Pi?
Lesson 8: Area Challenges
Lesson 9: Circle vs. Square
Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 9: Relating Area to CircumferenceUnit 3
Lesson 5: Area Strategies
Lesson 6: Radius Squares (Print available)
Lesson 7: Why Pi?
Lesson 8: Area Challenges
Lesson 9: Circle vs. Square
Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 10: Applying Area to CirclesUnit 3
Lesson 6:Radius Squares (Print available)
Lesson 11: Distinguishing Circumference and AreaUnit 3
Lesson 7: Why Pi?
Lesson 12: Capturing Space 

Unit 4: Proportional Relationships and Percentages

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 4: PercentagesUnit 4: Proportional Relationships and Percentages
Lesson 1: (Re)Presenting the United States 
Lesson 2: Understanding Percentages and Decimals 
Lesson 3: Percent Increase and DecreaseUnit 4Lesson 4: More or Less
Lesson 4: Determining 100%Unit 4Lesson 6: 100% (Print available)
Lesson 5: Determining Percent ChangeUnit 4Lesson 7: Percent Machines
Lesson 6: Percent Increase and Decrease With EquationsUnit 4Lesson 5: All the Equations
Lesson 7: Using Equations to Solve Percent ProblemsUnit 4Lesson 5: All the Equations
Sub-Unit 2: Applying Percentages 
Lesson 8: Tax and TipUnit 4
Lesson 8: Tax and Tip
Lesson 9: Minimum Wage (Print available)
Lesson 10: Cost of College (Print available)
Lesson 11: Bookcase Builder
Lesson 12: Posing Percent Problems
Lesson 9: Percent ContextsUnit 4
Lesson 8: Tax and Tip
Lesson 9: Minimum Wage (Print available)
Lesson 10: Cost of College (Print available)
Lesson 11: Bookcase Builder
Lesson 12: Posing Percent Problems
Lesson 10: Determining the PercentageUnit 4
Lesson 4: More and Less
Lesson 11: Measurement ErrorUnit 4
Lesson 11: Bookcase Builder
Lesson 12: Error IntervalsUnit 4
Lesson 11: Bookcase Builder
Lesson 13: Writing Better Headlines 

Unit 5: Rational Number Arithmetic

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 5: Rational Number ArithmeticUnit 5: Rational Number Artithmetics
Lesson 1: Target: Zero 
Sub-Unit 1: Adding and Subtracting Rational Numbers 
Lesson 2: Interpreting Negative Numbers
Lesson 3: Changing TemperaturesUnit 5
Lesson 2: More Floats and Anchors
Lesson 3: Bumpers
Lesson 4: Draw Your Own (Print available)
Lesson 4: Adding Rational Numbers 
Lesson 5: Money and Debts 
Lesson 6: Representing SubtractionUnit 5
Lesson 5: Number Puzzles
Lesson 7: Subtracting Rational Numbers (Part 1)Unit 5
Lesson 3: Bumpers
Lesson 4: Draw Your Own (Print available)
Lesson 5: Number Puzzles
Lesson 10: Integer Puzzles
Lesson 11: Changing Temperatures
Lesson 13: Solar Panels and More (Print available)
Lesson 8: Subtracting Rational Numbers (Part 2)Unit 5
Lesson 3: Bumpers
Lesson 4: Draw Your Own (Print available)
Lesson 5: Number Puzzles
Lesson 10: Integer Puzzles
Lesson 11: Changing Temperatures
Lesson 13: Solar Panels and More (Print available)
Lesson 9: Adding and Subtracting Rational NumbersUnit 5
Lesson 3: Bumpers
Lesson 4: Draw Your Own (Print available)
Lesson 5: Number Puzzles
Lesson 10: Integer Puzzles
Lesson 11: Changing Temperatures
Lesson 13: Solar Panels and More (Print available)Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Sub-Unit 2: Multiplying and Dividing Rational Numbers 
Lesson 10: Position, Speed, and TimeUnit 5
Lesson 7: Back in Time
Lesson 11: Multiplying Rational NumbersUnit 5
Lesson 7: Back in Time
Lesson 12: Multiply!Unit 5
Lesson 7: Back in Time
Lesson 13: Dividing Rational NumbersUnit 5
Lesson 7: Speeding Turtles
Lesson 14: Negative Rates 
Sub-Unit 3: Four Operations with Rational Numbers 
Lesson 15: Expressions with Rational NumbersUnit 5
Lesson 9: Expressions (Print available)
Lesson 16: Say It With Decimals 
Lesson 17: Solving Problems with Rational NumbersLesson 11: Changing Temperatures
Lesson 12: Arctic Ice Sea (Print available)
Lesson 13: Solar Panels and More (Print available)
Lesson 18: Solving Equations With Rational Numbers 
Lesson 19: Representing Contexts With Equations 
Lesson 20: Summiting Everest 

Unit 6: Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 6: Expressions, Equations, and InequalitiesUnit 2: Introducing Proportional Relationships
Unit 4: Proportional Relationships and Percentages
Unit 6: Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities
Lesson 1: Keeping the Balance 
Lesson 2: Balanced and UnbalancedUnit 6
Lesson 1: Toothpicks and Tiles
Lesson 2: Balanced and UnbalancedUnit 6
Lesson 1: Toothpicks and Tiles
Lesson 3: Reasoning About Solving Equations (Part 1)Unit 6
Lesson 2: Smudged Receipts
Lesson 4: Reasoning About Solving Equations (Part 2)Unit 6
Lesson 2: Smudged Receipts
Lesson 3: Equations
Lesson 4: Seeing Structure (Print available)
Lesson 5: Dealing with Negative NumbersUnit 6
Lesson 2: Smudged Receipts
Lesson 3: Equations
Lesson 4: Seeing Structure (Print available)
Lesson 5: Dealing with Negative NumbersUnit 6
Lesson 8: Factoring and Expanding (Print available)
Lesson 16: Shira the Sheep
Lesson 6: Two Ways to Solve One EquationUnit 6
Lesson 4: Seeing Struction (Print available)
Lesson 7: Practice Solving EquationsUnit 6
Lesson 2: Smudged Receipts
Lesson 3: Equations
Lesson 4: Seeing Structure (Print available)
Sub-Unit 2: Solving Real-World Problems Using Two-Step Equations 
Lesson 8: Reasoning With Tape DiagramsUnit 6
Lesson 2: Smudged Receipts
Lesson 9: Reasoning About Equations and Tape Diagrams (Part 1)Unit 6
Lesson 2: Smudged Receipts
Lesson 10: Reasoning About Equations and Tape Diagrams (Part 2)Unit 6
Lesson 2: Smudged Receipts
Lesson 11: Using Equations to Solve ProblemsUnit 6
Lesson 2: Smudged Receipts
Lesson 3: Equations
Lesson 4: Seeing Structure (Print available) 
Lesson 12: Solving Percent Problems in New WaysUnit 6
Lesson 4: Seeing Structure (Print available)

Unit 4
Lesson 7: Percent MachinesPractice Day 1 (Print available)
Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Sub-Unit 3: Inequalities 
Lesson 13: Reintroducing InequalitiesUnit 6
Lesson 1: Toothpicks and Tiles
Lesson 14: Solving InequalitiesUnit 6
Lesson 5: Balancing Moves
Lesson 6: Balancing Equations
Lesson 13: I Saw the Signs
Lesson 15: Finding Solutions to Inequalities in ContextUnit 6
Lesson 13: I Saw the Signs
Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 16: Efficiently Solving InequalitiesUnit 6
Lesson 10: Collect the Squares
Lesson 17: Interpreting InequalitiesUnit 6
Lesson 13: I Saw the Signs
Lesson 14: Unbalanced Hangers
Lesson 15: Budgeting (Print available)
Lesson 18: Modeling With Inequalities 
Sub-Unit 4: Equivalent Expressions 
Lesson 19: Subtraction in Equivalent Expressions 

Unit 7: Angles, Triangles, and Prisms

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 7: Angles, Triangles, and PrismsUnit 7: Angles, Triangles, and Prisms
Lesson 1: Shaping Up 
Sub-Unit 1: Angle Relationships 
Lesson 2: Relationships of AnglesUnit 7
Lesson 1: Pinwheels
Lesson 2: Friendly Angles
Lesson 3: Angle Diagrams
Lesson 3: Supplementary and Complementary Angles (Part 1) 
Lesson 4: Supplementary and Complementary Angles (Part 2) 
Lesson 5: Vertical AnglesUnit 7
Lesson 2: Friendly Angles
Lesson 3: Angle Diagrams
Lesson 4: Missing Measures (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 6: Using Equations to Solve for Unknown AnglesUnit 7
Lesson 3: Angle Diagrams
Lesson 4: Missing Measures (Print available) [Free lesson]
Lesson 7: Like Clockwork 
Sub-Unit 2: Drawing Polygons with Given Conditions 
Lesson 8: Building Polygons (Part 1)Unit 7
Lesson 6: Is It Enough?
Lesson 9: Building Polygons (Part 2)Unit 7
Lesson 6: Is It Enough?
Lesson 10: Triangles with Three Common MeasuresUnit 7
Lesson 13: Popcorn Possibilities
Lesson 11: Drawing Triangles (Part 1)Unit 7
Lesson 5: Can You Build It? [Free lesson]
Lesson 6: Is It Enough?
Lesson 7: More Than One
Lesson 8: Can You Draw It? (Print available)
Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Lesson 12: Drawing Triangles (Part 2)Unit 7
Lesson 5: Can You Build It? [Free lesson]
Lesson 6: Is It Enough?
Lesson 7: More Than One
Lesson 8: Can You Draw It? (Print available)
Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Sub-Unit 3: Solid Geometry
Lesson 13: Slicing SolidsUnit 7
Lesson 9: Slicing Solids
Lesson 14: Volume of Right PrismsUnit 7
Lesson 10: Simple Prisms
Lesson 15: Decomposing Bases for AreasUnit 7
Lesson 11: More Complicated Prisms
Lesson 16: Surface Area of Right PrismsUnit 7
Lesson 10: Simple Prisms
Lesson 11: More Complicated Prisms
Lesson 12: Surface Area Strategies (Print available)
Lesson 17: Distinguishing Volume and Surface Area
Lesson 18: Applying Volume and Surface AreaUnit 7
Lesson 13: Popcorn Possibilities

Unit 8: Probability and Sampling

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 8: Probability and SamplingUnit 8: Probability and Sampling
Lesson 1: The Invention of Fairness 
Lesson 2: Chance Experiments 
Lesson 3: What are Probabilities?Unit 8
Lesson 1: How Likely? (Print available)
Lesson 2: Prob-bear-bilities [Free lesson
Lesson 3: Mystery Bag
Lesson 4: Estimating Probabilities Through Repeated ExperimentsUnit 8
Lesson 4: Spin Class
Lesson 5: Is It Fair?
Lesson 6: Fair Games
Lesson 5: Code Breaking (Part 1)
Lesson 6: Code Breaking (Part 2)
Sub-Unit 2: Probabilities of Multi-Step Events
Lesson 7: Keeping Track of All Possible OutcomesUnit 8
Lesson 4: Spin Class
Lesson 5: Is it Fair?
Lesson 6: Fair Games
Lesson 8: Experiments With Multi-Step Events  
Lesson 9: Simulating Multi-Step Events 
Lesson 10: Designing Simulations 
Sub-Unit 3:Sampling
Lesson 11: Comparing Two PopulationsUnit 8
Lesson 10: Crab Island
Lesson 11: Headlines
Lesson 12: Larger PopulationsUnit 8
Lesson 10: Crab Island
Lesson 11: Headlines
Lesson 13: What Makes a Good Sample?Unit 8
Lesson 10: Crab Island
Lesson 11: Headlines
Lesson 14: Sampling in a Fair WayUnit 8
Lesson 10: Crab Island
Lesson 11: Headlines
Lesson 15: Estimating Population Measures of CenterUnit 8
Lesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train?
Lesson 10: Crab Island
Lesson 11: Headlines
Lesson 12: Flower Power
Lesson 16: Estimating Population ProportionsUnit 8
Lesson 9: Car, Bike, or Train?
Lesson 10: Crab Island
Lesson 11: Headlines
Lesson 12: Flower Power
Lesson 17: Presentation of Findings 

Grade 8

Unit 1: Rigid Transformations and Congruence

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 1: Rigid Transformations and CongruenceUnit 1: Rigid Transformations and Congruence
Unit 3: Proportional and Linear Relationships
Lesson 1: Tessellations 
Sub-Unit 1: Rigid Transformations 
Lesson 2: Moving in the PlaneUnit 1
Lesson 1: Transformers
Lesson 3: Symmetry and Reflection 
Lesson 4: Grid MovesUnit 1
Lesson 3: Transformation Golf
Lesson 4: Moving Day (Print available)
Lesson 5: Getting Coordinated

Unit 3
Lesson 6: Translations
Lesson 5: Making the MovesUnit 1
Lesson 1: Transformers
Lesson 2: Spinning, Flipping, Sliding
Lesson 4: Moving Day (Print available)
Lesson 5: Getting Coordinated
Lesson 6: Coordinate Moves (Part 1)Unit 1
Lesson 4: Moving Day (Print available)
Lesson 5: Getting Coordinated
Lesson 7: Coordinate Moves (Part 2)Unit 1
Lesson 4: Moving Day (Print available)
Lesson 5: Getting Coordinated
Lesson 6: Describing TransformationsUnit 1
Lesson 5: Getting Coordinated
Lesson 6: Connecting the Dots
Sub-Unit 2: Rigid Transformations and Congruence 
Lesson 9: No Bending or StretchingUnit 1
Lesson 7: No Bending, No Stretching
Lesson 10: What is the Same?Unit 1
Lesson 7: Are They the Same?
Lesson 9: Are They Congruent?
Lesson 11: Congruent PolygonsUnit 1
Lesson 7: Are They the Same?
Lesson 9: Are They Congruent?
Sub-Unit 4: Angles in a Triangle 
Lesson 13: Line Moves 
Lesson 14: Rotation Patterns 
Lesson 15: Alternate Interior AnglesUnit 1 
Lesson 11: Tearing It Up (Print available)
Lesson 16: Adding the Angles in a TriangleUnit 1
Lesson 11: Tearing It Up (Print available)
Lesson 17: Parallel Lines and the Angles in a TriangleUnit 1 
Lesson 10: Transforming Angles
Lesson 18: Creating a Border Pattern Using Transformations 

Unit 2: Dilations, Similarity, and Introducing Slope

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 2: Dilations and SimilarityUnit 2: Dilations and Similarity
Lesson 1: Projecting and Scaling 
Sub-Unit 1: Dilations
Lesson 2: Circular GridUnit 2
Lesson 1: Sketchy Dilations
Lesson 2: Dilation Mini Golf
Lesson 3: Match My Dilation
Lesson 4: Dilations on a Plane
Lesson 3: Dilations on a Plane 
Lesson 4: Dilations on a Square GridUnit 2
Lesson 1: Sketchy Dilations
Lesson 2: Dilation Mini Golf
Lesson 3: Match My Dilation
Lesson 4: Dilations on a Plane
Lesson 5: Dilations with CoordinatesUnit 2
Lesson 4: Dilations on a Plane
Sub-Unit 2: Similiarity
Lesson 6: SimilarityUnit 2
Lesson 5: Transformations Golf with Dilations
Lesson 6: Social Scavenger Hunt (Print available)
Lesson 7: Similar PolygonsUnit 2
Lesson 6: Social Scavenger Hunt (Print available)
Lesson 8: Similar TrianglesUnit 2
Lesson 7: Are Angles Enough?
Lesson 8: Shadows
Lesson 9: Ratios of Side Lengths in Similar Triangles
Lesson 12: Optical Illusions 

Unit 3: Linear Relationships

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 3: Proportional and Linear RelationshipsUnit 3: Proportional and Linear Relationships
Unit 4: Linear Equations and Linear Systems
Unit 5: Functions and Volume
Lesson 1: Visual Patterns 
Sub-Unit 1: Proportional Relationships 
Lesson 2: Proportional Relationships 
Lesson 3: Understanding Proportional RelationshipsUnit 3
Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials
Lesson 4: Graphs of Proportional RelationshipsUnit 3
Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials
Lesson 2: Water Tank 

Unit 5
Lesson 4: Window Frames
Lesson 5: Representing Proportional RelationshipsUnit 3
Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials 
Unit 5
Lesson 4: Window Frames
Lesson 6: Graphing Stories
Lesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available)
Lesson 8: Charge! (Print available)
Lesson 6: Comparing Proportional RelationshipsUnit 3
Lesson 3: Posters
Sub-Unit 2: Linear Relationships
Lesson 7: Introduction to Linear RelationshipsUnit 3
Lesson 1: Turtle Time Trials
Lesson 4: Stacking Cups

Unit 5
Lesson 6: Graphing Stories
Lesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available)
Lesson 8: Charge! (Print available)
Lesson 8: Comparing Linear Relationships 
Lesson 9: More Linear RelationshipsUnit 5
Lesson 6: Graphing Stories
Lesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available)
Lesson 8: Charge! (Print available)
Lesson 10: Representations of Linear RelationshipsUnit 3
Lesson 5: Flags
Lesson 6: Graphing Stories
Lesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available)
Lesson 8: Charge! (Print available)
Lesson 11: Writing Equations for Lines Using Two Points 
Lesson 12: Translating mx + bUnit 3
Lesson 3: Posters
Lesson 6: Translations
Lesson 13: Slopes Don’t Have to be PositiveUnit 3
Lesson 5: Flags
Lesson 6: Translations
Lesson 7: Water Cooler
Lesson 8: Landing Planes
Lesson 10: Calculating SlopeUnit 3
Lesson 7: Water Cooler
Lesson 8: Landing Planes
Lesson 14: Writing Equations for Lines Using Two Points, Revisited 
Lesson 11: Equations of All Kinds of LinesUnit 3
Lesson 3: Posters
Lesson 4: Stacking Cups
Lesson 5: Flags
Lesson 6: Translations
Sub-Unit 3: Linear Equations 
Lesson 16: Solutions to Linear EquationsUnit 3
Lesson 3: Posters
Lesson 6: Translations
Lesson 10: Solutions

 Unit 4
Lesson 3: Balanced Moves
Lesson 4: More Balanced Moves (Print available)
Lesson 17: More Solutions to Linear EquationsUnit 3 
Lesson 4: Stacking Cups
Lesson 5: Flags
Lesson 6: Translations
Lesson 7: Water Cooler
Lesson 10: Solutions
Lesson 18: Coordinating Linear Relationships 
Lesson 19: Rogue Planes 

Unit 4: Linear Equations and Linear Systems

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 4: Linear Equations and Systems of Linear EquationsUnit 4: Linear Equations and Systems of Linear Equations
Lesson 1: Number PuzzlesUnit 4
Lesson 1: Number machines
Sub-Unit 1: Linear Equations in One Variable 
Lesson 2: Writing Expressions and Equations
Lesson 3: Keeping the BalanceUnit 4
Lesson 2: Keep It Balanced
Lesson 4: Balanced Moves (Part 1)Unit 4
Lesson 3: Balanced Moves
Lesson 5: Balanced Moves (Part 2)Unit 4
Lesson 4: More Balanced Moves (Print available)
Lesson 6: Solving Any Linear EquationsUnit 4
Lesson 4: More Balanced Moves (Print available)
Lesson 5: Equation Roundtable (Print available)
Lesson 6: Strategic Solving (Print available)
Lesson 7: How Many Solutions? (Part 1)Unit 4
Lesson 5: Equation Roundtable (Print available)
Lesson 8: How Many Solutions? (Part 2)Unit 4
Lesson 5: Equation Roundtable (Print available)
Lesson 9: Strategic Solving 
Lesson 10: When Are They the SameUnit 4
Lesson 8: When Are They the Same?
Sub-Unit 2: Systems of Linear Equations
Lesson 11: On or Off the Line?Unit 4
Lesson 9: On or Off the Line?
Lesson 12: On Both of the LinesUnit 4
Lesson 10: On Both Lines
Lesson 13: Systems of Linear EquationsUnit 4
Lesson 11: Make Them Balance
Lesson 14: Solving Systems of Equations (Part 1)Unit 4
Lesson 14: All, Some, or None? Part 2
Lesson 15: Solving Systems of Equations (Part 2)Unit 4
Lesson 12: All, Some, or None? Part 2
Lesson 16: Writing Systems of Linear EquationsUnit 4
Lesson 14: Strategic Solving, Part 2 (Print available)
Lesson 17: Pay Gaps 

Unit 5: Functions and Volume

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 5: Functions and VolumeUnit 2: Dilations, Similarity, and Introducing Slope
Unit 3:
Proportional and Linear Relationships
Unit 5:
Functions and Volume
Lesson 1: Pick a Pitch 
Sub-Unit 1: Representing and Interpreting Functions 
Lesson 2: Introduction to FunctionsUnit 5
Lesson 2: Guess My Rule
Lesson 3: Equations of FunctionsUnit 3
Lesson 4: Window Frames
Lesson 4: Graphs of Functions (Part 1)Unit 5
Lesson 3: Function or Not?
Lesson 5: Graphs of Functions (Part 2)Unit 5
Lesson 5: The Tortoise and the Hare
Lesson 6: Graphs of Functions (Part 3)Unit 5
Lesson 6: Graphing Stories
Lesson 7: Connecting Representations of FunctionsUnit 5
Lesson 7: Feel the Burn (Print available)Lesson 8: Charge! (Print available)
Lesson 8: Comparing Linear Functions 
Lesson 9: Modeling with Linear Functions 
Lesson 10: Piecewise Linear FunctionsUnit 5
Lesson 9: Piecing It Together
Sub-Unit 2: Cylinder, Cones, and Spheres 
Lesson 11: Filling Containers 
Lesson 12: The Volume of a CylinderUnit 5
Lesson 10: Volume LabLesson 11: Cylinders
Lesson 12: Scaling Cylinders
Lesson 13: Determining Dimensions of CylindersUnit 5
Lesson 14: Missing Dimensions (Print available)
Lesson 14: The Volume of a ConeUnit 5
Lesson 10: Volume LabLesson 13: Cones
Lesson 15: Determining Dimensions of ConesUnit 5
Lesson 12: Scaling Cylinders
Lesson 13: Cones
Lesson 14: Missing Dimensions (Print available)
Lesson 16: Estimating a Hemisphere 
Lesson 17: The Volume of a SphereUnit 5
Lesson 15: Spheres
Lesson 18: Cylinders, Cones and SpheresUnit 5
Lesson 15: Practice Day 2 (Print available)
Lesson 19: Scaling One Dimension 
Lesson 20: Scaling Two Dimensions 
Lesson 21: Packing Spheres 

Unit 6: Exponents and Scientific Notation

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 6: Exponents and Scientific NotationUnit 7: Exponents and Scienctific Notation
Lesson 1: Create a Sierpinski Triangle 
Sub-Unit 1: Exponent Rules 
Lesson 2: Reviewing ExponentsUnit 7
 Lesson 1: Circles
Lesson 2: Combining Exponents
Lesson 3: Multiplying PowersUnit 7 
Lesson 3: Power Pairs (Print available)
Lesson 4: Rewriting Powers
Lesson 4: Dividing PowersUnit 7 
Lesson 3: Power Pairs (Print available)
Lesson 4: Rewriting Powers
Lesson 5: Negative ExponentsUnit 7 
Lesson 5: Zero and Negative Exponents
Lesson 6: Powers of PowersUnit 7 
Lesson 3: Power Pairs (Print available)
Lesson 7: Different Bases, Same Exponent 
Lesson 8: Practice with Rational BasesUnit 7
Practice Day 1 (Print available)
Sub-Unit 2: Scientific Notation 
Lesson 9: Representing Large Numbers on the Number LineUnit 7
Lesson 8: Point Zapper
Lesson 10: Representing Small Numbers on the Number LineUnit 7
Lesson 8: Point Zapper
Lesson 11: Applications of Arthithmetic with Powers of 10Unit 7
Lesson 8: Point Zapper
Lesson 9: Use Your Powers
Lesson 12: Definition of Scientific NotationUnit 7
Lesson 10: Solar System
Lesson 11: Balance the Scale
Lesson 13: Star Power
Lesson 13: Multiplying, Dividing, and Estimating with Scientific NotationUnit 7
Lesson 11: Balance the Scale
Lesson 13: Star Power
Lesson 14: Adding and Subtracting with Scientific NotationUnit 7
Lesson 11: Balance the Scale
Lesson 12: City Lights
Lesson 13: Star Power
Lesson 15: Is a Smartphone Smart Enough to Go to the Moon? 

Unit 7: Irrationals and the Pythagorean Theorem

Practice Day 2 (Print available)

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 7: Irrationals and the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8: The Pythagorean Theorem and Irrational Numbers
Lesson 1: Sliced Bread
Sub-Unit 1: Rational and Irrational Numbers
Lesson 2: The Square RootUnit 8
Lesson 2: From Squares to Roots
Lesson 3: The Ares of Squares and Their Side LengthsUnit 8
Lesson 1: Tilted Squares
Lesson 3: Between Squares
Lesson 4: Estimating Square RootsUnit 8
Lesson 3: Between Squares
Lesson 4: Root Down
Lesson 5: The Cube RootUnit 8
Lesson 5: Filling Cubes
Lesson 6: Rational and Irrational NumbersUnit 8
Lesson 14: Hit the Target
Lesson 7: Decimal Representations of Rational NumbersUnit 8
Lesson 12: Fractions to Decimals
Lesson 8: Converting Repeating Decimals Into FractionsUnit 8
Lesson 13: Decimals to Fractions
Sub-Unit 2: The Pythagorean Theorem
Lesson 9: Observing the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8
Lesson 6: The Pythagorean Theorem
Lesson 10: Proving the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8
Lesson 7: Pictures to Prove It
Lesson 11: Determining Unknown Side LengthsUnit 8
Lesson 8: Triangle-Tracing Turtle
Lesson 12: Converse of the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8
Lesson 9: Make it Right
Lesson 13: Distances on the Coordinate Plane (Part 1)Unit 8
Lesson 11: Pond Hopper
Lesson 13: Distances on the Coordinate Plane (Part 1)Unit 8
Lesson 11: Pond Hopper
Lesson 14: Distances on the Coordinate Plane (Part 2)Unit 8
Lesson 11: Pond Hopper
Lesson 15: Applications of the Pythagorean TheoremUnit 8
Lesson 8: Triangle-Tracing Turtle
Lesson 10: Taco Truck
Lesson 16: Pythagorean Triples

Unit 8: Pythagorean Theorem and Irrational Numbers

Amplify MathDesmos Math 6–A1
Unit 8: Associations in DataUnit 6: Associations in Data
Lesson 1: Creating a Scatter PlotUnit 6
Lesson 1: Click Battle
Sub-Unit 1: Associations in Data
Lesson 2: Interpreting Points on a Scatter PlotUnit 6
Lesson 3: Robots
Lesson 3: Observing Patterns in a Scatter PlotUnit 6
Lesson 7: Scatter Plot City
Lesson 4: Fitting a Line to DataUnit 6
Lesson 4: Dapper Cats
Lesson 5: Fit Fights
Lesson 5: Using a Linear ModelUnit 6
Lesson 6: Interpreting Slopes
Lesson 6: Interpreting Slope and y-interceptUnit 6
Lesson 6: Interpreting Slopes
Lesson 7: Analyzing Bivariate DataUnit 6
Lesson 8: Animal Brains
Lesson 8: Looking for AssociationsUnit 6
Lesson 9: Tasty Fruit
Lesson 9: Using Data Displays to Find AssociationsUnit 6
Lesson 10: Finding Associations
Lesson 11: Federal Budgets

Hello, Colorado teachers and leaders!

We’re excited to continue to support Early Literacy Assessment Tool (ELAT) schools in Colorado.

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! Schools that participate in ELAT will receive the following mCLASS® tools and supports:

  • mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition & mCLASS Lectura: CDE’s only approved interim assessment for ELAT
  • Additional Screening Measures to support students at risk for reading differences, including dyslexia 
  • 2025-26 mCLASS EOY checklist of ELAT Colorado teachers
  • Individualized and group instructional supports for teachers to use with students
  • Family and caregiver resources
  • Ongoing professional development and resources
A computer screen displays an educational dashboard with student names, assessment icons, and a detailed progress report for a student named Emma Ashley.

Important information

  • New mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition professional development sessions are now available! Register now for available sessions.
  • Each participating district will receive mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition Assessment kits. One kit per grade is provided; K–3 will be shipped. Materials can also be downloaded for free. Click the mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition materials section below for directions on downloading materials.
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Please visit our Technical Onboarding website for information regarding enrollment and licensing.

Please note: you must include Student State IDs in all enrollment files.

Need help logging in? Visit our Teacher Central site for help and instructions on navigating the platform.

Beginning-of-Year (BOY) Benchmark:

  • Select a two-week window within the first 30 calendar days of your school year. 
  • Kindergarten consideration: Through a provision in HB15-1323, you may choose to use up to 60 calendar days for initial benchmarking. Completion of your BOY READ interim assessment within the first 60 days may be used to inform the literacy component of your kindergarten school readiness assessment.

Middle-of-Year (MOY) Benchmark:

  • Select a two-week window between November 30th and December 18th or January 4th and January 22nd. (Dates need to be before winter break or after winter break). 

End-of-Year (EOY) Benchmark:

  • Select a two-week window between April 19th and May 22nd.

Progress Monitoring:

  • Students scoring Well Below Benchmark must be progress monitored every 7–10 instructional days, and students scoring Below Benchmark must be progress monitored every 10–12 instructional days.

Access the mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition materials here.

Access both mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura materials by navigating to learning.amplify.com/pdlibrary. Note: Login required!

  1. Select Explore Programs, then mCLASS.
  2. Choose Assessment materials: mCLASS Lectura or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition.
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Progress planning tools

Amplify Progress Planning Tool for mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition

This tool utilizes data from mCLASS users across the nation to provide schools and districts with a meaningful comparative perspective for their progress during the school year.

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Amplify Tutoring in Colorado

Learn about how Amplify Tutoring meets the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) High-Impact Tutoring Program (HITP) Grant requirements.

To help schools and districts take advantage of CO HITP Grant funds, Amplify is hosting a series of informational sessions designed to provide an overview of Amplify Tutoring.

Go to Amplify Tutoring site 

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Additional Resources

Check out Amplify for the most up-to-date information and resources provided by Amplify, such as:

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Amplify Help Library

When you have a question about Amplify curriculum, we suggest you check out our Help Library as your first stop. It’s packed with answers to FAQ and tips for navigating and using Amplify. The search tool there will help you find the answer you need quickly.

Learn more

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Science of Reading

Discover how the Science of Reading is for everyone! All students—from multilingual/English learners to middle schoolers to your most confident young readers—benefit from the research-based, proven literacy instruction indicated by the Science of Reading.

Learn more

Meet the team.

Alexandra Ludtke

Director, Customer Success

ALUDTKE@amplify.com 

Kim Ballentyne

Professional Development Strategist

kballentyne@amplify.com 

CDE ELAT support

elat@cde.state.co.us 

Need more help?

Log in at learning.amplify.com, and click the gray chat button in the bottom right corner to chat live with our support team.

Our Help Center contains searchable articles and resources to answer many of your questions.

If you need additional support, please contact our support team.

Welcome to Amplify CKLA!

Amplify CKLA is the only Oregon-approved elementary ELA curriculum truly built on the Science of Reading.

Not only that, it helps all teachers implement the Oregon English Language Arts and Literacy Standards by translating the science of reading into strong instructional resources. As a result, teachers can fully focus on their students and the kind of teaching they love.

If this is your first stop on your virtual caravan, start with the video presentations below.

Watched them already? Click here to skip ahead.

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Virtual Caravan Stop

Amplify CKLA for Grades K–2

After watching the K–2 video below, scroll down to learn even more, download resources, and access a demo.

Amplify CKLA for Grades 3–5

After watching the 3–5 video below, scroll down to learn even more, download resources, and access a demo.

What it is

Amplify CKLA is a core ELA program for grades K–5 that delivers:

  • A unique research-based approach truly built on the Science of Reading.
  • A combination of explicit foundational skills with meaningful knowledge building.
  • Embedded support and differentiation that gets all students reading grade-level texts together.
  • Opportunities for students to see the strengths and experiences that all people share while also celebrating each others’ unique identities and experiences.
  • Equitable and authentic Spanish language arts instruction with Amplify Caminos.

How it works

Amplify CKLA teaches both foundational skills and background knowledge in K–2 and combines them in 3–5, as required by the science of reading.

  • In grades K–2, students complete one full lesson that builds foundational reading skills, as well as one full lesson that builds background knowledge.
  • In grades 3–5, student complete one integrated lesson that combines skills and knowledge with increasingly complex texts, close reading, and a greater writing emphasis.
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What students explore

Amplify CKLA builds knowledge coherently across subjects and grades.

Students make connections from year-to-year by exploring grade-appropriate subject-area knowledge and vocabulary in history, science, literature, and the arts while learning to read, write, and think creatively and for themselves.

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What students read

Amplify CKLA puts a variety of texts in the hands of students every day to build and strengthen background knowledge and vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension, and decoding and fluency skills.

More than that, we ensure the texts students read represent the world around them. With a diverse range of authors, topics, and characters, all students have ample access to both windows and mirrors. Our texts include:

  • Authentic books.
  • Authentic text passages.
  • Student Readers.
  • Novel Guides (grades 3–5).
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Access and equity

We believe we have a responsibility to provide literacy instruction that gives every student the same opportunity to succeed and excel.

We know that early reading affects achievement throughout school and beyond—well into college and career. Yet most literacy programs continue to fall short of supporting early literacy success. That’s why we’re so proud that CKLA is helping close the reading gap between students within diverse communities.

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Built on the Science of Reading

Watching students learn to read: magic. Knowing how they get there: science.

As you consider your next core ELA program, it’s critically important to understand what the Science of Reading really means and what it tells us about how to teach more effectively. Unlike other programs, Amplify CKLA was built upon these insights and practices, making it easier for teachers to implement this proven approach.

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Supports Orton-Gillingham and LETRS

Amplify CKLA aligns with the instructional principles recommended by Orton-Gillingham and LETRS.

  • Structured–Concepts are taught through consistent routines
  • Sequential–Concepts are taught in a logical, well-planned sequence
  • Systematic–Phonemes are taught from simplest to most complex
  • Explicit–Decoding and encoding concepts are taught directly and explicitly
  • Multi-sensory–Instruction is delivered through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways
  • Cumulative–Concepts are applied in decodable, connected texts with constant review and reinforcement

A comprehensive and cohesive solution

A strong literacy program is not just about a reading program or an assessment tool: it brings together curriculum, instruction, regular practice, intervention, and assessments.

Amplify has brought these components together in our early literacy suite of curriculum, ensure that you have what you need for multi-tiered support.

Access demo

Ready to explore on your own? Follow the instructions below to access your demo account.

Explore the CKLA Teacher Resource Site

First, watch the quick navigation video to the right. Then, click the “Access CKLA Teacher Resource Site” button to log in.

  • Click the CKLA Teacher Resource Site button
  • Select Log in with Amplify.
  • Enter this username: t.orcklak5@tryamplify.net
  • Enter this password: AmplifyNumber1
  • Select the desired grade level

Contact us

Looking to speak directly with your Oregon representative? Get in touch with a team member by emailing hellooregon@amplify.com or by calling us directly.

Kristen Rockstroh

Oregon Account Executive

Districts under 4,500 students

(480) 639-8367

krockstroh@amplify.com

Lynne Kraus

Oregon Consultant

(503) 989-3533

lkraus@amplify.com

S1-10: Empowering the science educator: Jessica Kesler

Promotional graphic for "science connections podcast" season 1, episode 10, featuring a smiling black woman named Jessica Kesler, with educational icons like a globe and magnifying glass around her.

In the final episode of the season, Eric sits down with his friend and professional development facilitator, Jessica Kesler. Jessica describes her passion for sharing free, high-quality, empathy-centered professional development for K12 educators. Jessica also shares her experience jumping into leadership positions while teaching in Philadelphia. Eric also chats with Jessica about how students often lean on teachers for more than delivering content. Explore more from Science Connections by visiting our main page.

Download Transcript

Jessica Kesler (00:01):

One student at a time, isn’t gonna bring a million students through the door. But if we focus on their teachers, then they can implement it in their classroom and have this multiplicative effect that can continue on and help us to reach those millions of kids and helping them be prepared for future careers.

Eric Cross (00:19):

Welcome to science connections. I’m your host. Eric Cross. My guest today is Jessica Kessler. Jessica’s director of professional learning at TGR foundation, which is a tiger woods charity. There she creates and leads free stem, professional learning opportunities for educators across the country. Prior to working at TGR, Jessica worked as an elementary, middle and high school science teacher while fulfilling several leadership roles, including science department, chair and principal intern. In this episode, Jessica shares some of her classroom experiences while working in Philadelphia, where she was in classrooms, where her students needed her to be more than just her content. She also addresses how designing professional learning with empathy for teachers in mind creates better experiences for teachers. And now please enjoy my discussion with Jessica Kessler. So let’s, let’s start off with St. Joseph’s chemistry college to the classroom, like your origin story. What led you to ultimately get into the classroom and being successful, even just looking at, at your kinda like your resume or your CV of all of the things that you’ve done. You definitely weren’t idle, but start off with chem. Yeah. Like where did that passion come from?

Jessica Kesler (01:27):

Yeah. So when I was younger, I just had this burning passion to help people. Right. And when you’re young and you think about helping people, you think about doctors, doctors help people. Right. So I had this idea that I wanna be a surgeon. I wanna be a black surgeon. I wanna be a young girl, female Charles drew, and I just wanna go out there and do it. And so my mom is actually an alum of St Joe’s. So I spent a lot of time on campus cuz as she was getting her mini master’s degrees I will visit campus with her often. And so when I applied, I had the scholarships, had everything and I went in ready to be bio ready to be a surgeon. I took my first bio class and I was like, yes, let’s talk about the human body. And let’s get into dissections and sections. And they were like, okay, so a plant so has this. And I was like, Ooh <laugh> I was like, this is not what I was expecting at all. It just felt so detached from the trajectory that I wanted to take. And it just did not feed that passion of helping people in the immediate moment.

Eric Cross (02:31):

Did it, did it feel too abstract?

Jessica Kesler (02:33):

It felt abstract. It felt boring. Okay. And one thing I didn’t want was to be like stuck, bored. Like if I’m not being stimulated in a good way, mm-hmm <affirmative> then it’s not gonna last, but I love science. So I switched over to chemistry cuz I’m like this chemistry is exciting. I’m mixing things together. I’m producing new things. I’m doing extractions. I’m being introduced to machinery that I haven’t seen before. I’m loving it. I’m doing a math. The math is awesome. And so I switched over to chem and I started doing research in the summers and things like that. My research was around water quality in Philadelphia and looking at different natural water sources and comparing them and all those great things. But I was in a lab and the lab had no windows and I was stuck talking to this atomic absorption specter every day.

Jessica Kesler (03:24):

And I hit that, that wall again, where it was like, is this the rest of my life? Like talking to these machines and not having windows and not being able to interact with people. What is this? This can’t be life. And so I was seeking out some new opportunities that said, Hey, I need more money. First of all. So I’m like, I call the financial aid office like every week, like, Hey, what’s out today. What new scholarships do you have? I’m applying for everything. Like it was my goal to not have to pay for much of my education. And so I was talking to them and they’re like, Hey, you’re in science. There’s this awesome opportunity called a noise scholarship where they’ll pay for your last year and your master’s degree. If you go into education mm-hmm <affirmative> and I sat on it and I was like, this makes so much sense to me.

Jessica Kesler (04:12):

I was like, I’ve been literally tutoring my peers and teaching in churches and all this other kind of stuff. My whole life. It makes so much sense. How come nobody ever said this before? <Laugh> and so I applied for the noise scholarship, got in and started, you know, mm-hmm, <affirmative> doing practicums in the classroom as I went through my last year as a chemistry major and my first year for my masters and it just felt so right. And I was like, I can do this. And of course there were a lot of people who told me, no, Josh, you can’t do that. Like these kids will eat you alive. And I’m like I don’t think so. <Laugh> but, but that’s give it a go. And I stepped into the classroom and it, it just felt like, felt like it was always meant to be there.

Eric Cross (04:57):

So you were able to, you were able to make that connection between, I mean, if you’re, if you’re studying chemistry and bio and going into stem, I mean, there’s, there’s an aptitude there, but then you realize that this there’s a road that you could take that leads you into a room with no windows. And you’re just hanging out with machines all day

Jessica Kesler (05:14):

And I’m not helping people. Right. Right. And that was, my passion was like, I’m not helping people sitting in this room. I need to be a person that’s outside telling people about what happens in the room. Right. And how they can get involved and like what’s going on in here. Like that’s, that’s where I can be useful.

Eric Cross (05:28):

When you were, you were in Philly when you were teaching, what were you teaching when you were there?

Jessica Kesler (05:33):

So I started off teaching eighth grade science first job in north Philadelphia, teaching eighth grade science and just a, a funding tangent that first day a student called me a B

Eric Cross (05:44):

Trial by fire

Jessica Kesler (05:45):

Trial by fire called me out in front of like the whole floor. We were outside doing line drills and just was like, I hate you miss Kusa your B. And I was like, oh, this is it. This is it. This is where you stand your ground and you take it or you, you bail out <laugh> and you go back into the lab mm-hmm <affirmative>. And of course at the end of that, that traumatic experience between all the kids, like two months later, she wanted me to adopt her. So like everything comes full circles. Right.

Eric Cross (06:10):

That’s how it is. Right.

Jessica Kesler (06:11):

But I started teaching eighth grade science. There’s not a lot of science teachers at that level who actually have a science background. Most of them have elementary school background. So I’m the only scientist walking into the science classroom and saying, this is how science actually works. And so I ended up taking a lot of onus of science while I was there. Ended up building out the K through eight curriculum for science. I ended up doing like a science strategic plan to submit to the district. I ended up leading out our first couple stem nights and like really leading the stem department and kind of our science department. And this was as like a second, third year teacher <laugh> know, but nobody else had the science mm-hmm, <affirmative> the way that I had the science and the education. So it really opened up a door for me to be able to, to run full steam with all those things.

Eric Cross (07:04):

So MI was it primarily middle school during those, those years that you were there?

Jessica Kesler (07:07):

So there, I started with middle school and I did that purposefully because I was still young and I wanted there to be a good age gap between me and the students. And then I moved up to high school and taught high school chemistry, also taught a couple other different subjects while I was at that school. But primarily high school chemistry. Then I actually took a big leap down and I said, okay. I was going for my second master’s degree in educational leadership. And I was going for my principal cert. And I said, if I’m gonna be a principal of a school, then I need to understand all the levels of education and how they operate, cuz they operate really differently. So I said, I started in middle school, went to high school. I don’t have elementary school experience. In fact, I’d spent a day in a kindergarten classroom and I was like this never again, but I was like, I need to go back down there and I need to figure out how this system works because you know, I never know where I’m gonna land as far as principalship.

Jessica Kesler (08:01):

So I went and taught fourth grade.

Eric Cross (08:03):

How was that experience?

Jessica Kesler (08:05):

So imagine me going from teaching high school, seniors and juniors Uhhuh and like they’re self-sufficient and you know, they’re independent, they’re driving to school and all these things. And then I immediately drop down and go into fourth grade where these kids are crying every five seconds. They still have like a lot of bodily fluids, like there’s noses running and things. And like <laugh>, I was like a fish outta water. I was like, what is this? What’s going on down here. But those kids pour out so much love. And they, you, you become another parent to them. Mm-Hmm <affirmative> your high schoolers know who their parents are. They kind of are finding their place in society, but the little ones, they only know big people as parents, small people as equal. So they see you as another parent. So it taught me a lot about, you know, patience and breaking information down, even smaller. I had to figure out new and inventive ways to teach science and bring it down so far that they would be able to grab onto it and achieve it. And it was a challenge, but at the end it paid off, we were running, we were hitting like great markers for all of our PSSA goals that year. I mean, we were really knocking it out the park

Eric Cross (09:17):

And this backstory leads into how we met and adds to the picture as to why I really want to have you on, because your involvement with TGR, which is where I want to go next for the folks listening. I bet a lot of them have no idea what it’s about, just like I did. And now me learning about TGR foundation and meeting you I would love to make sure that everyone knows about it and what they offer.

Jessica Kesler (09:39):

Absolutely. So TGR foundation, a tiger woods charity was founded by tiger woods and his father with a mission to really introduced them education to students in low income minority populations and prepare them for success in their world and their future careers moving forward. And so was founded in 1996 and went through several changes in iterations since 1996. But eventually opened up its first learning lab, which is in Anaheim, California. And through the learning lab, they opened up these satellite sites. So they basically partner with schools to provide after school education and robotics and wearable electronics and things like that. And they would partner with schools to teach these courses after school, they would pay the teacher, pay for the materials and stuff like that to provide more opportunity for students in different areas. And so that’s how I was introduced to the foundation because while I was teaching high school my good friend and previous manager, Jason Porter shout out to JP Jason Porter used to lead the tiger woods foundation when it was the tiger woods foundation.

Jessica Kesler (10:52):

He used to lead the afterschool program. And when I joined that high school, he said, Jess, you got all this great content, knowledge, all this great enthusiasm, and we wanna get more women into this robotics. We wanna get them engaged in this process of, of stuff. And you will be a great role model to start bringing in more of our female students. And I was like, great, sign me up. And that’s where I started working with the TGR foundation, right after school programs, getting my students into robotics, competitions and clubs, doing different challenges and design challenges. And then after some time, a few years, they actually needed someone to come to the DC area and support the development of professional learning and partnerships here in DC, as they were continuing to expand. And really it came out of the idea that tiger gave this big mission to the organization that he wanted to reach millions of kids.

Jessica Kesler (11:48):

He said millions and everybody said, what millions, what M <laugh>. So the foundation was like, okay, well we can’t reach millions by just tackling one student at a time, right? Not one student at a time, isn’t gonna bring a million people or students through the door. But if we focus on their teachers, mm-hmm <affirmative>, then those teachers not only spend most of their day with these students and learn the basics of their skills with these students. But each one of those teachers has 30 to 150 200 students that they see every day. And that’s how we multiply this effect. So we train the teachers on all the stem competencies and the pedagogical tools and strategies to implement the stem that we’re doing in our learning labs. And then they can implement it in our classroom and have this multiplicative effect that can continue on and help us to reach those millions of kids and helping them be prepared for future careers.

Eric Cross (12:44):

And so D divide the effort, multiply the effects. Exactly. And then when I was exposed to it, this was over zoom. Now, how long has it been going on? Has it always been virtualized or did you do the, were you all doing this before? We all went online

Jessica Kesler (12:57):

Before the pandemic man, the glory days, right before pandemic, it feels like I’m talking about prehistoric times, right? Like back in the dinosaur, like era, like, I don’t know, pre we actually did these workshops in a person. So we would invite people to come to DC, invite teachers in Philadelphia to do a Philly one. We were in New Mexico. We were in Florida. We were, I mean, we were everywhere and this would be a extremely hands on engaging workshops. So not only do we focus on this is the theory and the philosophy behind the pedagogy, but we would also focus on like creating a student experience for the teacher, having the teacher flip into student mode and put on that student hat and actually go through sample lessons, model lessons and activities as the student so that they can feel it. So you can feel if, if you feel confused, your students are gonna feel confused.

Jessica Kesler (13:52):

If you feel like this is challenging, you, your students are gonna feel the challenge. If you are, don’t understand the instructions, your students will understand the instructions. So it gives us a different perspective and it puts us in their shoes. So we can better empathize with them and create more responsive lesson planning. So we flipped them into that student role for that purpose. When COVID hit, we went virtual, but virtual allowed us to reach teachers that we probably would’ve never hit. So it was kind of that blessing and disguise, right? It was like we didn’t keep people as long cuz obviously virtually you’re not, you don’t wanna stare at a screen for eight hours. So we cut it down. We revised it a little bit, but we kept the hands on philosophy and feel of it going by, you know, using materials that they could find at home really modeling what education could look like.

Jessica Kesler (14:41):

Mm-Hmm <affirmative> if you used your Z zoom room to capacity, or if you had these materials and resources or rethought your lesson plans and structures. So we went virtual and not only were we able to hit so many more thirst that first year thirsty educators ready to get, dive into it, ready for some comradery with fellow educators. But we were also able to expand our international network. We were able to get so many international educators through our global work that it was, it was beyond what we had when we were in person. So it really had this skyrocketing effect.

Eric Cross (15:20):

There’s professional learning pathways and then virtual stem studio. Is that right for professional development for like teachers who are listening, are those the two kind of main prongs?

Jessica Kesler (15:30):

Yeah. So a stem studio is basically just one, right? And a pathway is a collection. So we now offer four stem studios, four separate stem studios. The first one is on inquiry mindset. You attended that one area. And it’s really about for teachers who are changing their perspective on what the classroom should look and feel like, especially administrators too. It’s about developing that inquiry mindset. So you understand and you feel, and you practice and you learn the tools that are necessary for inquiry to happen in your classroom. We never promote overhauling your classroom. We’re just saying, add a little bit here and there and see how it impacts your students. The second one is on making inquiry, visible, making inquiry visible is all about making students thinking visible in the moment. What are tools and strategies that you use so that students can illuminate their thinking for themselves, but for you and their peers as well and how we benefit from that.

Jessica Kesler (16:28):

So not only do the students get to see their own thinking as they progress and you get to tell the story of how their minds have evolved, but you, as the teacher get to see, oh, this is where everyone is making the mistake, or this is how this misconception came about. Or this is where I need to target for my next lesson. So it makes you more responsive in the moment. And then the third and fourth one where we’re actually launching for a small group this summer, it won’t be available to the masses until maybe a year or two down the line. We have one small group that we’re just going to test it out with. The third one is about developing your inquiry environment. So thinking not just about your physical space, but thinking about your intellectual space too. So what are the things that you can embed into your physical space and develop in a student’s intellectual space that will help you create a holistic inquiry environment?

Eric Cross (17:22):

So this is this inquiry space, not just physical, but then also the intellectual environment

Jessica Kesler (17:26):

Intellectual. Exactly. And it focuses in on the design process and how we design spaces. Because as a teacher, we take a lot of background in the background onus of de creating these spaces. If you take someone out of an old habit or space and tell them, oh, we are gonna change in your minds and teach inquiry, but put them back in the same environment, they’re gonna be conflicted, right? Their bodies wanna do one thing, their minds wanna do another thing. And they don’t know how to bridge the gap between the two. So this is a really illuminating, like how do you change all the spaces? How do you design a flow in space in your classroom and in your students thinking that allows them to be productive in that inquiry environment. It’s really good stuff

Eric Cross (18:11):

Who creates these experiences for teachers.

Jessica Kesler (18:14):

We do. So me and my teammate, Holly, Dard shout out HD. Holly Dard, we really put our brains together and developed these. So it’s a really a team effort because like Jason Porter, Eric even David Tong when he was with us, really collectively thought about what it is that we wanted educators to experience. And then Holly and I do a lot of the grunt work, but then we really collectively put it all together and make it what it is. So I have a heavy hand and a lot of that. And in fact, inquiry four is all about the entrepreneurial mindset. So oftentimes educators don’t consider themselves entrepreneurs, but if you take a look at what an entrepreneur is and what they do on a regular basis, educators are entrepreneurs, but we are missing an opportunity to use our entrepreneurialship in the classroom to drive for stem competencies in inquiry based practices. And so in, in stem studio, four, we really focus in on how the educator is the entrepreneur of their classroom, but also uses entrepreneurial techniques to tackle issues in their schools, districts, and spheres of influence. So it’s really taking the educator to the next level of their teaching practice through entrepreneurship. This is some deep stuff.

Eric Cross (19:37):

It is, well, this entrepreneurial mindset is, is something that I’ve heard before. And I definitely see the link between even the term teacherpreneur beyond just selling lessons on teachers, pay teachers. <Laugh> it’s way bigger than that,

Jessica Kesler (19:52):

Where entrepreneurs actually in the classroom, not just because we do things on the side to make money. Exactly.

Eric Cross (19:57):

A lot of teachers hear that. They’re like, yeah, I got, you know, I got, got a few jobs going on. Exactly. Yeah. And, and I think one thing we, I should have said this earlier, and I’ll, I’ll say the intro, but these are all free.

Jessica Kesler (20:07):

This is largely sponsored by do OD stem as well. So we have a partnership with D O D stem and they have been driving forth the department of defenses, strategic stem plan for years. And as a part of that, they give us funding in order to provide these opportunities for educators for free. So literally educators don’t have to come with anything. And we are giving you not only the content of our, our lessons and our instruction, but we’re also going give you a chance to earn a free micro credential. So people are spending 12 plus hours with us in a workshop which sounds like a lot of time, but it’s over a series of time and days. But we wanna give you something that means something after that, we wanna give you a micro credential to add to your resume, to show your administrator, to show that you have achieved the next level in your professional learning career.

Jessica Kesler (20:59):

Right? And if you finish the pathway, which is all for, then we give you our TGR foundation certificate that says that you’ve completed so much professional learning in these areas that you are basically a warrior of inquiry that you are ready to go out and really lay inquiry out in new creative ways, not in your CLA just in your classroom, but everywhere you go in your district, in your school. And on top of that, we just offer so many other great free partnership incentives like discovery, education, experience licenses. We’re doing raffles this summer. We’re giving out free a free meal voucher so that you can get some lunch. One of these days we’re offering $50 gift cards so that people can get school supplies. So anything you do with us, and you’re like, man, I really wish I could have this so that I can do that in my classroom. We wanna break down all the barriers that prevent teachers from doing this stuff in their classroom, actively engaging in this stuff. And we give you a free copy of the books that we reference. Again, trying to break down the barriers,

Eric Cross (22:00):

What are some of the things that you’ve noticed kind of being on both sides of science teaching in the classroom, and then in training trends with teachers, things like moments that have been great or, or challenges that you’re noticing teachers experiencing, especially maybe changes in differences from a, from, you know, an outsider’s perspective. Seeing what teachers are experiencing are like, since you’ve been doing PDs for folks.

Jessica Kesler (22:22):

Yeah. So it’s actually really interesting being on both sides of the fence. You know, what I always noticed is that teachers are eager, but they’re tired. They’re wanting to learn, but they can’t take advantage of every opportunity to learn. And especially during COVID time, if you take a look at even all the professional learning that’s happening across the world right now, attendance is going down because teachers are so burnt out this hybrid space, this either we’re in person, but we’re still wearing masks and still social distancing and all this other stuff, or I’m still virtual or I’m virtual some days and I’m in person other days, it’s just wearing our teachers out. And I think we notice that as we see a large numbers of friends and family just start to retire, right? Like people are just like, I don’t know if I can adapt to another change in education.

Jessica Kesler (23:14):

Like education goes through these waves of big changes and it’s hard for everybody to adapt to, but for those who are willing to stick it out and those who are able to stick it out and, and still have that energy and enthusiasm to learn, they come in so hungry for more resources, so hungry to learn more and they still have their why at the top of their minds, as they think about why they do this it’s for the kids it’s to drive this mission is to get more kids excited about this. And they just come in so passionate. So once they come in, once we can get them to come in they stick with us for a really long time. They’re like, what else do you have? What else do you have? What else do you have? But we hear, still hear the common threads of like, do I have time for this?

Jessica Kesler (23:58):

Do I have the funding for this? Do I have the energy for this? Do, will my students understand this? And we are constantly facing that challenge of trying to address those things by, but keeping the excitement going, like we know you don’t have enough time. We’re gonna call it out from the start. I know you don’t have enough time to try to do 29 extra things. Mm-Hmm <affirmative>. But my advice is always, but do one thing at a time, start with something small, asking your students a few questions rather than lecturing to them. Doesn’t take a whole lot of extra time, but it gives you so much extra insight. So let’s not work, you know, harder, let’s work smarter. Let’s embed this into our, our work together. And I always say that we’re not asking you to add to your plate. You know, it’s not Thanksgiving where you just pile, keep piling on a plate.

Jessica Kesler (24:47):

It’s it’s a time where you organize the plate. It’s allowing inquiry to restructure your plate so that everything has its place and its time mm-hmm <affirmative> do you wanna leave room so that the educator feels comfortable trying some new initiative? That’s why we encourage admin. We have librarians attend elementary school teachers, administrators, we, and we encourage it because everyone can support the classroom. And if administrators are more in touch with these new practices and tools and strategies, then they can help facilitate the learning. As the teachers are trying new things and coaching them in specific areas. So we really opened the door for some studios, for any and all who are gonna participate in that child’s education, because us all rallying around them as that three-legged stool helps to create that environment and helps support the teacher. The teachers need support, and we’re trying to do our part by providing the resources and the tools, but they need everyone else to.

Eric Cross (25:42):

We don’t always think about it as a way to support, to get support in our classrooms for ourselves. But I agree with you by, by educating vertically up the chain, you know, vice principal, principal, whoever it is, mm-hmm <affirmative> superintendent getting them on boarding and, and educating them to see what’s ex expected. We’ll open up doors and more freedoms for you because now you just have this vertical alignment of folks kind of on the same wave length. Exactly.

Jessica Kesler (26:07):

Yep. And that’s why we love districts. Anaheim union school district is actually one of our partners this year, where they have invited their teachers to participate in the whole pathway because they know how important it is that we practice these tools and strategies. And they want as many educators in the same space going through this at the same time as possible so that we can support each other through it. And so that we don’t feel like islands, oftentimes as educators, we feel like islands we’re in our classroom day in and day out. And we don’t feel like there’s anybody else who’s doing the same things we’re doing and supporting the work that we’re doing. So when we get administrators who support it, it’s magical. It can be magical.

Eric Cross (26:47):

What are some opportunities that are coming up if somebody’s listening and they, they wanna sign up for something, are there things coming up this month or next month or in the summer that they can participate in?

Jessica Kesler (26:55):

Yeah, for sure. So we’ve been doing our monthly workshops. And if you go to our website, so if you actually go to TGR foundation.org and slash stem studio you’ll actually see our summer events already posted, already live for everybody to start engaging in. And again, everything is free. So registration is open and available for everybody to participate. We are offering that first inquiry stem studio inquiry mindset twice the week of June 21st and the week of June 28th, two opportunities for educators to join us for inquiry mindset for the first one. And then also in July, we’re offering the second one making inquiry visible, and that’s the week of July 12th. So again, all free stuff, raffle prizes are available for those who register early and get in there and reserve their seat. It is limited seating. And so, yeah, a bunch of opportunities coming up this summer and guess what all you have to do is sign up and then you get all these free things coming your way. You get to look forward to all this exciting stuff. So TGR foundation.org/studio.

Eric Cross (28:01):

And if folks wanna follow you in your career, your journey.

Jessica Kesler (28:05):

Yeah. I’m on Twitter and LinkedIn, for sure. And it’s Jessica Kessler, K E S L E R one S

Eric Cross (28:12):

I wanna honor your time. And as we close, you’ve been an educator of impact in, in your own classroom. And I know you’re still teaching actively now, and you’ve also made an impact on me and other educators through your professional development. And, and the last question I’d like to end with is who’s the most memorable teacher or learning experience that you had during K eight. When you think about you, your time in school, who was a memorable teacher or a moment that kind of stands out to you and what was it that they did that made them memorable?

Jessica Kesler (28:44):

It was that one teacher who brought me my first T I, 84. You remember when a new calculators came out, I had a teacher give me one amazing, but I think in high school, there was really a turn about where I had miss Caroline and Mr. Canello math and Spanish teacher. So two opposite wings of the, the education spectrum there. But most of all, they listened. They listened to me. I felt seen with those teachers, they supported me. They listened to me, they saw my potential. And they just rallied around me and continued to support me thereafter. Even afterwards, I continued to reach out to those educators. And I think that’s what drives me to be that force for, for my students. And I remember my most memorable heart touching education experience was probably, I had a high school student get interviewed by the newspaper.

Jessica Kesler (29:38):

And they were like, oh, what’s your favorite classes? And what’s your favorite this, and what’s your favorite of that? And he was like, well, I love chemistry, which is what I was teaching. It was like, and I love my after school robotics team. I was leading and I love this and this and this. And he basically listed all the stuff that I was doing that I was teaching and that I was leading in the school. And I was like this one student, literally out of all the classes and experiences he’s experiencing is really just calling out everything that I’m doing. And I feel like it’s because he felt seen, he felt heard. He was like, this person is listening to me. And no matter what space we’re in this teacher is, is there for me. And so I try to be that wherever I go, <laugh>,

Eric Cross (30:16):

It’s amazing how making someone feel seen and, and making them feel important and heard, and, and being present for them. All of a sudden opens up their interests into the subjects that you’re teaching. Thank you for, for making time for serving our kids for serving teachers during a hard time, and for making PD one, being part of an organization that made it free and serve teachers, but also making PD fun and enthusiastic. I think that was one of the things in addition to the empathy that you led with, but also your enthusiasm and passion was something that really resonated with me. And it made our time together. Feel like something that was, was making me a better teacher for my kids. And so, thanks for making time for us tonight. Oh,

Jessica Kesler (30:53):

Bless face.

Eric Cross (30:57):

Thanks so much for joining me and Jessica today. If you have any great lessons or ways that you connect with students, please email us@stemamplifycom.wpengine.com. That’s S TM amplifycom.wpengine.com. And please remember to support the podcast by clicking subscribe, wherever you listen to podcasts, you can also hear more about the podcast in our Facebook group, science connections, the community until next time.

Stay connected!

Join our community and get new episodes every other Tuesday!

We’ll also share new and exciting free resources for your classroom every month.

What Jessica Kesler says about science

“One student at a time isn’t gonna bring a million students through the door. But if we focus on their teachers, then they can reach those millions of kids and help them be prepared for future careers. ”

– Jessica Kesler

Director of Professional Learning, TGR Foundation

Meet the guest

In the final episode of the season, Eric sits down with his friend and professional development facilitator, Jessica Kesler. Jessica describes her passion for sharing free, high-quality, empathy-centered professional development for K12 educators. Jessica also shares her experience jumping into leadership positions while teaching in Philadelphia. Eric also chats with Jessica about how students often lean on teachers for more than delivering content.

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About Science Connections

Welcome to Science Connections! Science is changing before our eyes, now more than ever. So…how do we help kids figure that out? We will bring on educators, scientists, and more to discuss the importance of high-quality science instruction. In this episode, hear from our host Eric Cross about his work engaging students as a K-8 science teacher. Listen here!

Boost Reading for mCLASS® partners

We’re thrilled you’re considering giving Boost Reading a try! This site contains all the resources you’ll need to learn more about the program and to get started using it to support remote learning or classroom instruction. We’re confident you’re going to love how Boost Reading puts your mCLASS data to work.

Colorful cartoon animals and objects surround a circular portal with a purple glowing ring, featuring silhouetted figures in its center.

Resources to support your use of the program

What is Boost Reading?

Boost Reading is a digital reading program that complements ELA programs with adaptive and targeted practice in foundational reading skills. While it can be used on its own, Boost Reading also integrates with mCLASS, which means that you get extra benefits like automatic rostering and placement in the program based on a student’s mCLASS composite score. From that point forward, the program takes every student on a personalized journey that addresses gaps and bolsters foundational skills at a pace that supports their individual development.

A laptop and tablet displaying mClass with Boost Reading software, featuring fun, colorful graphics of a school and nature scene on the laptop, and a user interface for progress tracking on the tablet.
Digital progress report showing reading skills for Taylor in Grade 2. Trouble spots highlighted for decoding VC and CVC words. Progress bars and teacher options visible.

How do I get started with Boost Reading?

Good news! Boost Reading has already been enabled within your mCLASS account. To get started with the program, you’ve got only two steps left: adjusting your student login settings and setting up your student devices. The resource below will walk you through how to do both.

After students start playing, you can check on their progress via your teacher dashboard.

How do I get families started with Boost Reading?

We will be releasing more resources to support at-home usage of Boost Reading, as well as communication between educators, students and parents/guardians. To start, you can direct parents to the following video and letters for an overview of the program and how to get started.

When and how to use Boost Reading
We recommend students use the program independently for 30-45 minutes a week. This implementation model has led to student growth, especially for dual language learners.

Students will need access to one of the following devices: Windows Devices with Windows 7+, Chromebooks with Chrome OS, and Mac devices with OS 10.11+ or iOS 11+.

Una pantalla de computadora portátil que muestra una cuadrícula de íconos de juegos educativos, incluidos títulos como "Word Slide", "Field Observer", "Grumpy Goblins" y "Curioso Crossing".

What else can you tell me about Boost Reading?

Review the resources below to dive deeper into what makes Boost Reading such a unique and powerful companion to mCLASS.

Join our Facebook group Science of Reading: The Community to discuss the latest in reading research and instructional practices.

Where to get support

Intercom chat

Our Intercom feature gives you the ability to chat with customer support, technical support, and pedagogical support teams in real time directly from the digital platform. This ensures that issues that arise in the classroom can be addressed as quickly as possible. Support teams can be reached from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday.

Interface of an educational website on animal and plant defenses, featuring chapter tiles with illustrations, and a chat support window labeled 'Hi Teacher' offering new conversation options.

Email

Our customer support, technical support, and pedagogical support teams can be reached by email at help@amplify.com from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday.

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Welcome to your Amplify Science California pilot!

We’re thrilled to welcome you to the Amplify family, and we look forward to making your experience with Amplify Science California successful from day one.

On this site, you’ll find resources, tips, videos, and other helpful information designed to support you throughout your pilot experience.

Collage of three images showing children engaged in various activities: two boys with a book, two girls using straws, and a group watching intently. Connected by abstract lines and circles.
A woman sits at a table, using a laptop and a textbook. She is in a classroom with shelves of educational supplies in the background.

Tips for getting started successfully

It takes time to learn any new program and get used to its patterns and flow—time that you aren’t always afforded in a pilot situation. Based on our work with thousands of pilot teachers who are now happy users, we can tell you with 100% confidence that it gets easier. In no time, you’ll be preparing and delivering all your lessons with ease.

Until you become comfortable with the organization of each unit and how one lesson flows into the next, the following resources will be key in helping you prepare to teach your first unit.

Unit Guide

These short and sweet guides provide a big picture overview of each unit’s phenomenon and storyline, the key questions that guide learning, and how the storyline develops from chapter to chapter. We even spoil the big reveal at the end by pointing out ahead of time what students figure out throughout the unit.

Ready to download? Navigate to your grade level using the menu bar above, scroll to the Unit Types section, and then download the appropriate Unit Guide(s).

Cover and inner pages of a unit guide titled "Patterns of Earth and Sky" for Grade 5, featuring text explanations and images related to science concepts.
Laptop screen displaying an educational website with a lesson on "tortoise parts" featuring a colorful turtle graphic on the header.

Lesson Overview

Reading this short summary is a great way to get a quick snapshot of the learning that will take place during the day ahead. It includes a short description of the lesson, student learning objectives, and an at-a-glance list of activities.

Where to find it? Log into the digital Teacher’s Guide and navigate to the lesson you want to teach by following this click path: Grade Level > Unit > Chapter > Lesson. Next, scroll to the Lesson Brief section and click Overview. This same information is also found in your printed Teacher’s Reference Guide.

Material and preparation tips

Also found in the Lesson Brief section of your digital Teacher’s Guide and printed Teacher’s Reference Guide is a complete list of materials that you’ll need to gather as well as step-by-step lesson preparation tips organized by:

  • Before the Day of the Lesson
  • Immediately Before the Lesson
  • At the End of the Day
A laptop screen displays the Amplify Science platform, showing a lesson plan titled Materials and Preparation with text boxes detailing teaching steps and preparation tips.
A screenshot of an academic paper about "animal and plant defenses" showing a table of contents with 30 statements, organized into lessons and chapters.

3-D Statements

Color-coded for easy readability and quick scanning, our 3-D Statements can be found at point-of-use for every unit and lesson, making it easy to pinpoint the exact SEPs, DCIs, and CCCs that will be targeted on any given day.

Where to find them? Log into the digital Teacher’s Guide and navigate to any Unit Guide or Lesson Brief and click the expandable box called 3-D Statements. A complete list of 3-D Statements can also be found in the back of any printed Teacher’s Reference Guide.

Coherence Flowcharts

These are another great tool for helping you visualize the flow of a unit and the connections between the questions that drive students’ experiences and:

  • The evidence they gather
  • The solutions they figure out
  • The new questions they generate

Where to find them? Log into the digital Teacher’s Guide, navigate to your desired unit, scroll to the Unit Guide, and look in the Printable Resources section.

Amplify Science California supports you every step of the way on your journey to the California NGSS.

Support is always within reach

Your role as a pilot teacher is important. Your district is counting on you not only to evaluate how Amplify Science California works in your classroom, but also to pick a reliable and supportive long-term partner. We feel confident that we’re that partner, and we look forward to proving that to you during your pilot experience.

Just as it will be when you become a customer, support during your pilot will always be within reach through the following channels.

Pilot support coordinator

Your dedicated pilot support coordinator has extensive experience delivering training, rostering students, answering both pedagogical and technical questions, and delivering demonstration lessons. Said another way, he or she is here to help. So, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Who is my pilot support coordinator? Look for his or her contact information in the pilot support brochure that you received during your pilot implementation training.

Amplify Science California supports you every step of the way on your journey to the California NGSS.
Interface of an educational website on animal and plant defenses, featuring chapter tiles with illustrations, and a chat support window labeled 'Hi Teacher' offering new conversation options.

Intercom chat

In addition to traditional lines of communication, our Intercom feature gives you the ability to chat with our customer support, technical support, and pedagogical support teams in real time directly from the digital platform. This ensures that issues that arise in the classroom can be addressed as quickly as possible.

Support teams can be reached from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday.

Email

Our customer support, technical support, and pedagogical support teams can also be reached by email at help@amplify.com.

Support teams can be reached from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday.

Open-plan office with people working at desks, multiple computer monitors, plants, and bright natural light from large windows.

A closer look at grades 3–5

Amplify Science is based on the latest research on teaching and learning and helps teachers deliver age-appropriate, high-quality, literacy-rich instruction that enables students to take on the roles of scientists and engineers to solve real-world phenomena every day.

In the 3–5 classroom, this looks like students:

  • Collecting evidence from a variety of sources.
  • Making sense of evidence in a variety of ways.
  • Formulating convincing scientific arguments.
Un collage de cuatro imágenes que muestran a estudiantes realizando experimentos científicos: secando estructuras, trabajando con plantas, vertiendo la mezcla en un vaso de precipitados y regando plantas en contenedores.
A four-step process diagram: Spark, Explore, Explain and elaborate, and Evaluate, each with an icon and description, connected by arrows, ending with a summary statement below.

Program structure

Our cyclical lesson design ensures students receive multiple exposures to concepts through a variety of modalities. As they progress through the lessons within a unit, students build and deepen their understanding, increasing their ability to develop and refine complex explanations of the unit’s phenomenon.

It’s this proven program structure and lesson design that enables Amplify Science to teach less, but achieve more. Rather than asking teachers to wade through unnecessary content, we designed our 3–5 program to address 100% of the NGSS in just 88 days.

Scope and sequence

Every year of our grades 3–5 sequence consists of 4 units and 88 lessons. Said another way, each unit contains 20 lessons plus two dedicated assessment days (a Pre-Unit Assessment and End-of-Unit Assessment).

Lessons for grades 3–5 are written to last a minimum of 60 minutes, though teachers can expand or contract the timing to meet their needs.

Grid of nine educational lesson cards, each featuring a different science topic like "balancing forces" and "weather systems" with grade levels and lesson durations listed.

Unit types

Each unit delivers three-dimensional learning experiences and engages students in gathering evidence from a rich collection of sources, while also emphasizing a particular science and engineering practice.

In grades 3–5:

  • One unit emphasizes the practice of investigation.
  • One unit emphasizes the practice of modeling.
  • One unit emphasizes the practice of engineering design.
  • One unit emphasizes the practice of argumentation.
Investigation Units

Investigation units focus on the process of strategically developing investigations and gathering data to answer questions. Students are first asked to consider questions about what happens in the natural world and why, and are then involved in designing and conducting investigations that produce data to help answer those questions.

Modeling Units

Modeling units provide extra support to students engaging in the practice of modeling. Students use physical models, investigate with computer models, and create their own diagrams to help them visualize what might be happening on the nanoscale.

Engineering Design Units

Engineering design units provide opportunities for students to solve complex problems by applying science principles to the design of functional solutions, and iteratively testing those solutions to determine how well they meet preset criteria.

Argumentation units

Argumentation units provide students with regular opportunities to explore and discuss available evidence, time and support to consider how evidence may be leveraged in support of claims, and independence that increases as they mount written arguments in support of their claims.

Units at a glance

Illustration of a high-speed train traveling on an elevated track with a red light on the front, set against a blue sky and green landscape.
Balancing Forces

Domain: Physical Science

Unit type: Modeling

Student role: Engineers

Phenomenon: The town of Faraday is getting a new train that floats above its tracks.  

Illustration of wolves in the foreground, quail perched on a branch, a bear, and elk in a grassy, wooded landscape with hills in the background.
Inheritance and Traits

Domains: Life Science

Unit type: Investigation

Student role: Wildlife biologists

Phenomenon: An adopted wolf in Graystone National Park (“Wolf 44”) has some traits that appear similar to one wolf pack in the park and other traits that appear to be similar to a different wolf pack. 

A bird stands on the ground, looking down at a yellow snail near some green grass against a blue background.
Environments and Survival

Domains: Life Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering design

Student role: Biomimicry engineers

Phenomenon: Over the last 10 years, a population of grove snails has changed: The number of grove snails with yellow shells has decreased, while the number of snails with banded shells has increased.  

An orange orangutan climbs a vine in a dense green jungle with tall trees and the sun visible in the background.
Weather and Climate

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Argumentation

Student role: Meteorologists

Phenomenon: Three different islands, each a contender for becoming an Orangutan reserve, experience different weather patterns.  

City buildings at night with lit windows, a full moon, stars in the sky, and a person standing by a window on the left.
Energy Conversions

Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering design

Student role: System engineers

Phenomenon: The fictional town of Ergstown experiences frequent blackouts.  

A streetlight shines at night; arrows show its light reflecting off a cricket to a gecko, illustrating how the gecko sees its prey.
Vision and Light

Domain: Physical Science, Life Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Investigation

Student role: Conservation biologists

Phenomenon: The population of Tokay geckos in a rain forest in the Philippines has decreased since the installation of new highway lights.  

Illustration of rocky cliffs with reddish and brown tones beside a flowing blue river under a clear sky.
Earth’s Features

Domain: Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Argumentation

Student role: Geologists

Phenomenon: A mysterious fossil is discovered in a canyon within the fictional Desert Rocks National Park.  

Two dolphins are facing each other underwater against a blue background.
Waves, Energy, and Information

Domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Modeling

Student role: Marine scientists

Phenomenon: Mother dolphins in the fictional Blue Bay National Park seem to be communicating with their calves when they are separated at a distance underwater.

Earth orbits the Sun in space, shown by a dashed blue line; an arrow on Earth indicates its rotation direction.
Patterns of Earth and Sky

Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Investigation

Student role: Astronomers

Phenomenon: An ancient artifact depicts what we see in the sky at different times — the sun during the daytime and different stars during the nighttime — but it is missing a piece.  

Red blood cells scattered over a swirling red and white background, creating an abstract representation of blood flow.
Modeling Matter

Domain: Physical Science

Unit type: Modeling

Student role: Food scientists

Phenomenon: Chromatography is a process for separating mixtures. Some solids dissolve in a salad dressing while others do not. Oil and vinegar appear to separate when mixed in a salad dressing.  

Illustration of wind carrying particles from the ocean, over a coastal town, and up a steep, green mountain slope under a clear blue sky.
The Earth System

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering Design

Student role: Water resource engineers

Phenomenon: East Ferris, a city on one side of the fictional Ferris Island, is experiencing a water shortage, while West Ferris is not.  

Illustration of a cheetah standing on the ground and a sloth hanging from a tree surrounded by various plants and mushrooms in a jungle scene.
Ecosystem Restoration

Domains:Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Argumentation

Student role: Ecologists

Phenomenon: The jaguars, sloths, and cecropia trees in a reforested section of a Costa Rican rain forest are not growing and thriving.  

Exciting updates are coming for mCLASS Math!

As we plan for the upcoming school year, we’re continuing to enhance mCLASS® Math—finding ways to provide you with clearer insights, stronger reporting, and more flexible support for assessment and progress monitoring activities. These updates are designed to help educators better understand student performance and take action with confidence.

Whether you’re using mCLASS Math on its own or alongside Boost Math® or Amplify Desmos Math, this page highlights what’s already available and what’s coming next.

A young boy uses a laptop in a classroom, working on mCLASS Math while other students and desks are visible in the background.

Updates coming for the 2026–27 school year

To help you plan for the year ahead with confidence, we’re previewing some of the exciting enhancements coming your way.

Expanded mCLASS Math for grades K–8

mCLASS Math is expanding into grades 6–8! Reporting for grades 6–8 will align with the K–5 experience, ensuring consistency across grade levels. Interested in samples? Check out our sample mCLASS Math items for grades K–8.

mCLASS Math K–5 Spanish

Spanish translations will be available for K–5 assessments, helping educators broaden their reach and serve more students effectively.

Boost Math driven by mCLASS Math data

We’re also excited to announce Boost Math product enhancements that are designed to streamline your Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Beginning July 1, 2026, Boost Math will be powered by mCLASS Math Benchmark data, using both performance results and student thinking insights to inform instruction. Interested in learning more about how you can use Boost Math alongside mCLASS Math? Reach out to your rep or admin to get started!

Already using Boost Math as part of your math solution? Learn more about upcoming enhancements to Boost Math, including new Learning Pathways to support your MTSS implementation.

Noteworthy mCLASS Math feature enhancements

These features are already available or will be rolling out soon to help you plan lessons, target learning, and support students more efficiently.

Stronger mCLASS Math reporting and visibility into student learning

We’ve made reporting easier to understand and more actionable, so you can spend less time searching for information and more time responding to student needs.

A classroom assessment dashboard for mCLASS Math displays key insights for a fractions benchmark, including student response analysis and instructional recommendations in a highlighted box.
  • Student Thinking Reports now include direct links to recommended activities, so you can move from insight to action more quickly.
Screenshot of the “Download your data” page for mCLASS Math, showing options to select assessment, view data dictionary, set reporting period and population, and download a CSV file of your mCLASS Math Reports.
  • Admin reports are available for download to support school- and district-level analysis.
A screen in mCLASS Math displays the question "Is the equation true or false? 5 + 3 = 3 + 5" with selectable "True" (thumbs up) and "False" (thumbs down) options.
  • K–1 progress bars clearly indicate skipped questions for greater clarity.
A pop-up window displays options to select students and download mCLASS Math Home Connect Letters as PDFs in English or Spanish, with a button to combine all letters into one PDF.
  • Home Connect letters can be batch-downloaded, making family communication easier to manage.
  • Benchmark assessments align to district-defined benchmark windows, with flexible date management in the Admin Portal. Learn more.

Using Amplify Desmos Math? Explore upcoming updates and noteworthy features on the Amplify Desmos Math Program Highlights page.

This is one of the best things I have ever worked on.

A man in a white shirt is smiling in a circular frame, with illustrations of a person swimming and a submarine on a light blue background, capturing the lively spirit of Amplify Desmos Math and engaging classroom discussions.

Every discussion teaches kids about math—and about themselves.

Among many other reasons, discussions are important because they’re moments when the teacher assigns value to students. In a discussion, the teacher says, “Hey—I have precious little time to teach what I know. Still, I’m going to dedicate some of that time for you to share and talk about what you know.” That’s a moment when students learn about math, but also that their own ideas have value.

Discussions are difficult, and “more wait time” is rarely the reason.

There are a few reasons why discussions frequently fail, and it’s rarely because the teacher didn’t give students enough “wait time” to respond, as is commonly believed.

1. The question was hard to understand or find your way into. For a long time, I’d ask my kids at dinner, “How was your day? What happened?” And my kids wouldn’t have much to say. Lately, I ask them to tell me two things about their day that happened and one thing that didn’t, and we all guess which was which. It’s an easier prompt, one that kids can find their way into with ease and then use as a launching pad into a larger conversation.

2. There isn’t enough to talk about. If your math class consists of a lot of binary, right/wrong questions, what is there for anyone to talk about? “A lot of us got this one wrong. Here’s a pie chart that shows how wrong we were. How about I show you how to do it?” That’s fine, but it isn’t a discussion, and it’s quite often a very dreary classroom environment for children.

A digital dashboard displays multiple financial charts, graphs, and filters—including pie charts and bar graphs—similar to those used in Amplify Desmos Math for middle school math classroom discussions on project profitability and billing.

In Amplify Desmos Math, a curriculum I work on, kids generally have plenty to talk about. Our interactives stir a kid’s imagination for even the most abstract areas of math. For example, this submarine interactive stirs up a kid’s ideas about adding positive and negative integers.

A yellow submarine with five round windows, each filled with a blue dot—perfect for sparking classroom discussions in middle school math. Red and blue dots sit above and below the windows, plus an anchor and lightbulb icon on the left.

And then we ask kids, “Hey, what do you think about the star at +5? Can you come up with something that none of your classmates do?”

A digital lesson in Amplify Desmos Math shows a submarine at position 0 and a star labeled 5; instructions prompt students to collect the star using unique actions, sparking engaging middle school math classroom discussions.

Let me tell you: Kids accept that challenge.

3. There is too much to talk about.

This is a good problem to have, but it’s still a problem. In the class screenshotted below, 25 students have put 300 thoughtful words in front of the teacher, every response different from every other!

A highlighted text box shows Sofia Kovalevskaya saying, "I want to add 1000 floats and then 995 anchors!!!" against a background of faded text—perfect for sparking middle school math classroom discussions with Amplify Desmos Math.

Teachers now have a problem of abundance, not scarcity. They have to decide which responses to select, and why, in an environment of cognitive overload.

This is very hard work for teachers, especially novices, especially teachers who lack mathematical content knowledge, especially teachers who are hanging onto the school year by their fingernails.

We offer teachers lots of different support for discussions throughout our curriculum—both in print and digital activities—but our new discussion support for digital activities is first-of-its-kind and best-in-class.

Discussion Moments.

  1. Student responses stream into the teacher’s dashboard.
  2. A message appears: “Analyzing Student Responses.”
  3. Shortly after, the message changes: “Open Discussion Moment.
A green banner with the text "Analyzing student responses" and two sparkles, next to a gray computer monitor icon—perfect for facilitating Classroom discussions in middle school math with Amplify Desmos Math.

You click the message and see a classroom-ready discussion screen.

A submarine aims for a star 5 units up; students suggest combinations of floats and anchors to reach it. Amplify Desmos Math sparks engaging classroom discussions as a sidebar asks, "Are they all correct?.

First, you see four student responses, each one authored by a student in the class, each one interesting on its own. This was not luck. Those responses were curated by a large language model at the direction of our curriculum experts. “Find three responses that capture the star in different ways,” our experts prompted the AI. “Responses that add anchors. That remove anchors. Find one response that might not capture the star.”

Next to those responses you see a question: ”Which one is not like the others?” That question feels surprisingly well-matched for this math and for those student responses. This, also, isn’t an accident. Curriculum experts made that decision.

You click the right arrow and see a suggested narration for the Discussion Moment, narration which was authored, again, by our human authors for this particular problem, to help novices learn to facilitate productive discussions in math.

That’s a “Discussion Moment.”

In the past, coaches, experts, and publishers have all asked teachers to . . .

  • Select and sequence student responses.
  • Construct a student-facing discussion resource.
  • Lead the conversation.

Now we are asking teachers to . . .

  • Lead the conversation.

In our experience, computers do quite well with the first two jobs while teachers obliterate computers at the work of leading a conversation, at connecting student ideas, at asking one kid what they think of another kid’s idea, at pulling ideas out of a kid who maybe doesn’t think they have ideas to offer. Discussion Moments delegate to humans and computers the best work for each of them.

Discussion Moments are different.

Lots of edtech companies are putting AI to work in lots of different ways. Discussion Moments are unique.

First, they’re designed to work through rather than around the teacher, during class rather than outside of class. They’re designed to support social interactions between students and teachers in the moment of instruction. This is the action.

Second, this is a classroom-ready resource. So many AI applications just output a ChatGPT-style resource. Lots of text. Several main bullets. Lots of sub-bullets. An emoji or two. And I am very sorry, but they are not useful in class. The teacher has to read all of that text, copy and paste and edit it, and then construct the student-facing resource all in the middle of class. That’s fantasyland, folks. At Amplify, we have, instead, created a one-click, classroom-ready resource.

Third, we’ve fortified these digital Discussion Moments with gallons of human expertise. Since December, I’ve worked with several of our curriculum experts—Casey Nelson, Brian Kam, and Tom Snarsky—and for every problem across several units of middle school math, they:

  • Reviewed thousands of student responses to each problem.
  • Identified thematic trends in the student responses.
  • Decided whether or not those themes demand a discussion.
  • Decided which of several discussion frames would be most appropriate, given those themes.
  • Wrote an AI prompt specific to each problem to increase the odds that the large language model will curate useful student responses.
Screenshot of code-like text outlining three criteria for student responses, with bolded and underlined terms, labeled "human authored" at the top—ideal for guiding classroom discussions in middle school math or Amplify Desmos Math activities.

Most edtech companies would prefer to let AI lead this process from end to end, using the same prompt for every problem, even at the cost of the teacher and student experience. Meanwhile, we only ask AI to execute instructions and construct a resource. The nature of those instructions, the type of resource, and how it’s used—that is all determined by different humans and their expertise.

What do teachers and administrators think?

I ran a small-scale pilot of this feature last spring and kicked off a larger-scale pilot last week. A couple hundred teachers overall. I have never had an easier time recruiting teachers for a project than with this one. Every district math curriculum lead knows how challenging it is for teachers to lead discussions, and every one I asked was eager to support.

Two other examples of Discussion Moments.

Compare and Connect. We asked a large language model to locate responses that have one of a couple of important features but ideally not both. Then we constructed a Discussion Moment asking students to write a response that combines the best of both answers.

A scatter plot titled “Radius vs. Area” from Amplify Desmos Math prompts classroom discussions about proportional relationships, as middle school math students compare line types and notice the points do not form a straight line.

Critique, Correct, Clarify. Our curriculum authors noticed a frequent incorrect answer to a question. We told the LLM to watch out for it and frame it in a Discussion Moment where the class is asked to find value in the wrong answer before correcting it. Try to imagine what it does to a kid to hear their incorrect answer described as valuable.

A graph displays a purple straight line with negative slope crossing the y-axis at 4 and the x-axis at 8; text explains the equation y = -1/2x + 4, perfect for middle school math or engaging Amplify Desmos Math classroom discussions.

Wait—don’t you hate AI?

I get why you might ask me that, but no. I think generative AI is perhaps the most overrated education technology of my lifetime; I don’t think the chatbot tutors or lessonslop generators are going to transform K–12 education. But I do think generative AI is neat. And look, I have tried to support discussion work with K–12 teachers for the last ten years in other ways, too. I have run in-person and remote PD. I have written math lessons and teacher supports for those lessons. I have sent nifty little customized email sequences tailored to teacher usage. None of those supports have been as promising as AI is here. None of them has moved the needle like Discussion Moments because none of them has been able to meet teachers in their moment of need, at the point of use.

That’s it. You can find Discussion Moments in Amplify Desmos Math next school year.

Tulsa, exciting updates in CKLA 2nd Edition!

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Exciting updates in CKLA 2nd Edition!

As part of our commitment to creating even richer and more wide-ranging curricula, we have built on the foundation of the 1st Edition to release a new edition of Amplify CKLA with a collection of program enhancements that save you time and help you reach every student.

Explore the 2nd Edition Program Guide to learn more.

Amplify Caminos for equitable Spanish literacy

Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts® (CKLA) is proud to introduce Amplify Caminos al Conocimiento Esencial, a Spanish language arts program for Grades K–5 that will inspire and engage your students to become confident readers, writers, and thinkers.

Three colorful book covers featuring artistic styles: a bird in flight, a bicycle near a vine-covered wall, and a vibrant portrait of a woman with flowing hair.

Like Amplify CKLA, Amplify Caminos is designed to spark curiosity through content-rich instruction. Amplify Caminos features complex interactive Read-Alouds and authentic Spanish literature to develop reading and writing skills and build bridges across Spanish and English.

Explore the Amplify Caminos Program Guide.

Research units to inspire inquiry and curiosity

Our brand-new Knowledge Research units carry forward Amplify CKLA’s powerful and proven instructional approach while also:

  • Adding more diversity. The rich topics and highly visual components featured in these units provide students with even more “windows and mirrors” and perspectives as they work to build knowledge.
  • Adding more authentic literature. Each new research unit revolves around a collection of high-interest authentic trade books that will spark more curiosity and inspire more inquiry.
  • Adding more flexibility. Units can be implemented for extended core instruction during flex periods, district-designated Pausing Points, or enrichment periods.

Units cover a variety of rich and relevant topics:

Three illustrations: one shows people at a gaming session, the middle depicts a diverse group standing together, and the third portrays a group gardening outdoors.

With these new units, students will soar to new heights with Dr. Ellen Ochoa, Amelia Earhart, and the Tuskegee Airmen. They’ll feel the rhythm as they learn about Jazz legends Miles Davis, Tito Puente, and Duke Ellington. And they’ll explore the far reaches of the world with Jacques Cousteau, Matthew Henson, and Eugenie Clark.

  • Grade K: Art and the World Around Us
  • Grade 1: Adventure Stories: Tales from the Edge of the World
  • Grade 2: Up, Up, and Away: The Age of Aviation
  • Grade 3: All That Jazz
  • Grade 4: Energy: Past, Present, and Future
  • Grade 5: Beyond Juneteenth: 1865 to present

Watch the overview webinar to learn more.

Units will be made available in English and Spanish, and will include the following components:

A collage of educational materials including comic panels, illustrated worksheets, and classroom posters featuring diverse characters.
  • Teacher Guide
  • Student Activity Books
  • Image Cards
  • Trade Book Collection
  • Digital Components (grades K–3 and 5)

Richly illustrated Skills Readers

Student Readers in grades K–2 are newly redesigned with gorgeous illustrations that celebrate students’ diverse experiences. The new readers feature individuals with a broad range of identities and culture, providing students with more windows and mirrors. Each reimagined reader has a unique illustration style to draw students into the engaging stories, characters, and plots.

Illustration split in two: left side shows children diving underwater with marine life, labeled "kit"; right side shows children playing jump rope on a court, labeled "kids excel.

Review the new readers.

New digital platform with presentation slides

Amplify CKLA 2nd Edition is on the digital experience, a new digital platform, that makes it easier and more engaging than ever to plan lessons, present digital content, and review and assign student work online.

A person navigating through the curved, narrow sandstone walls of antelope canyon. the natural rock formation casts pink and orange hues.

The digital experience provides ready-to-use, customizable lesson slides, complete with all the prompts from the Teacher Guide embedded in the teacher view. As teachers deliver each lesson, students engage with the content through slides that include digital activities, digital components, multimedia, Student Readers, and more. Students can complete work in the platform through digital Activity Pages that allow them to type, draw, record audio, and more.

Explore the digital experience overview brochure.

Improved layout, more focused lessons, new content and more

From 1st Edition to 2nd Edition, we made updates to make it easier to plan and deliver Amplify CKLA lessons, including a variety of ways to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students.

Key enhancements include:

  • Scaffolds for English Language Learners added to all lessons
  • In-the-moment differentiation opportunities added to support and challenge all students
  • Integrated grade 3 into one instructional strand to better match students’ learning trajectories
  • New layout to make Teacher Guides easier to scan and use.

New content at the beginning of each lesson:

  • Primary Focus Objectives identify the goals of each lesson. Each objective is standards-aligned and corresponds to a formative assessment.
  • Formative Assessment opportunities are explicitly called out in a chart at the beginning of each lesson. Formative assessments are aligned to the Primary Focus Objectives.
  • Universal Access suggests modifications to the lesson to support a diversity of learning styles.

New content within each lesson:

  • Support and Challenge sidebars added throughout for extensions, support, and enrichment.
  • Access Supports provide scaffolds to support English Language Learners across five proficiency levels.

New content in each Skills Strand lesson:

  • Additional Support section at the end of every Skills lesson provides opportunities for re-teaching and reinforcing skills taught in the lesson. Specific activities and extensions are provided to meet the needs of all learners.

New content in all grades, including:

  • Grade K: Picture Reader with supporting instruction.
  • Grade 3: Content integrated into one instructional strand to improve pacing and closely match students’ learning trajectories; excerpts of read-aloud text now appear in select student readers; added new Vikings Quest (problem-based interactive learning).
  • Grade 4: Updated the Personal Narratives unit, added The Contraption Quest (writing across the year).
  • Grade 5: Updated Personal Narratives unit, added Chemical Matter unit, added The Robot Quest (writing across the year).
  • Moved Contemporary Fiction unit from grade 5 to grade 4.
  • Supplemental cursive instruction and activity book added for grades 3 and 4.

Take a deeper look at the enhancements.

Language Studio for English Language Learners

Language Studio is a companion English Language Development program to 2nd Edition designed to support students learning English at all proficiency levels. Aligned to WIDA, the program helps students strengthen vocabulary and academic language skills while deepening the background knowledge developed in the core program. This unique approach provides an effective structure for moving English Language Learners students towards English proficiency.

View sample lessons to see how it works.

Multimedia Hub for teachers and students

Students will be able to access multimedia resources and engage in a new way on the Amplify CKLA Hub. Students can access digital resources independently from anywhere, taking full advantage of the instructional multimedia experiences that Amplify CKLA has to offer. Students can access the Hub at home, in the classroom, and on the go, making it ideal for remote learning. It’s compatible with laptops, Chromebooks, tablets, and desktops.

Grades K–2

Grades K–2 students will have access to Knowledge Builder videos to introduce each domainSound Library videos and songs for each sound in the English language; and audio-enabled eBooks of grade-level Student Readers.

Grades 3–5

Grades 3–5 students will have access to the Vocab App for independent practice with domain vocabulary and audio-enabled eBooks of grade-level Student Readers in English and Spanish.

Tulsa, exciting updates in CKLA 2nd Edition!

As part of our commitment to creating even richer and more wide-ranging curricula, we have built on the foundation of 1st Edition to release a new edition of Amplify CKLA with a collection of program enhancements that save you time and help you reach every student.

Explore the 2nd Edition Program Guide to learn more.

A couple gazes at three circular vignettes showing an astronaut, a president at a podium with an american flag, and a person breaking a wall with a hammer.

Amplify Caminos for Spanish literacy

Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts® (CKLA) is proud to introduce Amplify Caminos al Conocimiento Esencial, a Spanish language arts program that will inspire and engage your students to become confident readers, writers, and thinkers.

Three colorful book covers featuring artistic styles: a bird in flight, a bicycle near a vine-covered wall, and a vibrant portrait of a woman with flowing hair.

Like Amplify CKLA, Amplify Caminos is designed to spark curiosity through content-rich instruction. Amplify Caminos features complex interactive Read-Alouds and authentic Spanish literature to develop reading and writing skills and build bridges across Spanish and English.

Explore the Amplify Caminos Program Guide.

Research units to inspire inquiry and curiosity

Our brand-new Knowledge Research units carry forward Amplify CKLA’s powerful and proven instructional approach while also:

  • Adding more content for students from all walks of life. The rich topics and highly visual components featured in these units provide students with even more “windows and mirrors” and perspectives as they work to build knowledge.
  • Adding more authentic literature. Each new research unit revolves around a collection of high-interest authentic trade books that will spark more curiosity and inspire more inquiry.
  • Adding more flexibility. Units can be implemented for extended core instruction during flex periods, district-designated Pausing Points, or enrichment periods.

Units cover a variety of rich and relevant topics:

Three illustrations: one shows people at a gaming session, the middle depicts a diverse group standing together, and the third portrays a group gardening outdoors.

With these new units, students will soar to new heights with Dr. Ellen Ochoa, Amelia Earhart, and the Tuskegee Airmen. They’ll feel the rhythm as they learn about Jazz legends Miles Davis, Tito Puente, and Duke Ellington. And they’ll explore the far reaches of the world with Jacques Cousteau, Matthew Henson, and Eugenie Clark.

  • Grade K: Art and the World Around Us
  • Grade 1: Adventure Stories: Tales from the Edge of the World
  • Grade 2: Up, Up, and Away: The Age of Aviation
  • Grade 3: All That Jazz
  • Grade 4: Energy: Past, Present, and Future
  • Grade 5: Beyond Juneteenth: 1865 to present

Watch the overview webinar to learn more.

Units will be made available in English and Spanish, and will include the following components:

A collage of educational materials including comic panels, illustrated worksheets, and classroom posters featuring diverse characters.
  • Teacher Guide
  • Student Activity Books
  • Image Cards
  • Trade Book Collection
  • Digital Components (grades K–3 and 5)

Richly illustrated Skills Readers

Student Readers in grades K–2 are newly redesigned with gorgeous illustrations that celebrate students’ diverse experiences. The new readers feature individuals with a broad range of identities and culture, providing students with more windows and mirrors. Each reimagined reader has a unique illustration style to draw students into the engaging stories, characters, and plots.
Review the new readers.

New digital platform with presentation slides

Amplify CKLA 2nd Edition is on Interactive Classroom, a new digital platform, that makes it easier and more engaging than ever to plan lessons, present digital content, and review and assign student work online.

A person navigating through the curved, narrow sandstone walls of antelope canyon. the natural rock formation casts pink and orange hues.

Interactive Classroom provides ready-to-use, customizable lesson slides, complete with all the prompts from the Teacher Guide embedded in the teacher view. As teachers deliver each lesson, students engage with the content through slides that include digital activities, digital components, multimedia, Student Readers, and more. Students can complete work in the platform through digital Activity Pages that allow them to type, draw, record audio, and more.

Explore the Interactive Classroom overview brochure.

Improved layout, more focused lessons, new content & more

From 1st Edition to 2nd Edition, we made updates to make it easier to plan and deliver Amplify CKLA lessons, including a variety of ways to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students.

Key enhancements include:

  • Scaffolds for English Language Learners added to all lessons
  • In-the-moment differentiation opportunities added to support and challenge all students
  • Integrated Grade 3 into one instructional strand to better match students’ learning trajectories
  • New layout to make Teacher Guides easier to scan and use.

New content at the beginning of each lesson:

  • Primary Focus Objectives identify the goals of each lesson. Each objective is standards-aligned and corresponds to a formative assessment.
  • Formative Assessment opportunities are explicitly called out in a chart at the beginning of each lesson. Formative assessments are aligned to the Primary Focus Objectives.
  • Universal Access suggests modifications to the lesson to support a diversity of learning styles.

New content within each lesson:

  • Support and Challenge sidebars added throughout for extensions, support, and enrichment.
  • Access Supports provide scaffolds to support English Language Learners across five proficiency levels.

New content in each Skills Strand lesson:

  • Additional Support section at the end of every Skills lesson provides opportunities for re-teaching and reinforcing skills taught in the lesson. Specific activities and extensions are provided to meet the needs of all learners.

New content in all grades, including:

  • Grade K: Picture Reader with supporting instruction
  • Grade 3: Content integrated into one instructional strand to improve pacing and closely match students’ learning trajectories; excerpts of read-aloud text now appear in select student readers; added new Vikings Quest (problem-based interactive learning).
  • Grade 4: Updated the Personal Narratives unit, added The Contraption Quest (writing across the year).
  • Grade 5: Updated Personal Narratives unit, added Chemical Matter unit, added The Robot Quest (writing across the year).
  • Moved Contemporary Fiction unit from Grade 5 to Grade 4.
  • Supplemental cursive instruction and activity book added for Grades 3 and 4.

Take a deeper look at the enhancements.

Language Studio for English Language Learners

Language Studio is a companion English Language Development program to 2nd Edition designed to support students learning English at all proficiency levels. Aligned to WIDA, the program helps students strengthen vocabulary and academic language skills while deepening the background knowledge developed in the core program. This unique approach provides an effective structure for moving English Language Learners students towards English proficiency.

View sample lessons to see how it works.

Multimedia Hub for teachers and students

Students will be able to access multimedia resources and engage in a new way on the Amplify CKLA Hub. Students can access digital resources independently from anywhere, taking full advantage of the instructional multimedia experiences that Amplify CKLA has to offer. Students can access the Hub at home, in the classroom, and on the go, making it ideal for remote learning. It’s compatible with laptops, Chromebooks, tablets, and desktops.

Grades K–2

Grades K–2 students will have access to Knowledge Builder videos to introduce each domainSound Library videos and songs for each sound in the English language; and audio-enabled eBooks of grade-level Student Readers.

Grades 3–5

Grades 3–5 students will have access to the Vocab App for independent practice with domain vocabulary and audio-enabled eBooks of grade-level Student Readers in English and Spanish.

Professional development for assessment and intervention programs

Amplify professional development (PD) provides learning experiences that intentionally develop the knowledge and skills you need for effective and self-sustaining implementation.

Learn how to administer and score your assessment and develop a deeper understanding of reporting and instruction by investing in professional development.

Professional Learning Partner Guide Certified Provider

Amplify professional development has been vetted by Rivet Education’s team through a rigorous three-step process and is listed in the Professional Learning Partner Guide.

A teacher talks to a student at a desk; two other students, a boy and a girl, are shown smiling and sitting at desks in separate portraits.

About Amplify PD

Change is more likely to stick and get results if you take a systemic approach. Partner with us to do just that by developing a learning plan that will drive your program implementation, enrich your instructional practices, and increase student impact.

Amplify’s professional development is designed to ensure successful, sustained implementation of our programs. Sessions are strategically bundled to provide continuous support, adapting to your K–8 educators’ evolving needs throughout the year.

Four circular icons in a row showing a lightbulb, pencil, whiteboard, and podium, connected by arrows in a cycle, representing stages of a process.

Prepare

Begin

Practice

Advance

Program-agnostic sessions will set up educators for success in areas such as the Science of Reading and/or problem-based approaches to math.

Program-aligned packages will support those who are new to Amplify’s programs.

Program-aligned packages will support those who have experience using Amplify’s programs.

Offerings will support advanced implementation, build capacity for instructional leaders, certify in-house trainers to deliver Launch sessions, and more.

Our packages include:

  • Launch sessions: Propel your teachers into the new school year by introducing them to their Amplify program, laying a strong foundation for effective implementation.
  • Strengthen sessions: Enhance implementation with mid-year sessions that target specific instructional practices, providing the support needed to enhance program efficacy.
  • Coach sessions: Provide tailored guidance and support for educators and leaders to address specific needs, refining and advancing their instructional practices.

About Amplify assessment and intervention programs

Amplify’s high-quality programs make it easier for K–8 educators to teach inspiring, impactful lessons that celebrate and develop the brilliance of their students. Equipped with tools that provide robust scaffolding and differentiated instruction, assessment, and intervention, educators gain real-time insights and can provide personalized, actionable plans that support every learner.

Learn how to get the most out of your assessment and intervention program(s) through Amplify’s PD.

Assessment

  • mCLASS® DIBELS® 8th Edition (grades K–8)
  • mCLASS Lectura (grades K–6)
  • mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura biliteracy
  • mCLASS Math (grades K–8)

Intervention

  • mCLASS Intervention

We provide PD sessions for all Amplify programs. Contact your account executive to discuss the extended catalog of PD session options or request a quote.

mCLASS Assessments

We’ve created professional development offerings that will help you meet your unique needs this school year. Explore the Begin and Practice packages available for mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS Math (K–8) by selecting the session titles to learn more.

Please note that mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura biliteracy sessions are currently unavailable for the Hybrid 4 and Virtual 4 packages.

Begin packages for mCLASS Literacy

Assessment programs

  On-site package
(9 hours)
Hybrid 9 package
(9 hours)
Hybrid 4 package
(4 hours)
Virtual 9 package
(9 hours)
Virtual 4 package
(4 hours)
  One Launch and Strengthen session per package
Launch sessions
  On-site
6 hr.
On-site or virtual 3 hr. On-site
3 hr.
Virtual
6 hr.
(2 half-days)
Virtual
3 hr.
Administration and instruction essentials for K–8 teachers A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.  
Administration and scoring training for K–8 teachers
    A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Administration and reporting training for K–8 leaders     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
      Virtual
1 hr.
  Virtual
1 hr.
NEW: mCLASS additional assessment measures training for K–3 teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
NEW: mCLASS Español assessment measures training for K–3 teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
NEW: mCLASS/mCLASS Español additional assessment measures training for K–3 teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Strengthen sessions
  On-site
3 hr.
Virtual 
3 hr.
Virtual
1 hr.
Virtual 
3 hr.
Virtual 
1 hr.
Creating a data-driven classroom for K–8 teachers A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.  
Building a data-driven culture for K–8 leaders A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.  
Assessing with fidelity for K–8 teachers
    A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Reporting and instruction basics for K–8 teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Goal setting and growth outcomes for K–8 teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Progress monitoring for K–8 teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Reporting basics for K–8 leaders
    A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.

*Assessment Strengthen sessions should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed for participants to work with their own data.

Add-on
  On-site or virtual,
3 hr.
On-site,
6 hr.
Self-paced,
online course
Coach session for individual teachers, grade-level teams, PLCs, and/or instructional leaders A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.  
mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura: Administration and instruction essentials training for teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition: Calibration training for teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition: Transition training for DDS teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.

Begin: Launch: Administration and instruction essentials for K–8 teachers


On-site or virtual, 6 hours

Dive into the essentials of your mCLASS assessment program. Learn how to administer and score the assessment(s) and leave ready to leverage mCLASS reports and lessons to accelerate data-driven student outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Launch: Administration and scoring training for K–8 teachers

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Learn how to administer and score your mCLASS assessment(s) and leave ready to collect data using standardized guidelines.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6)

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Launch: Administration and reporting training for K–8 leaders

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Prepare to implement your assessment program(s) at your school site(s). Determine systems-level actions that will ensure assessment fidelity and leave ready to leverage key admin reports to support data-informed decisions.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English only.

Available July 2026

Begin: Launch: mCLASS additional assessment measures training for K–3 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Participants will dive into the essentials of mCLASS Spelling, RAN, Vocabulary, and/or Oral Language and leave ready to administer the assessment to collect data using standardized guidelines.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–3)

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Available July 2026

Begin: Launch: mCLASS Español assessment measures training for K–3 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Participants will dive into the essentials of mCLASS Spelling Español, Vocabulary Español, and/or Oral Language Español and leave ready to administer the assessment to collect data using standardized guidelines.

Session options: mCLASS Lectura (K–3)

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English.

Available July 2026

Begin: Launch: mCLASS/mCLASS Español additional assessment measures training for K–3 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Participants will dive into the essentials of mCLASS Spelling/Spelling Español, RAN, Vocabulary/Vocabulary Español, and/or Oral Language/Oral Language Español and leave ready to administer the assessment to collect data using standardized guidelines.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–3) and mCLASS Lectura (K–3)

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Strengthen: Creating a data-driven classroom for K–8 teachers

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Dive deep into mCLASS reports and instructional recommendations to drive stronger student outcomes in your classroom. You will leave ready to leverage mCLASS progress monitoring and grouping tools to support a robust MTSS program.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Strengthen: Building a data-driven culture for K–8 leaders

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Cultivate a schoolwide culture of data-driven practices. Use mCLASS reports to drill into key school-level data and leave with a systems-level action plan to drive stronger student and teacher outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English only.

Begin: Strengthen Focus: Assessing with fidelity for K–8 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Fortify your assessment administration with trainer-led practice targeted to your unique needs.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Strengthen Focus: Reporting and instruction basics for K–8 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Learn how to use mCLASS classroom reporting, instructional tools, and resources to accelerate data-driven student outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Strengthen Focus: Goal setting and growth outcomes for K–8 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Learn how to use mCLASS Zones of Growth (Zonas de crecimiento for mCLASS Lectura) reports to set meaningful, ambitious, and attainable student goals that drive student progress and growth.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Strengthen Focus: Progress monitoring for K–8 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Implement mCLASS progress monitoring and MTSS best practices to track student progress and accelerate growth.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Strengthen Focus: Reporting basics for K–8 leaders

Examine your school-level mCLASS benchmark assessment data to identify key levers for improving student outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English only.

Coach session

On-site, 6 hours or virtual, 3 hours

Coach sessions focus on building internal school and district capacity and leadership excellence to accelerate data-driven student outcomes for teachers using mCLASS. Coaching is customized to meet a school or district’s needs and can include observations, modeling, real-time coaching, and/or co-planning.

Audience: Individual teachers, grade-level teams, PLCs, and/or instructional leaders (maximum 30 participants)

mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura: Administration and instruction essentials for teachers

Online course, self-paced

Dive into the essentials of your mCLASS assessment program through this on-demand course. Learn how to administer and score the assessment and leave ready to leverage mCLASS reports and lessons to accelerate data-driven student outcomes.

Upon finishing the course, participants can download a certificate of completion. This subscription includes an individual seat to the course, which takes approximately 8 hours to complete. Participants will be able to access and revisit the course as needed for up to one year.

Course options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition, mCLASS Lectura

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (individual seat)

Available July 2026

mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition: Calibration training course for teachers

Online course, self-paced

Ensure accuracy and reliability of mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition test administration through this on-demand course. Review how to administer and score each teacher-administered measure, then calibrate your scoring through scoring mastery checks.

Upon finishing the course, participants can download a certificate of completion. This subscription includes an individual seat to the course, which takes approximately 1–3 hours to complete, depending on learner needs. Participants will be able to access and revisit the course as needed for up to one year.

Course options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (individual seat)

mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition: Transition training course for DDS teachers

Online course, self-paced

Prepare to administer and score the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment in the mCLASS platform through this on-demand course. Learn the essentials of your mCLASS assessment program and leave ready to leverage mCLASS reports and lessons to accelerate data-driven student outcomes.

Upon finishing the course, participants can download a certificate of completion. This subscription includes an individual seat to the course, which takes approximately 8 hours to complete. Participants will be able to access and revisit the course as needed for up to one year.

Course options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (individual seat)

Begin packages for mCLASS Math 2nd Edition

Assessment programs

  On-site package
(6 hours)
Hybrid 6 package
(6 hours)
Hybrid 4 package
(4 hours)
Virtual 6 package
(6 hours)
Virtual 4 package
(4 hours)
  One Launch and Strengthen session per package
Launch sessions
  On-site
3 hr.
On-site
6 hr.
On-site
3 hr.
Virtual
3 hr.
Virtual
3 hr.
mCLASS Math 2nd Edition: Program overview for K–5 or 6–8 teachers A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
NEW: mCLASS Math 2nd Edition: Program overview for K–8 leaders A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Strengthen sessions
  On-site
3 hr.
Virtual 
3 hr.
Virtual
1 hr.
Virtual 
3 hr.
Virtual 
1 hr.
mCLASS Math 2nd Edition: Student thinking and instructional next steps for K–5 or 68 teachers A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.  
mCLASS Math 2nd Edition: Leveraging assessment data to strengthen mathematical explanations for K–5 teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
mCLASS Math and Boost Math: Understanding and using data to plan intervention for K–5 or 6–8 teachers A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.  
Add-on
mCLASS Math 2nd Edition: Program overview and instructional next steps course for K–5 teachers

Self-paced online course
mCLASS Math 2nd Edition: Program overview and instructional next steps course for 6–8 teachers

Self-paced online course

New

Begin: mCLASS Math: Program overview for K–5 or 6–8 teachers

Available for grades 6–8 teachers July 2026

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Dive into the essentials of your mCLASS Math assessment program. Learn how these assessments both highlight students’ strengths and help identify what’s next through an asset-based approach. Leave ready to administer assessments and understand reporting.

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

New

Begin: mCLASS Math: Program overview for K–5 or 6–8 leaders

Available for grades K–5 and grades 6–8 leaders July 2026

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Prepare to implement your mCLASS Math assessment program at your school site(s). Determine systems-level actions that will ensure successful assessment administration and leave ready to leverage key admin reports to support data-informed decisions.

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

New

Begin: mCLASS Math: Student thinking and instructional next steps for grades K–5 teachers

Available for grades 6–8 teachers Oct. 2026

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Explore how mCLASS Math helps determine what students know in relation to grade-level content, and how to use data to inform instructional next steps that support, strengthen, and stretch student thinking. Dig into your own student data and leave with actionable next steps that connect directly to the ways your students are thinking about mathematics.

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

New

Begin: mCLASS Math + Boost Math: Understanding and using data to plan intervention for grades K–5 or 6–8 teachers

Available for grades K–5 teachers July 2026 and grades 6–8 teachers Oct. 2026

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Explore how Boost Math uses mCLASS Math data to inform intervention recommendations and monitor student progress. Dig into your student data, explore relevant instructional resources, and leave with actionable next steps for intervention.

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

New

Begin: Strengthen Focus: mCLASS Math: Leveraging assessment data to strengthen mathematical explanations for grades K–5 or 6–8 teachers

Available for grades K–5 teachers July 2026 and grades 6–8 teachers Oct. 2026

Virtual, 1 hour

Dig into mCLASS Math to reveal what students understand about mathematical concepts and give them the tools to become more clear and confident communicators in math class.

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Available July 2026

Begin: mCLASS Math 2nd Edition: Program overview and instructional next steps for grades K–5 teachers

Online course, self-paced

Through this self-paced, on-demand online course, participants will dive into the essentials of mCLASS Math K–5 and leave ready to administer the assessment, understand reporting, and take instructional next steps based on the data.

Upon finishing the course, participants can download a certificate of completion. This subscription includes an individual seat to the course, which takes approximately six hours to complete. Participants will be able to access and revisit the course as needed for up to one year.

Course options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (individual seat)

Available July 2026

Begin: mCLASS Math 2nd Edition: Program overview and instructional next steps for grades 6–8 teachers

Online course, self-paced

Through this self-paced, on-demand online course, participants will dive into the essentials of mCLASS Math 6–8 and leave ready to administer the assessment, understand reporting, and take instructional next steps based on the data.

Upon finishing the course, participants can download a certificate of completion. This subscription includes an individual seat to the course, which takes approximately six hours to complete. Participants will be able to access and revisit the course as needed for up to one year.

Course options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (individual seat)

Practice packages for mCLASS Literacy

  On-site package
(6 hours)
Virtual 6 package
(6 hours)
Virtual 4 package
(4 hours)
Virtual 2 package
(2 hours)
Two Strengthen sessions per package
Strengthen session titles*
  On-site
3 hr.
Virtual
3 hr.
Virtual
3 hr. and 1 hr.
Virtual
1 hr.
Creating a data-driven classroom for K–8 teachers A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.  
Building a data-driven culture for K–8 leaders A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.  
Assessing with fidelity for K–8 teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Reporting and instruction basics for K–8 teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Progress monitoring for K–8 teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Goal setting and growth outcomes for K–8 teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
Reporting basics for K–8 leaders      A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
NEW: mCLASS DIBELS 8 additional assessment measures training for K–8 teachers       A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
NEW: mCLASS Español assessment measures training for K–8 teachers       A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
NEW: mCLASS DIBELS 8 and mCLASS Lectura additional assessment measures training for K–8 teachers       A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.

*Assessment Strengthen sessions should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed for participants to work with their own data.

Add-on
  On-site or virtual, 3 hr. On-site, 6 hr. Self-paced, online course
Coach session for individual teachers, grade-level teams, PLCs, and/or instructional leaders A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.  
mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and Amplify CKLA 3rd Edition: Data-driven instruction for K–5 teachers A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.    
mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura: Administration and instruction essentials training for teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition: Calibration training for teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.
mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition: Transition training for DDS teachers     A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.

Practice: Creating a data-driven classroom for K–8 teachers

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Dive deep into mCLASS reports and instructional recommendations to drive stronger student outcomes in your classroom. You will leave ready to leverage mCLASS progress monitoring and grouping tools to support a robust MTSS program.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Practice: Building a data-driven culture for K–8 leaders

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Cultivate a schoolwide culture of data-driven practices. Use mCLASS reports to drill into key school-level data and leave with a systems-level action plan to drive stronger student and teacher outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English only.

Practice: Strengthen Focus: Assessing with fidelity for K–8 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Fortify your mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition assessment administration with trainer-led practice targeted to your unique needs.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Practice: Strengthen Focus: Reporting and instruction basics for K–8 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Learn how to use mCLASS classroom reporting, instructional tools, and resources to accelerate data-driven student outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Practice: Strengthen Focus: Progress monitoring for K–8 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Implement mCLASS progress monitoring and MTSS best practices to track student progress and accelerate growth.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Practice: Goal setting and growth outcomes for K–8 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Learn how to use mCLASS Zones of Growth (Zonas de crecimiento for mCLASS Lectura) reports to set meaningful, ambitious, and attainable student goals that drive student progress and growth.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Practice: Reporting basics for K–8 leaders

Virtual, 1 hour

Examine your school-level mCLASS benchmark assessment data to identify key levers for improving student outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8), mCLASS Lectura (K–6), and/or mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition/Lectura

Audience: Leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English.

Available July 2026

Practice: Strengthen Focus: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition additional assessment measures training for K–8 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Participants will dive into the essentials of mCLASS Spelling, RAN, Vocabulary, and/or Oral Language and leave ready to administer the assessment to collect data using standardized guidelines.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8)

Audience: Leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Available July 2026

Practice: Strengthen Focus: mCLASS Español assessment measures training for K–8 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Participants will dive into the essentials of mCLASS Spelling Español, Vocabulary Español, and/or Oral Language Español and leave ready to administer the assessment to collect data using standardized guidelines.

Session options: mCLASS Lectura (K–6)

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English.

Available July 2026

Practice: Strengthen Focus: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura additional assessment measures training for K–8 teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Participants will dive into the essentials of mCLASS Spelling/Spelling Español, RAN, Vocabulary/Vocabulary Español, and/or Oral Language/Oral Language Español and leave ready to administer the assessment to collect data using standardized guidelines.

Session options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition (K–8) and mCLASS Lectura (K–6)

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Add on: Coach session

On-site, 6 hours or virtual, 3 hours

Coach sessions focus on building internal school and district capacity and leadership excellence to accelerate data-driven student outcomes for teachers using mCLASS. Coaching is customized to meet a school or district’s needs and can include observations, modeling, real-time coaching, and/or co-planning.

Audience: Individual teachers, grade-level teams, PLCs, and/or instructional leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Available October 2026

Add on: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and Amplify CKLA 3rd Edition: Data-driven instruction for K–5 teachers

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Dive deep into mCLASS reports and instructional recommendations to drive instructional decisions in Amplify CKLA and stronger student outcomes in your classroom. You will leave ready to leverage mCLASS progress monitoring and grouping tools to support a robust Multi-Tiered System of Supports program with Amplify CKLA as your core instruction.

Course options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and Amplify CKLA 3rd Edition

Audience: K–2 or 3–5 teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Add on: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura: Administration and instruction essentials for teachers

Online course, self-paced

Dive into the essentials of your mCLASS assessment program through this on-demand course. Learn how to administer and score the assessment and leave ready to leverage mCLASS reports and lessons to accelerate data-driven student outcomes.

Upon finishing the course, participants can download a certificate of completion. This subscription includes an individual seat to the course, which takes approximately eight hours to complete. Participants will be able to access and revisit the course as needed for up to one year.

Course options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition, mCLASS Lectura

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (individual seat)

Available July 2026

Add on: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition: Calibration training course for teachers

Online course, self-paced

Ensure accuracy and reliability of mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition test administration through this on-demand course. Review how to administer and score each teacher-administered measure, then calibrate your scoring through scoring mastery checks.

Upon finishing the course, participants can download a certificate of completion. This subscription includes an individual seat to the course, which takes approximately 1–3 hours to complete, depending on learner needs. Participants will be able to access and revisit the course as needed for up to one year.

Course options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (individual seat)

Available July 2026

Add on: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition: Transition training course for DDS teachers

Online course, self-paced

Prepare to administer and score the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment in the mCLASS platform through this on-demand course. Learn the essentials of your mCLASS assessment program and leave ready to leverage mCLASS reports and lessons to accelerate data-driven student outcomes.

Upon finishing the course, participants can download a certificate of completion. This subscription includes an individual seat to the course, which takes approximately eight hours to complete. Participants will be able to access and revisit the course as needed for up to one year.

Course options: mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (individual seat)

Amplify intervention PD sessions

Each intervention program offers Launch and Coach sessions for up to 30 participants per program for year one and beyond. Our interactive sessions are available on-site or virtually, empowering teachers and leaders anywhere with the tools and skills they need to inspire all students to think deeply, creatively, and for themselves.

mCLASS Intervention

mCLASS Intervention is a staff-led Tier 2 and Tier 3 reading intervention program that does the heavy lifting of data analysis and lesson sequencing, freeing up teachers to teach the reading skills each student needs. View the table and select the session title to learn more about each mCLASS Intervention PD session.

  On-site or virtual sessions
6 hr.
Self-paced course
Launch sessions
Initial training for K–6 interventionists and intervention coordinators A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background.  
Initial training for K–6 interventionists and intervention coordinators   A large, light peach-colored checkmark on a transparent background. 

Coach sessions

  On-site sessions
6 hr.
On-site or virtual sessions
3 hr.
Coach session
 
Coach session
 

Launch

Propel your teachers into the new school year with sessions that introduce them to their Amplify program(s) and support a strong implementation.

Initial training for K–6 interventionists and intervention coordinators

On-site or virtual, 6 hours

In part 1 of this training, interventionists and intervention coordinators will prepare to deliver mCLASS Intervention lessons and learn how to administer the diagnostic and progress monitoring measures. In part 2, intervention coordinators will learn the essentials of coordinating mCLASS Intervention and leave ready to implement the program at their school site.

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff, intervention coordinators (maximum 30 participants)

Initial training course for K–6 interventionists and intervention coordinators

Online course, self-paced

Prepare to deliver mCLASS Intervention lessons and learn how to administer the diagnostic and progress monitoring measures through this on-demand course. Intervention coordinators will additionally learn the essentials of coordinating mCLASS Intervention to support implementation at their school site.

Upon finishing the course, participants can download a certificate of completion. This subscription includes an individual seat to the course, which takes approximately three hours to complete. Participants will be able to access and revisit the course as needed for up to one year.

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (individual seat)

Coach

Support teachers and leaders with learning experiences tailored to meet their specific needs.

Coach session

On-site, 6 hours

Coach sessions focus on building internal school and district capacity and leadership excellence to accelerate data-driven student outcomes for teachers using mCLASS Intervention. Coaching is customized to meet a school or district’s needs and can include observations, modeling, real-time coaching, and/or co-planning.

Audience: Individual teachers, grade-level teams, PLCs, and/or instructional leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Coach session

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Coach sessions focus on building internal school and district capacity and leadership excellence to accelerate data-driven student outcomes for teachers using mCLASS Intervention. Coaching is customized to meet a school or district’s needs and can include observations, modeling, real-time coaching, and/or co-planning.

Audience: Individual teachers, grade-level teams, PLCs, and/or instructional leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Additional assessment and intervention programs

Additional sessions and online courses are also available for other mCLASS programs (Paper DIBELS 8th Edition and mCLASS Intervention Universal).

To learn more about enhancing your Amplify experience by purchasing other mCLASS programs and/or accompanying PD sessions, please contact your account executive.

Contact us

Professional development for assessment and intervention programs

Amplify professional development (PD) provides learning experiences that intentionally develop the knowledge and skills you need for effective and self-sustaining implementation.

Learn how to administer and score your assessment and develop a deeper understanding of reporting and instruction by investing in professional development.

Amplify professional development has been vetted by Rivet Education’s team through a rigorous three-step process and is listed in the Professional Learning Partner Guide.

About Amplify PD

Change is more likely to stick and get results if you take a systemic approach. As our partner, you’ll develop a learning plan that will drive your program implementation, enrich your instructional practices, and increase student impact.

Amplify’s professional development is designed to ensure successful, sustained implementation of our programs. Through strategically bundled packages, our PD sessions provide continuous support that adapts to your educators’ evolving needs.


Prepare

Begin

Practice

Advance
Program-agnostic sessions will set up educators for success in areas such as the Science of Reading and/or problem-based approaches to math. Program-aligned packages will support those who are new to Amplify’s programs. Program-aligned packages will support those who have experience using Amplify’s programs. Offerings will support advanced implementation, build capacity for instructional leaders, certify in-house trainers to deliver Launch sessions, and more.

Our packages include:

  • Launch sessions: Propel your teachers into the new school year by introducing them to their Amplify program, laying a strong foundation for effective implementation.
  • Strengthen sessions: Boost implementation with mid-year sessions that target specific instructional practices, providing the support needed to enhance program efficacy.
  • Coach sessions: Provide tailored guidance and support for educators and leaders to address specific needs, refining and advancing their instructional practices.

About mCLASS Texas® assessment PD packages:

  • Begin packages: Ideal for the first year of implementation, these packages help educators transition to evidence-based practices. Each package includes Launch and Strengthen sessions to set the foundation and support the initial phases of program adoption.
    • Format options: On-site, Hybrid, Virtual
    • Components: One Launch session introduces and supports a strong implementation and one Strengthen session deepens understanding of the program.
  • Practice packages: Designed for the second year of implementation and beyond, these packages deepen educators’ knowledge and refine their practice. They focus on continuous improvement, using data to drive instructional decisions and enhance student outcomes.
    • Format options: On-site, Hybrid, Virtual
    • Components: Two Strengthen sessions expand practice and drive outcomes. We recommend enhancement Coach sessions for ongoing support and addressing customized needs.

About mCLASS Intervention PD sessions:

  • Each intervention program offers Launch and Coach sessions for up to 30 participants per program for year one and beyond.
  • Our interactive sessions are available on-site or virtually, empowering teachers and leaders anywhere with the tools and skills they need to inspire all students to think deeply, creatively, and for themselves.

About Amplify assessment and intervention programs

Amplify’s high-quality programs make it easier for educators to teach inspiring, impactful lessons that celebrate and develop the brilliance of their students. Empowering teachers with tools to provide robust scaffolding and differentiated instruction, assessment, and intervention programs take the hassle and guesswork out of assessments with real-time, actionable plans personalized for every learner.

Learn how to get the most out of your assessment and intervention program(s) through Amplify’s PD.

Assessment

  • mCLASS Texas
  • mCLASS Lectura Texas
  • mCLASS Texas + Lectura

Intervention

  • mCLASS Intervention

We provide PD sessions for all Amplify programs. Contact your account executive to discuss the extended catalog of PD session options or request a quote.

mCLASS Texas Assessments

We’ve created professional development offerings that will help you meet your unique needs this school year. Explore the Begin and Practice packages available for mCLASS Texas Edition and mCLASS Lectura Texas by selecting the session titles to learn more.

Please note that mCLASS Texas and mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy sessions are currently unavailable for the Hybrid 4 and Virtual 4 packages.

Begin packages

Assessment programs

  On-site package
(9 hours)
Hybrid 9 package
(9 hours)
Hybrid 4 package
(4 hours)
Virtual 9 package
(9 hours)
Virtual 4 package
(4 hours)
  One Launch and Strengthen session per package
Launch sessions
  On-site
6 hr.
On-site
6 hr.
On-site
3 hr.
Virtual
6 hr.
(2 half-days)
Virtual
3 hr.
Administration and instruction essentials for teachers    
Administration and scoring training for teachers
     
Administration and reporting training for leaders      
Strengthen sessions
  On-site
3 hr.
Virtual 
3 hr.
Virtual
1 hr.
Virtual 
3 hr.
Virtual 
1 hr.
Creating a data-driven classroom for teachers    
Building a data-driven culture for leaders    
Assessing with fidelity for teachers
     
Reporting and instruction basics for teachers      
Goal setting and growth outcomes for teachers      
Progress monitoring for teachers      
Reporting basics for leaders
     

*Assessment Strengthen sessions should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed for participants to work with their own data.

  Coach session
Suggested enhancements

On-site On-site or virtual
6 hr. 3 hr.

Begin: Administration and instruction essentials for teachers

On-site or virtual, 6 hours

Dive into the essentials of your mCLASS Texas assessment program. Learn how to administer and score the assessment and leave ready to leverage mCLASS Texas reports and lessons to accelerate data-driven student outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Administration and scoring training for teachers

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Learn how to administer and score your mCLASS Texas assessment(s) and leave ready to collect data using standardized guidelines.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Administration and reporting training for leaders

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Prepare to implement your assessment program(s) at your school site(s). Determine systems-level actions that will ensure assessment fidelity and leave ready to leverage key admin reports to support data-informed decisions.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English only.

Begin: Creating a data-driven classroom for teachers

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Dive deep into mCLASS Texas reports and instructional recommendations to drive stronger student outcomes in your classroom. You will leave ready to leverage mCLASS Texas progress monitoring and grouping tools to support a robust MTSS program.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Building a data-driven culture for leaders

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Cultivate a schoolwide culture of data-driven practices. Use mCLASS Texas reports to drill into key school-level data and leave with a systems-level action plan to drive stronger student and teacher outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English only.

Begin: Strengthen Focus: Assessing with fidelity for teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Fortify your assessment administration with trainer-led practice targeted to your unique needs.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Strengthen Focus: Reporting and instruction basics for teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Learn how to use mCLASS Texas classroom reporting, instructional tools, and resources to accelerate data-driven student outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Strengthen Focus: Goal setting and growth outcomes for teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Learn how to use mCLASS Texas Zones of Growth (Zonas de crecimiento for mCLASS Lectura) reports to set meaningful, ambitious, and attainable student goals that drive student progress and growth.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Strengthen Focus: Progress monitoring for teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Implement mCLASS progress monitoring and MTSS best practices to track student progress and accelerate growth.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Begin: Strengthen Focus: Reporting basics for leaders

Virtual, 1 hour

Examine your school-level mCLASS benchmark assessment data to identify key levers for improving student outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English only.

Practice packages

  On-site package
(6 hours)
Virtual 6 package
(6 hours)
Virtual 4 package
(4 hours)
Virtual 2 package
(2 hours)
Two Strengthen sessions per package
Strengthen session titles*
  On-site
3 hr.
Virtual
3 hr.
Virtual
3 hr. and 1 hr.
Virtual
1 hr.
Creating a data-driven classroom for teachers  
Building a data-driven culture for leaders
 
Assessing with fidelity for teachers    
Reporting and instruction basics for teachers    
Progress monitoring for teachers
   
Goal setting and growth outcomes for teachers
   
Reporting basics for leaders     

*Assessment Strengthen sessions should be scheduled after the most recent benchmark window has closed for participants to work with their own data.

  Coach session
Suggested enhancements

On-site   On-site or virtual
6 hr.   3 hr.

Practice: Creating a data-driven classroom for teachers

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Dive deep into mCLASS Texas reports and instructional recommendations to drive stronger student outcomes in your classroom. You will leave ready to leverage mCLASS Texas progress monitoring and grouping tools to support a robust MTSS program.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Practice: Building a data-driven culture for leaders

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Cultivate a schoolwide culture of data-driven practices. Use mCLASS Texas reports to drill into key school-level data and leave with a systems-level action plan to drive stronger student and teacher outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English only.

Practice: Strengthen Focus: Assessing with fidelity for teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Fortify your mCLASS Texas Edition assessment administration with trainer-led practice targeted to your unique needs.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Practice: Strengthen Focus: Reporting and instruction basics for teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Learn how to use mCLASS Texas classroom reporting, instructional tools, and resources to accelerate data-driven student outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Practice: Strengthen Focus: Progress monitoring for teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Implement mCLASS Texas progress monitoring and MTSS best practices to track student progress and accelerate growth.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

New session for mCLASS Lectura Texas and mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Practice: Goal setting and growth outcomes for teachers

Virtual, 1 hour

Learn how to use mCLASS Texas Zones of Growth (Zonas de crecimiento for mCLASS Lectura Texas) reports to set meaningful, ambitious, and attainable student goals that drive student progress and growth.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English or Spanish.

Practice: Reporting basics for leaders

Virtual, 1 hour

Examine your school-level mCLASS Texas benchmark assessment data to identify key levers for improving student outcomes.

Session options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Texas + Lectura biliteracy

Audience: Leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Language: The mCLASS Lectura Texas session is facilitated in English.

Amplify intervention PD sessions

Intervention programs

Each intervention program offers Launch and Coach sessions for up to 30 participants per program for year one and beyond.

mCLASS Texas Intervention

mCLASS Intervention is a staff-led Tier 2 and Tier 3 reading intervention program that does the heavy lifting of data analysis and lesson sequencing, freeing up teachers to teach the reading skills each student needs. View the table and select the session title to learn more about each mCLASS Intervention PD session.

  On-site or virtual sessions
3 hr.
Self-paced course
Launch sessions
Program overview for interventionists  
Program overview for intervention coordinators  
Program overview course for interventionists    

Coach sessions

  On-site sessions
6 hr.
On-site or virtual sessions
3 hr.
Coach session
 
Coach session
 

Launch

Propel your teachers into the new school year with sessions that introduce them to their Amplify program(s) and support a strong implementation.

Program overview for interventionists

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Prepare to deliver mCLASS Intervention lessons and learn how to administer the diagnostic and progress monitoring measures.

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (maximum 30 participants)

Program overview for intervention coordinators

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Intervention coordinators will learn the essentials of coordinating mCLASS Intervention and leave ready to implement the program at their school site.

Audience: Intervention coordinators (maximum 30 participants)

Program overview for interventionists

Online course, self-paced

Prepare to deliver mCLASS Intervention lessons and learn how to administer the diagnostic and progress monitoring measures through this on-demand course. This subscription includes an individual seat to the course, which takes approximately 3 hours to complete. Participants will be able to access and revisit the course as needed for up to one year.

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (individual seat)

Coach

Support teachers and leaders with learning experiences tailored to meet their specific needs.

Coach session

On-site, 6 hours

Coach sessions focus on building internal school and district capacity and leadership excellence to accelerate data-driven student outcomes for teachers using mCLASS Intervention. Coaching is customized to meet a school or district’s needs and can include observations, modeling, real-time coaching, and/or co-planning.

Audience: Individual teachers, grade-level teams, PLCs, and/or instructional leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Coach session

On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Coach sessions focus on building internal school and district capacity and leadership excellence to accelerate data-driven student outcomes for teachers using mCLASS Intervention. Coaching is customized to meet a school or district’s needs and can include observations, modeling, real-time coaching, and/or co-planning.

Audience: Individual teachers, grade-level teams, PLCs, and/or instructional leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Enhancement options

Enhancement options are available for assessment programs such as:

  • mCLASS Texas
  • mCLASS Lectura Texas

Enhancements can be purchased for all teachers/leaders or a subset of educators.

Enhancement offerings for assessment programs

Add the following session to any assessment or intervention package.

  On-site
6 hr.
Virtual
6 hr.
On-site or virtual
3 hr.
Coach session for individual teachers, grade-level teams, PLCs, and/or instructional leaders
 

Coach session

On-site or virtual, 6 hours; On-site or virtual, 3 hours

Coach sessions focus on building internal school and district capacity and leadership excellence to accelerate data-driven student outcomes for teachers using mCLASS Texas. Coaching is customized to meet a school or district’s needs and can include observations, modeling, real-time coaching, and/or co-planning.

Audience: Individual teachers, grade-level teams, PLCs, and/or instructional leaders (maximum 30 participants)

Online courses

Launch online courses are available for the following assessment programs:

  • mCLASS Texas
  • mCLASS Lectura Texas

Please view the table below for more information.

Online courses for assessment programs

  Self-paced
Online course

Administration and instruction essentials for teachers

Administration and instruction essentials for teachers

Online course, self-paced

Dive into the essentials of your mCLASS Texas assessment program through this on-demand course. Learn how to administer and score the assessment and leave ready to leverage mCLASS Texas reports and lessons to accelerate data-driven student outcomes. This subscription includes an individual seat to the course, which takes approximately 8 hours to complete. Participants will be able to access and revisit the course as needed for up to one year.

Course options: mCLASS Texas, mCLASS Lectura Texas, and/or mCLASS Math

Audience: Teachers, instructional staff (individual seat)

Additional assessment and intervention programs

Additional sessions and online courses are available for other mCLASS programs (mCLASS Express, mCLASS Math, and mCLASS Intervention Universal).

To learn more about enhancing your Amplify experience by purchasing other mCLASS Texas programs and/or accompanying PD sessions, contact your account executive.

Contact us

We’re here to provide answers and guidance as you explore your PD options. Fill out the form to connect with us and discover how Amplify PD can enhance your educational journey.

Students take on the role of a scientist or engineer every day.

Amplify Science is a blended curriculum developed to align with the New York City PK–8 Science Scope and Sequence that meets the New York State Science Learning Standards.

Amplify Science for grades K–8 has been rated all-green by EdReports.

Read the review on EdReports.

Check out the New York City Resource Site for supporting resources designed for the New York City Department of Education Amplify Science adoption for grades K–8.

An illustration of a whale with jellyfish and turtles from Amplify Science

Begin your review

What sets Amplify Science apart?

  • Aligned to the New York City PK–8 Science Scope and Sequence, and meets New York State Science Learning Standards.
  • State-of-the-art, highly-engaging curriculum that invites students to take on the role of a scientist or engineer in every unit to solve relevant real-world problems.
  • Flexible, truly blended program that combines comprehensive print components and compelling online content with hands-on learning in every unit.
  • Robust teacher support for ease of use by a wide range of teachers in diverse classroom contexts, with carefully crafted lessons, standards alignment, differentiation strategies, and ELL supports throughout the program.
  • Embedded assessments throughout the program, including both formative and summative assessments for every grade level.
  • Authored by the industry-leading science curriculum team at U.C. Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science, who have 50 years of experience in K–12 science education and who will continue to enhance and update the program for years to come. To learn more about how the Lawrence Hall of Science collected research, designed the curriculum, and field tested the program with teachers, download our research base document.

The Amplify Science approach

The scope and sequence of the program is designed to show that scientific concepts are interconnected and multifaceted. Each unit focuses on a specific learning goal in the form of an overarching unit question. Rather than following linear steps in an experiment, the program leaves room for students to make connections across concepts and make their own discoveries. In this way, Amplify Science replicates the realities and ambiguities of scientific research and thinking.

Each course in Amplify Science K–5 consists of 3–4 units, with each unit containing 22 lessons. Each lesson in grades K and 1 is written for a 45-minute session, while lessons in grades 2–5 are written for 60-minute sessions. Teachers can always expand or contract the timing to fit their needs.

Each course in Amplify Science 6–8 consists of 7-9 units, with each core unit containing 19 lessons, each launch unit containing 11 lessons, and each engineering internship containing 10 lessons. Each lesson in grades 6–8 is written for a 45-minute session. Teachers can always expand or contract the timing to fit their needs..

Download the K–5 unit sequence

Download the 6–8 unit sequence

Components overview

Amplify Science blends physical materials with a suite of digital tools, presenting students with the resources they need to investigate real-world problems, and empowering and supporting teachers as they lead instruction and gain insight into student growth and progress.

Grades K–5

  • Student Investigation Notebooks (K–2) for every unit allow students to interact with content while taking notes, answering questions, and conducting investigations. Review a sample from the Grade 2 Plant and Animal Relationships unit.
  • Student Books enhance science topics and allow students to practice reading within the science content area.
  • Instructional materials for teachers. The Amplify Science curriculum website hosts all lesson content, media, digital simulations, and more, and is the primary tool “open” for teachers during class time. Print Teacher’s Guides are included. You can view complete unit samples by accessing the curriculum at the bottom of this page.
  • Robust digital simulations and digital applications, developed exclusively for the Amplify Science program. Supported devices include: iPad 3+, Chromebook, Windows PC, and MacBook.
  • Unit Kits for each unit in the program including consumable and nonconsumable hands-on materials, printed classroom display materials, and the students books.
  • Embedded formative and summative assessments are meant to support and guide student instruction.
  • Pacing guides have been developed for teachers to support the implementation of the program.

Grades 6–8

  • New York City Student Editions enhance science topics and allow students to practice reading within the science content area.
  • Special “NYC Companion Lessons” directly target the additional standards in NYSSLS not found in the NGSS.
  • Instructional materials for teachers. The Amplify Science curriculum website hosts all lesson content, media, digital simulations, and more, and is the primary tool “open” for teachers during class time. Print Teacher’s Guides are included. You can view complete unit samples by accessing the curriculum at the bottom of this page.
  • Robust digital simulations and digital applications, developed exclusively for the Amplify Science program. Supported devices include: iPad 3+, Chromebook, Windows PC, and MacBook.
  • Unit Kits for each unit in the program including consumable and nonconsumable hands-on materials and printed classroom display materials for 5 uses of a class of 40 students.
  • Embedded formative and summative assessments are meant to support and guide student instruction.
  • Pacing guides have been developed for teachers to support the implementation of the program.

Review grades K–5

Amplify Science K-5 is an elementary science curriculum that provides teachers with the tools and practices necessary to meet the expectations of the NYSED P–12 Science Learning Standards. The program also aligns to the new NYCDOE PK–8 Science Scope and Sequence. Learn more about Amplify Science K-5 by reviewing the following::

Click the orange button below to access the digital Teacher’s Guide and begin your review.

Review grades 6–8

Amplify Science 6–8 New York City Edition is a new blended curriculum developed to align to 100 percent of the New York City PK–8 Science Scope and Sequence 2018 that meets 100 percent of the New York State Science Learning Standards. Learn more about Amplify Science 6-8 New York City Edition by reviewing the following:

Click the orange button below to access the digital Teacher’s Guide and begin your review.

Watch an overview

Watch curriculum experts walk through the Amplify Science K–5 and 6–8 programs and share information on how you can start to make the shifts to the NGSS with a literacy-rich approach to science instruction.

Ready to order?

When you are ready to place an order for Amplify Science, please reference the ordering checklist on the Core Curriculum Ordering Guide, and then head to:

Welcome, Iowa reviewers!

Designed from the ground up for the NGSS to teach students to think, read, write, and argue like real scientists and engineers, Amplify Science combines literacy-rich activities with hands-on learning and digital tools to engage students in exploring compelling phenomena in every unit.

A badge for EdReports Review Year 2023, two students at a computer, two students discussing with a tablet, and an educational diagram of a spider on a screen.

A powerful partnership

Amplify Science was developed by the science education experts at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science and the digital learning team at Amplify.

Learn more about the Lawrence Hall of Science.

Grades K–5 overview

Each unit focuses on a specific learning goal in the form of an overarching unit question. Rather than following linear steps in an experiment, the program leaves room for students to make connections across concepts and make their own discoveries. In this way, Amplify Science replicates the realities and ambiguities of scientific research and thinking.

Amplify Science blends physical materials with a suite of digital tools, presenting students with the resources they need to investigate real-world problems, and empowering and supporting teachers as they lead instruction and gain insight into student growth and progress.

Student Investigation Notebooks for every unit allow students to interact with content while taking notes, answering questions, and conducting investigations. Review a sample from the Grade 2 Plant and Animal Relationships unit.

Student Books enhance science topics and allow students to practice reading within the science content area.

Instructional materials for teachers. The Amplify Science curriculum website hosts all lesson content, media, digital simulations, and more, and is the primary tool “open” for teachers during class time. You can view complete unit samples by accessing the curriculum at the bottom of this page.

Robust digital simulations (grades 4–5) and digital applications, developed exclusively for the Amplify Science program. Supported devices include: iPad 3+, Chromebook, Windows PC, and MacBook.

Unit kits for each unit in the program including consumable and nonconsumable hands-on materials, printed classroom display materials, and the students books.

Embedded formative and summative assessments are meant to support and guide student instruction.

Grades 6–8 overview

Each unit focuses on a specific learning goal in the form of an overarching unit question. Rather than following linear steps in an experiment, the program leaves room for students to make connections across concepts and make their own discoveries. In this way, Amplify Science replicates the realities and ambiguities of scientific research and thinking.

Amplify Science blends physical materials with a suite of digital tools, presenting students with the resources they need to investigate real-world problems, and empowering and supporting teachers as they lead instruction and gain insight into student growth and progress.

Student Investigation Notebooks for every unit allow students to interact with content while taking notes, answering questions, and conducting investigations. Review a sample from Metabolism.

Instructional materials for teachers. The Amplify Science curriculum website hosts all lesson content, media, digital simulations, and more, and is the primary tool “open” for teachers during class time. You can view complete unit samples by accessing the curriculum at the bottom of this page.

Robust digital simulations and digital applications, developed exclusively for the Amplify Science program. Supported devices include: iPad 3+, Chromebook, Windows PC, and MacBook.

Unit kits for each unit in the program including consumable and non-consumable hands-on materials, and printed classroom display materials.

Embedded formative and summative assessments are meant to support and guide student instruction.

Ready to look inside Amplify Science?

Contact

Tammy Tvetene
District Manager

Email: ttvetene@amplify.com
Phone: (314) 619-8846

Amplify Science

Amplify Science is Chicago Public Schools’ recommended K–8 core science instructional material. Looking for support ordering? Contact ScienceCPS@amplify.com or (855) 559-5757.

A powerful partnership

Amplify Science was developed by the science education experts at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science and the digital learning team at Amplify.

Learn more about the Lawrence Hall of Science.

Looking for pricing or ordering support? Email scienceCPS@amplify.com or call (855) 559-5757.

What sets Amplify Science apart?

  • Authored by the industry-leading science curriculum team at U.C. Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science, who have 50 years of experience in K–12 science education and who will continue to enhance and update the program for years to come
  • New curriculum built to meet 100% of the Next Generation Science Standards
  • State-of-the-art, highly engaging curriculum that invites students to take on the role of a scientist or engineer in every unit to solve relevant real-world problems
  • Flexible, truly blended program that combines comprehensive print components and compelling online content with hands-on learning in every unit
  • Robust teacher support for ease of use by a wide range of teachers in diverse classroom contexts, with carefully crafted lessons, standards alignment, differentiation strategies, and ELL supports throughout the program
  • Embedded assessments throughout the program, including both formative and summative assessments for every grade level

Grades K–5 overview

Each unit focuses on a specific learning goal in the form of an overarching unit question. Rather than following linear steps in an experiment, the program leaves room for students to make connections across concepts and make their own discoveries. In this way, Amplify Science replicates the realities and ambiguities of scientific research and thinking.

Learn more about the program structure
Download the K–5 unit sequence
NGSS correlations
Hear from K–5 teachers

Amplify Science blends physical materials with a suite of digital tools, presenting students with the resources they need to investigate real-world problems, and empowering and supporting teachers as they lead instruction and gain insight into student growth and progress.

  • Student Investigation Notebooks for every unit allow students to interact with content while taking notes, answering questions, and conducting investigations. Review a sample from the Grade 2 Plant and Animal Relationships unit.
  • Student Books enhance science topics and allow students to practice reading within the science content area.
  • Instructional materials for teachers. The Amplify Science curriculum website hosts all lesson content, media, digital simulations, and more, and is the primary tool “open” for teachers during class time. You can view complete unit samples by accessing the curriculum at the bottom of this page.
  • Robust digital simulations (grades 4–5) and digital applications, developed exclusively for the Amplify Science program. Supported devices include: iPad 3+, Chromebook, Windows PC, and MacBook.
  • Unit kits for each unit in the program including consumable and nonconsumable hands-on materials, printed classroom display materials, and the students books.
  • Embedded formative and summative assessments are meant to support and guide student instruction.

View an on-demand webinar.

Grades 6–8 overview

Each unit focuses on a specific learning goal in the form of an overarching unit question. Rather than following linear steps in an experiment, the program leaves room for students to make connections across concepts and make their own discoveries. In this way, Amplify Science replicates the realities and ambiguities of scientific research and thinking.

Beginning in school year 2018-19, Chicago Public Schools recommends that schools follow the integrated scope and sequence for middle school science. The decision to shift from discipline-specific to integrated science was informed by a group of 30 CPS middle school science teachers who served on an Advisory Team during school year 2017-18 as well as guidance from other state and national committees with expertise in implementing the Next Generation Science Standards. Amplify’s 6–8 curriculum and CPS’ 2018-19 REACH Performance Tasks align to the integrated scope and sequence.

Learn about the program structure
Download the 6–8 unit sequence
NGSS correlations
Learn about the flexible, blended program

Amplify Science blends physical materials with a suite of digital tools, presenting students with the resources they need to investigate real-world problems, and empowering and supporting teachers as they lead instruction and gain insight into student growth and progress.

  • Student Investigation Notebooks for every unit allow students to interact with content while taking notes, answering questions, and conducting investigations. Review a sample from Metabolism.
  • Instructional materials for teachers. The Amplify Science curriculum website hosts all lesson content, media, digital simulations, and more, and is the primary tool “open” for teachers during class time. You can view complete unit samples by accessing the curriculum at the bottom of this page.
  • Robust digital simulations and digital applications, developed exclusively for the Amplify Science program. Supported devices include: iPad 3+, Chromebook, Windows PC, and MacBook.
  • Unit kits for each unit in the program including consumable and nonconsumable hands-on materials, and printed classroom display materials.
  • Embedded formative and summative assessments are meant to support and guide student instruction.

View an on-demand webinar.

Science and literacy

The Amplify Science program capitalizes on the wealth of opportunities provided by science to learn about the world via reading and writing, and on the strong link between science and literacy practices. It is a core science program designed for three-dimensional learning and can also be considered a supplementary literacy program because it addresses the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts (ELA) related to disciplinary literacy.

Through its integration of literacy practices authentic to science, Amplify Science addresses the ELA Anchor Standards as well as the standards for Reading Informational Text, Writing, Listening/Speaking, and Language that are related to acquiring and using academic vocabulary. (Less discipline-specific reading standards, such as the “Reading: Foundational Skills” and “Reading: Literature,” fall outside the purview of the Amplify Science program. Please see each unit’s Overview of Standards and Goals for a list of which Common Core ELA standards are addressed in the program.)

The focus of literacy instruction in Amplify Science is on increasing students’ facility with reading informational text, engaging in scientific discussions, and writing scientific explanations and arguments. The program takes into account the specific needs of young students as they are learning to read, write, and discuss science concepts, but does not take full responsibility for teaching basic skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, or writing mechanics.

Learn more

Access and equity

Diversity in the science and engineering classroom is an asset. It offers countless opportunities for creativity and innovation and opens the door to multiple perspectives and cross-cultural understanding. Historically, however, certain groups of students — including ethnically diverse students, English learners, standard English learners, students with disabilities, girls and young women, foster children and youth, and students experiencing poverty — have not had equitable opportunities for intellectually stimulating, language-rich, and culturally relevant science and engineering education. The vision of the new standards is “all standards, all students.” Amplify Science is designed to fulfill this vision by providing quality and supportive materials for teachers so that every student — regardless of their background, where they live, the language they speak at home, or their learning characteristics — has access to and benefits from deep and engaging science and engineering learning opportunities. Two overarching conceptual frameworks informed Amplify Science’s approach to ensuring access and equity for all students: Universal Design for Learning and Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching.

Learn more

Start your review

Amplify Science is not a textbook. Each lesson in the program consists of a sequence of activities that engage students with a variety of materials, including scientific texts, hands-on materials, digital simulations, engaging media, formative and summative assessments, and so much more. Learn more about the grades K–8 program by reviewing the following pages:

Looking for support ordering?
ScienceCPS@amplify.com
(855) 559-5757

Winter Professional Learning Schedule for Chicago Public Schools

Ready to look inside Amplify Science?

Welcome, Idaho K-8 Science Reviewers!

Thank you for taking the time to review Amplify Science. On this site, you’ll find all the resources you need to learn more about this engaging and robust NGSS program. Below, you will also have the opportunity experience our program firsthand with a demo account to access the digital platform.

Amplify Science for grades K–8 has been rated all-green by EdReports. Read the review on EdReports.

Collage of educational settings: top left, two young girls using laptop in library; bottom right, middle school science project display on tablet; bottom left, two boys with tablet discussing.

Overview

With Amplify Science, students don’t just passively learn about science concepts. Instead, they take on the roles of scientists and engineers to actively investigate and make sense of real-world phenomena. They do this through a blend of cohesive and compelling storylines, hands-on investigations, collaborative discussions, literacy-rich activities, and interactive digital tools.

Listen to these educators share how the program empowers students to think, read, write, and argue like real scientists and engineers every day.

Grades K–5

Grades 6–8

Amplify Science Grades K-5 Tour for Idaho Educators

Amplify Science Grades 6-8 Tour for Idaho Evaluators

Program structure

Our cyclical lesson design ensures students receive multiple exposures to concepts through a variety of modalities. As they progress through the lessons within a unit, students build and deepen their understanding, increasing their ability to develop and refine complex explanations of the unit’s phenomenon. It’s this proven program structure and lesson design that enables Amplify Science to teach less, but achieve more.

Rather than asking teachers to wade through unnecessary content, we designed our program to address 100 percent of the NGSS and Idaho Standards in fewer days than other programs:

  • In just 120 lessons at grades 6–8
  • In just 66 lessons at grades K–2
  • In just 88 lessons at grades 3–5
A four-step process diagram with icons: spark a real-world problem, explore sources, explain and elaborate, and evaluate claims, all linking to engage with cohesive storylines.

Unit types

Each unit delivers three-dimensional learning experiences and engages students in gathering evidence from a rich collection of sources, while also emphasizing a particular science and engineering practice.

A laptop and two screens display educational content about ecosystems, featuring illustrated plants, animals, and experiments with colorful liquids.
Two young students sit at a classroom table, one holding up a clear cup of water while the other observes closely. Papers and pencils are spread out on the table.

Investigation units

Investigation units focus on the process of strategically developing investigations and gathering data to answer questions. Students are first asked to consider questions about what happens in the natural world and why, and are then involved in designing and conducting investigations that produce data to help answer those questions.

Two children play an educational board game at a table with worksheets, plastic cubes, and small containers of colored items.

Modeling units

Modeling units provide extra support to students engaging in the practice of modeling. Students use physical models, investigate with computer models, and create their own diagrams to help them visualize what might be happening on the nanoscale.

Two children sitting at a table with laptops are talking to each other in a classroom setting, with books and baskets in the background.

Engineering Design units

Engineering design units provide opportunities for students to solve complex problems by applying science principles to the design of functional solutions, and iteratively testing those solutions to determine how well they meet preset criteria.

Several open textbooks and notebooks are spread out on a table as a person writes in one of the notebooks with a pencil.

Argumentation units

Argumentation units are introduced at grade 3 and provide students with regular opportunities to explore and discuss available evidence, time and support to consider how evidence may be leveraged in support of claims, and independence that increases as they mount written arguments in support of their claims.

A person points to a photo in a textbook about coral reefs, with a laptop and notebook open on the desk.

Launch units

Launch units are the first units taught in each year of Amplify Science. The goal of the Launch unit is to introduce students to norms, routines, and practices that will be built on throughout the year, including argumentation, active reading, and using the program’s technology. For example, rather than taking the time to explain the process of active reading in every unit in a given year, it is explained thoroughly in the Launch unit, thereby preparing students to read actively in all subsequent units.

Three students at a classroom table examine a sealed plastic bag with food inside, while one looks surprised; another student stands in the background.

Core units

Core units establish the context of the unit by introducing students to a real-world problem. As students move through lessons in a Core unit, they figure out the unit’s anchoring phenomenon, gain an understanding of the unit’s disciplinary core ideas and science and engineering practices, and make linkages across topics through the crosscutting concepts. Each Core unit culminates with a Science Seminar and final writing activity.

Four students sit at a table using laptops, focused on their screens in a classroom setting with one student in the background.

Engineering Internship units

Engineering Internship units invite students to design solutions for real-world problems as interns for a fictional company called Futura. Students figure out how to help those in need, from tsunami victims in Sri Lanka to premature babies, through the application of engineering practices. In the process, they apply and deepen their learning from Core units.

Idaho Science Standards Alignment

Amplify Science was built from the ground up to fully embrace the instructional shifts outlined in A Framework for K-12 Science Education (2012), the same framework on which Idaho Science Content Standards were founded. Most grade levels’ respective set of Amplify Science units therefore fully address the necessary Idaho Science Content Standards (see correlation). Grade 1 teachers should plan to also use the companion mini-lesson provided below to achieve full standards coverage for their grade.

Grade 1 Companion

Standard: 1-LS-1.3 Use classification supported by evidence to differentiate between living and non-living things.

Recommended placement: Following Lesson 1.1 of the Animal and Plant Defenses unit.

Resources: Classroom Slides

Science (K-2) Evaluation Form

Science (3-5) Evaluation Form

Science (Middle School Physical Science) Evaluation Form

Science (Middle School Life Science) Evaluation Form

Science Evaluation Form Middle School Earth and Space Science

A boy sits on the floor reading a book to a girl beside him in a classroom setting.
A butterfly flies above potted plants next to a watering can and a caterpillar on a milkweed plant under sunlight in a grassy field.

Needs of Plants and Animals

Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Investigation

Student role: Scientists

Phenomenon: There are no monarch caterpillars in the Mariposa Grove community garden since vegetables were planted.  

A hand pulls a white string attached to a pegboard with rubber bands and a white ball hanging from the center.

Pushes and Pulls

Domains: Physical Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering design

Student role: Pinball engineers

Phenomenon: Pinball machines allow people to control the direction and strength of forces on a ball.  

Silhouette of a playground structure and toy train against a blue sky with clouds and two large yellow suns.

Sunlight and Weather

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Life Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Modeling

Student role: Weather scientists

Phenomenon: Students at Carver Elementary School are too cold during morning recess, while students at Woodland Elementary School are too hot during afternoon recess.  

Illustration of sea turtles swimming among underwater plants, with a shark and another turtle visible in the background.

Animal and Plant Defenses

Domain: Life Science

Unit type: Modeling

Student role: Marine scientists

Phenomenon: Spruce the Sea Turtle lives in an aquarium and will soon be released back into the ocean, where she will survive despite ocean predators.  

A hand holds a flashlight and shines it through a transparent sheet with an image, projecting the image onto a wall in a dark room.

Light and Sound

Domains: Physical Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering design

Student role: Light and sound engineers

Phenomenon: A puppet show company uses light and sound to depict realistic scenes in puppet shows.  

A split illustration shows a cityscape at night with a crescent moon and stars on the left, and a cityscape during the day with the sun, clouds, and an airplane on the right.

Spinning Earth

Domain: Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Investigation

Student role: Sky scientists

Phenomenon: The sky looks different to Sai and his grandma when they talk on the phone.  

A grey elephant uses its trunk to pick apples from a tree, with a few apples still hanging on the branches and a small sprout growing nearby.

Plant and Animal Relationships

Domains: Life Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Investigation

Student role: Plant scientists

Phenomenon: No new chalta trees are growing in the fictional Bengal Tiger Reserve in India.  

A hand picks up a red bean from a table scattered with more red beans, spilled white liquid, a cup, and a wooden stick.

Properties of Materials

Domains: Physical Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering design

Student role: Glue engineers

Phenomenon: Different glue recipes result in glues that have different properties.  

A building labeled "Recreation Center" stands near a cliff edge with a blue flag, surrounded by trees and overlooking a beach and water.

Changing Landforms

Domain: Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Modeling

Student role: Geologists

Phenomenon: The cliff that Oceanside Recreation Center is situated on appears to be receding over time.  

Illustration of a high-speed train traveling on an elevated track with a green landscape and blue sky in the background.

Balancing Forces

Domain: Physical Science

Unit type: Modeling

Student role: Engineers

Phenomenon: The town of Faraday is getting a new train that floats above its tracks.  

A group of wolves stands in the foreground, with a bear, elk, and several birds visible in a grassy, hilly landscape with scattered trees.

Inheritance and Traits

strong>Domain: Life Science

Unit type: Investigation

Student role: Wildlife biologists

Phenomenon: An adopted wolf in Graystone National Park (“Wolf 44”) has some traits that appear similar to one wolf pack in the park and other traits that appear to be similar to a different wolf pack. 

A small bird stands on soil, looking closely at a yellow snail, with green blades of grass on the left and a blue sky background.

Environments and Survival

Domains: Life Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering design

Student role: Biomimicry engineers

Phenomenon: Over the last 10 years, a population of grove snails has changed: The number of grove snails with yellow shells has decreased, while the number of snails with banded shells has increased.  

An orangutan hangs from a vine in a dense green forest with the sun visible in the background.

Weather and Climate

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Argumentation

Student role: Meteorologists

Phenomenon: Three different islands, each a contender for becoming an Orangutan reserve, experience different weather patterns.  

Illustration of city buildings at night with illuminated windows, a full moon, visible stars, and a silhouetted figure in one window.

Energy Conversions

Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering design

Student role: System engineers

Phenomenon: The fictional town of Ergstown experiences frequent blackouts.  

A streetlamp illuminates a cricket, which is watched by a gecko. Yellow arrows indicate the flow of light from the lamp to the cricket and then to the gecko’s eye.

Vision and Light

Domain: Physical Science, Life Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Investigation

Student role: Conservation biologists

Phenomenon: The population of Tokay geckos in a rain forest in the Philippines has decreased since the installation of new highway lights.  

Two dolphins swimming underwater, facing each other against a blue background.

Waves, Energy, and Information

Domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Modeling

Student role: Marine scientists

Phenomenon: Mother dolphins in the fictional Blue Bay National Park seem to be communicating with their calves when they are separated at a distance underwater.

Earth orbits the Sun in space, with dotted blue lines showing the orbital path and a white arrow indicating Earth's rotation direction.

Patterns of Earth and Sky

Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Investigation

Student role: Astronomers

Phenomenon: An ancient artifact depicts what we see in the sky at different times — the sun during the daytime and different stars during the nighttime — but it is missing a piece.  

Illustration of layered red and brown rocky cliffs beside a flowing blue river under a partly cloudy sky.

Earth’s Features

Domain: Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Argumentation

Student role: Geologists

Phenomenon: A mysterious fossil is discovered in a canyon within the fictional Desert Rocks National Park.  

Red blood cells scattered across a dynamic, abstract red and white background.

Modeling Matter

Domain: Physical Science

Unit type: Modeling

Student role: Food scientists

Phenomenon: Chromatography is a process for separating mixtures. Some solids dissolve in a salad dressing while others do not. Oil and vinegar appear to separate when mixed in a salad dressing.  

Illustration of wind carrying airborne particles over a coastal hill, with arrows indicating the movement up and over the hill toward the sea.

The Earth System

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering Design

Student role: Water resource engineers

Phenomenon: East Ferris, a city on one side of the fictional Ferris Island, is experiencing a water shortage, while West Ferris is not. 

Illustration of a cheetah standing near plants, looking at a sloth hanging from a tree branch, with various foliage and mushrooms in the scene.

Ecosystem Restoration

Domains:Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Argumentation

Student role: Ecologists

Phenomenon: The jaguars, sloths, and cecropia trees in a reforested section of a Costa Rican rain forest are not growing and thriving.  

A rover stands on a rocky, reddish terrain with visible tire tracks leading to it; distant hills are seen under a hazy sky.

Geology on Mars

Domain: Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Launch

Student role: Planetary geologists

Phenomenon: Analyzing data about landforms on Mars can provide evidence that Mars may have once been habitable.  

Illustration of a city skyline at night with a large full moon, a few stars in the sky, and a bridge on the left side.

Earth, Moon, and Sun

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Astronomers

Phenomenon: An astrophotographer can only take pictures of specific features on the Moon at certain times.  

Illustration of a person wearing a red hat and winter coat with fur hood, eyes closed and arms crossed, surrounded by large orange circles.

Thermal Energy

Domain: Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Thermal scientists

Phenomenon: One of two proposed heating systems for Riverdale School will best heat the school.  

Abstract digital artwork featuring a large yellow sun with blue and orange rays over a colorful landscape with green hills and red horizon.

Ocean, Atmosphere, and Climate

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Climatologists

Phenomenon: During El Niño years, the air temperature in Christchurch, New Zealand is cooler than usual.  

Illustration of clouds above a small town with fields and mountains, showing wind patterns and atmospheric movement in the sky.

Weather Patterns

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Forensic meteorologists

Phenomenon: In recent years, rainstorms in Galetown have been unusually severe.  

An underwater scene with a large whale, several turtles, jellyfish, and fish swimming surrounded by shafts of light.

Populations and Resources

Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Biologists

Phenomenon: The size of the moon jelly population in Glacier Sea has increased.  

Low-poly illustration of a forest with trees, mushrooms, a rabbit, and a fox catching another animal under a blue sky with mountains and the sun in the background.

Matter and Energy in Ecosystems

Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Ecologists

Phenomenon: The biodome ecosystem has collapsed.

Illustration of six spiders with different colored bodies and legs arranged in a chart-like formation on a dark background.

Traits and Reproduction

Domain: Life Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Biomedical students

Phenomenon: Darwin’s bark spider offspring have different silk flexibility traits, even though they have the same parents.  

Abstract digital artwork featuring vibrant colors, geometric shapes, a yellow human silhouette, and various patterns layered together.

Microbiome

Domain: Life Science

Unit type: Launch

Student role: Microbiological researchers

Phenomenon: The presence of 100 trillion microorganisms living on and in the human body may keep the body healthy.  

Illustration of a person receiving an oral examination with a tongue depressor and light, featuring abstract colorful shapes and an eye chart in the background.

Metabolism

Domain: Life Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Medical researchers

Phenomenon: Elisa, a young patient, feels tired all the time. 

A spacecraft approaches a large modular space station with blue solar panels, orbiting in outer space against a black background.

Force and Motion

Domain: Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Physicists

Phenomenon: The asteroid sample-collecting pod failed to dock at the space station as planned.

Green geometric background with a hexagonal badge displaying a parachute, ruler, letter A, stacked layers, bandage, and a folded paper icon.

Force and Motion Engineering Internship

Domains: Engineering Design, Physical Science

Unit type: Engineering internship

Student role: Mechanical engineering interns

Phenomenon: Designing emergency supply delivery pods with different structures can maintain the integrity of the supply pods and their contents.  

Two prehistoric aquatic reptiles with long snouts swim near the shore of a tropical landscape with rocks, plants, and an island in the distance.

Plate Motion

Domain: Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Geologists

Phenomenon: Mesosaurus fossils have been found on continents separated by thousands of kilometers of ocean, even though the Mesosaurus species once lived all together.  

Illustration of a volcanic landscape with mountains, trees, an ocean, and a cross-section showing tectonic plates beneath the surface.

Rock Transformations

Domain: Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Geologists

Phenomenon: Rock samples from the Great Plains and from the Rocky Mountains — regions hundreds of miles apart — look very different, but have surprisingly similar mineral compositions.  

Four low-poly dinosaurs, three green and one yellow, are walking in a row on grass with rocks and red spots on their bodies under a blue sky.

Natural Selection

Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Biologists

Phenomenon: The newt population in Oregon State Park has become more poisonous over time.  

Two large tortoises are near a river; one is on the riverbank reaching for leaves on a tree, while the other is on the opposite bank among grass and trees.

Evolutionary History

Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Paleontologists

Phenomenon: A mystery fossil at the Natural History Museum has similarities with both wolves and whales.    

Two people stand atop rocky terrain littered with electronic devices; inset illustrations show a boot, a person with electronics in a vest, and a radio.

Harnessing Human Energy

Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Launch

Student role: Energy scientists

Phenomenon: Rescue workers can use their own human kinetic energy to power the electrical devices they use during rescue missions.  

An orange popsicle melting in four stages from solid to almost fully liquid, set against a plain background.

Phase Change

Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Chemists

Phenomenon: A methane lake on Titan no longer appears in images taken by a space probe two years apart.  

Green graphic with icons showing a swaddled baby, a thermometer, layers of blankets, a medical symbol, and a heat source within a hexagonal frame.

Phase Change Engineering Internship

Domains: Engineering Design, Physical Science

Unit type: Engineering internship

Student role: Chemical engineering interns

Phenomenon: Designing portable baby incubators with different combinations of phase change materials can keep babies at a healthy temperature.  

Digital illustration showing red and blue molecule-like circles on a blue background, with a boundary dividing two differently shaded sides.

Chemical Reactions

Domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Forensic chemists

Phenomenon: A mysterious brown substance has been detected in the tap water of Westfield.  

Illustration of people riding a roller coaster on a blue day, with arms raised as the car descends a tall loop against a sky with clouds.

Magnetic Fields

Domain: Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Physicists

Phenomenon: During a test launch, a spacecraft traveled much faster than expected.  

Illustration of the Earth with arrows representing radiation or energy entering the atmosphere from space over the Asia-Pacific region.

Light Waves

Domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Spectroscopists

Phenomenon: The rate of skin cancer is higher in Australia than in other parts of the world.  

An illustrated polar bear stands on a small piece of floating ice in the ocean, with icebergs and an orange sun in the background.

Earth’s Changing Climate

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Life Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Climatologists

Phenomenon: The ice on Earth’s surface is melting.

Hexagonal badge with icons including a wrench, building, sun, molecules, construction materials, screwdriver, paint bucket, and a letter T, all on a geometric blue background.

Earth’s Changing Climate Engineering Internship

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering internship

Student role: Civil engineers

Phenomenon: Designing rooftops with different modifications can reduce a city’s impact on climate change.  

Access program

In addition to the grade-level sample boxes that we provided, we’ve also created custom demo accounts just for Idaho reviewers.

To access the digital portion of the program, click the link below, select “Log In with Amplify,” and then refer to the Start here digital access flyer for your personalized login credentials.

A spiral-bound teacher’s guide and a laptop displaying a digital curriculum, both titled “Balancing Forces: Investigating Floating Trains” from Amplify Science.

Resources

Hello, Colorado leaders!

In partnership with CDE, we’re excited to offer a number of opportunities for Colorado educators in the Early Literacy Assessment Tool (ELAT) Project this school year.

This site will keep you informed on available professional development opportunities and provide access to resources and videos in support of a seamless implementation throughout the school year.

Need help?

Please contact Kim Ballantyne with additional questions.

Logo for the Colorado Department of Education showing a mountain scene with trees and the CDE emblem next to the text "Colorado Department of Education.

News and updates

Returning ELAT participants for the 26-27 school year sign up here

New to ELAT participants for the 26-27 school year sign up here

  • Information about sessions just for Colorado
  • Want to learn about the Additional Measures that can identify reading difficulties including dyslexia?
  • Professional Development for new and returning ELAT project participants is available! Scroll this site to learn more about this and other professional learning opportunities.
  • Coaching is now available for all ELAT participants.  Sign up HERE
  • Learn more about mCLASS®.
  • Explore more PD options for your Amplify assessment and intervention programs.

Professional learning journey

Four connected circular icons illustrating a business process: idea generation, planning, execution, and achievement, depicted with relevant symbols.

Prepare

Begin

Practice

Advance

Program-agnostic sessions will set up educators for success in areas such as the Science of Reading and/or problem-based approaches to math. Program-aligned packages will support those who are new to Amplify’s programs. Program-aligned packages will support those who have experience using Amplify’s programs. Offerings will support advanced implementation, build capacity for instructional leaders, certify in-house trainers to deliver Launch sessions, and more.

Significant, lasting change is more likely when you take a systemic approach. Partner with us to do just that by developing a professional development plan that will drive your program implementation, enrich your instructional practices, and increase student impact. Begin and Practice packages are available for assessment programs, while tiered sessions are available for intervention programs.

With a range of unique packages for each phase of implementation, professional learning sessions are strategically bundled for multiple touch points throughout the year. High-quality sessions set you up for success with Amplify programs—whether you’re years into using them or just starting.

Illustration of a rocket ship with a red tip, gray fins, and orange flames, featuring a person with red hair visible through a window.

Launch sessions

Recommended timing: Beginning-of-year

Propel your teachers into the new school year with sessions that introduce them to their Amplify program and support them in a strong implementation.

  1. mCLASS DIBELS® 8th Edition and/or mCLASS Lectura administration and instruction essentials
  2. mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and/or mCLASS Lectura administration and scoring training
Illustration of a woman with red hair lifting a dumbbell, sweating and flexing her arm to show a muscle.

Strengthen sessions

Recommended timing: Mid-year, end-of-year

Boost implementation with sessions that target specific instructional practices.

  1. Progress monitoring to drive student outcomes for teachers
  2. Measuring student growth across benchmarks for teachers
  3. Data walk-through for leaders
  4. Creating a data-driven classroom for teachers
  5. Building a data-driven culture for leaders
Three people are in a rowboat; two are rowing while the third faces them, appearing to give instructions or shout.

Coach sessions

Recommended timing: Mid-year, end-of-year

Guide teachers and leaders with targeted learning tailored to their specific needs.

Additional Coach opportunities with an Amplify trainer (Use this survey to sign up.)

Important information

In partnership with CDE, we’re excited to offer a number of opportunities for Colorado educators in the ELAT (Early Literacy Assessment Tool) Project this school year.

  • For schools new to the ELAT Project (2024–25): Sign up for professional development.
  • For schools returning to the ELAT Project (2024–25): Sign up for professional development.

Need help? Please direct any questions about ELAT Professional Development to Kim Ballantyne, PD Strategist. If you have questions related to CDE, please contact Megan Rogers.

Participation notebooks for mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura can be found here.

Complete this survey for your training. Your trainer will provide you with a six-digit code to complete the survey.

Square graphic with "Science of Reading: The Podcast" text, an open book, geometric shapes, and the Amplify logo on a yellow and blue background.

Additional resources

Check out Amplify for the most up-to-date information and resources provided by Amplify, such as:

Meet the Team

Kim Ballantyne

Professional Development Strategist

Kballantyne@amplify.com 

CDE ELAT support

elat@cde.state.co.us 

Laptop screen displaying a customer support chat window with options to start a new conversation or search for articles; greeting message reads "Hi Teacher.

Questions?

Need an answer fast? Our chat agents are standing by to assist you! Simply log in at learning.amplify.com and click the orange chat button in the bottom right corner. Here, you can chat live with our support team or search the help collection for step-by-step guidance.

Virtual presentations

Amplify CKLA for Grades K–2

Amplify CKLA for Grades 3–5

About CKLA

Amplify CKLA is a core ELA program for grades K–5 that delivers:

  • A combination of explicit foundational skills with meaningful knowledge building.
  • Embedded support and differentiation that get all students reading grade-level texts together.
  • Opportunities for students to see the strengths and experiences that all people share while celebrating each others’ unique identities and experiences.
  • Authentic Spanish language arts instruction with Amplify Caminos.

 

How it Works

Amplify CKLA teaches both foundational skills and background knowledge in grades K–2 and combines them in 3–5.

  • In grades K–2, students complete one full lesson that builds foundational reading skills and one full lesson that builds background knowledge.
  • In grades 3–5, students complete one integrated lesson combining skills and knowledge with increasingly complex texts, close reading, and a greater emphasis on writing

What students Explore

Amplify CKLA builds knowledge coherently across subjects and grades.

Students make connections from year to year by exploring grade-appropriate subject-area knowledge and vocabulary in history, science, literature, and the arts while learning to read, write, and think creatively and for themselves.

Download the at-a-glance resources below to learn more.

What students Explore

What students read

Amplify CKLA puts a variety of texts in the hands of students every day to build and strengthen background knowledge and vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension, and decoding and fluency skills.

A comprehensive approach to literacy instruction requires students to have a wide range of text experiences, including reading, listening, discussing, and writing. Check out our text complexity guide to learn more by clicking here. Most questions, tasks, and assignments in CKLA materials are text-dependent. See how we use questioning and analysis skills to help students understand text in CKLA here.

More than that, we ensure the texts students read represent the world around them. With a diverse range of authors, topics, and characters, all students have ample access to both windows and mirrors. Our texts include the following:

  • Authentic books.
  • Authentic text passages.
  • Student Readers.
  • Novel Guides (grades 3–5).

Download the lists below to explore specific grade-level texts.

What students read

Supports LETRS

Amplify CKLA aligns with the instructional principles recommended by LETRS.

  • Structured: Concepts are taught through consistent routines.
  • Sequential: Concepts are taught in a logical, well-planned sequence.
  • Systematic: Phonemes are taught from simplest to most complex.
  • Explicit: Decoding and encoding concepts are taught directly and explicitly.
  • Multi-sensory: Instruction is delivered through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways.
  • Cumulative: Concepts are applied in decodable, connected texts with constant review and reinforcement.

A comprehensive and cohesive solution

A strong literacy program is more than a reading program or an assessment tool: it combines curriculum, instruction, regular practice, intervention, and assessments.

Amplify has brought these components together in our early literacy curriculum suite to ensure you have what you need for multi-tiered support.

 

Trial Access

Ready to explore on your own? Follow the instructions below to access your demo account.

Explore CKLA's digital site

First, watch the quick teacher navigation video to the right. Then, follow the instructions below to access your demo account.

Go to my.amplify.com

Select Log in with Amplify

Teacher login: t1.springfield.ckla.k-5@demo.tryamplify.net

Student login: s1.springfield.ckla.k-5@demo.tryamplify.net

Password for both: Amplify1-springfield.ckla.k-5

Select the CKLA icon and your desired grade level

 

Additional Resources

Check out the information below to learn more about Amplify CKLA and see how Amplify CKLA is impacting classrooms all over the country.

Contact us

Interested in speaking directly with your representative?

Kristin McDonald

Senior Account Executive

(515) 240-0244

kmcdonald@amplify.com

Welcome to Amplify CKLA!

To view this protected page, enter the password below:



Overview Videos

Amplify CKLA and Caminos for K–2

After watching the K–2 video below, scroll down to learn even more, download resources, and access a demo.

Amplify CKLA and Caminos for 3–5

After watching the 3–5 video below, scroll down to learn even more, download resources, and access a demo.

What it is

Amplify CKLA is a core ELA program for grades K–5 that delivers:

  • A unique research-based approach truly built on the Science of Reading.
  • A combination of explicit foundational skills with meaningful knowledge building.
  • Embedded support and differentiation that gets all students reading grade-level texts together.
  • Opportunities for students to see the strengths and experiences that all people share while also celebrating each others’ unique identities and experiences.
  • Equitable and authentic Spanish language arts instruction with Amplify Caminos.

 

How it works

Amplify CKLA teaches both foundational skills and background knowledge in K–2 and combines them in 3–5, as required by the science of reading.

  • In grades K–2, students complete one full lesson that builds foundational reading skills, as well as one full lesson that builds background knowledge.
  • In grades 3–5, student complete one integrated lesson that combines skills and knowledge with increasingly complex texts, close reading, and a greater writing emphasis.
How it works

What students explore

Amplify CKLA builds knowledge coherently across subjects and grades.

Students make connections from year-to-year by exploring grade-appropriate subject-area knowledge and vocabulary in history, science, literature, and the arts while learning to read, write, and think creatively and for themselves.

Download the at-a-glance resources below to learn more.

What students explore

What students read

Amplify CKLA puts a variety of texts in the hands of students every day to build and strengthen background knowledge and vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension, and decoding and fluency skills.

More than that, we ensure the texts students read represent the world around them. With a diverse range of authors, topics, and characters, all students have ample access to both windows and mirrors. Our texts include:

  • Authentic books.
  • Authentic text passages.
  • Student Readers.
  • Novel Guides (grades 3–5).

Download the lists below to explore specific grade-level texts.

What students read

Access and equity

We believe we have a responsibility to provide literacy instruction that gives every student the same opportunity to succeed and excel.

We know that early reading affects achievement throughout school and beyond—well into college and career. Yet most literacy programs continue to fall short of supporting early literacy success. That’s why we’re so proud that CKLA is helping close the reading gap between students within diverse communities.

Explore how we make learning equitable for all learners with the resources below.

Built on the Science of Reading

Watching students learn to read: magic. Knowing how they get there: science.

As you consider your next core ELA program, it’s critically important to understand what the Science of Reading really means and what it tells us about how to teach more effectively. Unlike other programs, Amplify CKLA was built upon these insights and practices, making it easier for teachers to implement this proven approach.

Download the resources below to dive deeper into the Science of Reading.

Built on the Science of Reading

Supports Orton-Gillingham and LETRS

Amplify CKLA aligns with the instructional principles recommended by Orton-Gillingham and LETRS.

  • Structured–Concepts are taught through consistent routines
  • Sequential–Concepts are taught in a logical, well-planned sequence
  • Systematic–Phonemes are taught from simplest to most complex
  • Explicit–Decoding and encoding concepts are taught directly and explicitly
  • Multi-sensory–Instruction is delivered through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways
  • Cumulative–Concepts are applied in decodable, connected texts with constant review and reinforcement

A comprehensive and cohesive solution

A strong literacy program is not just about a reading program or an assessment tool: it brings together curriculum, instruction, regular practice, intervention, and assessments.

Amplify has brought these components together in our early literacy suite of curriculum, ensure that you have what you need for multi-tiered support.

 

Access demo

Ready to explore on your own? Follow the instructions below to access your demo account.

Explore the CKLA Teacher Resource Site

First, watch the quick navigation video to the right. Then, click the “Access CKLA Teacher Resource Site” button to log in.

  • Click the CKLA Teacher Resource Site button
  • Select Log in with Amplify.
  • Enter this username to explore as a teacher: t1.kentcaminos2021@demo.tryamplify.net
  • Enter this username to explore as a student: s1.kentcaminos2021@demo.tryamplify.net
  • Enter this password: Amplify1-kentcaminos2021
  • Select the desired grade level

Contact us

Have questions? Your dedicated Account Executive, Patrick Momsen, is standing by and ready to help.

Patrick Momsen Senior

Account Executive

Districts over 4,500 students

(541) 207-2148

pmomsen@amplify.com

Welcome, K-5 LAUSD principals and teachers!

What’s new?

Scroll down to learn how CKLA is uniquely designed to help all students make learning leaps in literacy.

Looking for LAUSD G6 ELA information and resources? Visit the LAUSD G6 ELA site.

A boy in glasses reading a book, surrounded by illustrations of a telescope, grasshopper, and carrot, with a logo saying "bringing the science of reading to lausd!.

Our promise

Developed in partnership with the Core Knowledge Foundation, Amplify CKLA promises:

  • A unique research-based approach based on the Science of Reading.
  • A combination of explicit foundational skills instruction with meaningful content knowledge.
  • An instructional design that levels the playing field for every child.
  • Superior results.

Built on the Science of Reading

Watching students learn to read: magic. Knowing how they get there: science.

What does the Science of Reading really mean? What does it tell us about how to teach? How can we bring those insights and practices into our classrooms (remote or otherwise)? We believe CKLA has the answers.

A girl runs outdoors holding a kite with colorful ribbons labeled knowledge, vocabulary, sentences, connections, gist, sounds, letters, and words.

Supports Orton-Gillingham and LETRS

CKLA brings the instructional principles recommended by Orton-Gillingham and LETRS to life in the classroom.

  • Structured–Concepts are taught through consistent routines
  • Sequential–Concepts are taught in a logical, well-planned sequence
  • Systematic–Phonemes are taught from simplest to most complex
  • Explicit–Decoding and encoding concepts are taught directly and explicitly
  • Multi-sensory–Instruction is delivered through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways
  • Cumulative–Concepts are applied in decodable, connected text with constant review and reinforcement

What students read

Amplify CKLA puts a variety of texts in the hands of students every day to build and strengthen background knowledge and vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension, and decoding and fluency skills.

Reading and comprehension activities utilize:

  • Authentic books.
  • Authentic text passages.
  • Student Readers.
  • Novel Guides (grades 3–5).
Six children's book covers arranged in two rows, featuring colorful illustrations of animals, people, and nature. Titles include "Rain Player," "A More Perfect Union," and "The Busy Body Book.

CKLA DEI and Social Justice Guides

The following guide offers an overview of the many ways that the Amplify CKLA program supports students’ understanding of issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.

A vibrant illustration depicting diverse children and animals engaged in various activities in nature and by a pond.

The missing piece

CKLA is aligned with programs you already know and use—mCLASS and Boost Reading—making the integration between systems, your implementation, and ongoing instructional planning more efficient, effective, and easy for your teachers.

Access demo

Ready to explore on your own? Follow the instructions below to access your demo account.

Access the CKLA Teacher Resource Site

Watch the quick navigation video first, then login using the “Access CKLA Teacher Resource Site” button.

  • Click the CKLA Teacher Resource Site below.
  • Select the Log in with Amplify button.
  • Enter the username: lausdreviewer@tryamplify.net
  • Enter the password: AmplifyNumber1
  • Select the desired grade level.

Access the CKLA Student Hub

Watch the quick navigation video first, then login using the “Access CKLA Student Hub” button.

  • Click the CKLA Student Hub button.
  • Select Log in with Amplify.
  • Enter the username lausdreviewer@tryamplify.net.
  • Enter the password AmplifyNumber1.
  • Select the desired grade level.

Contact us

Looking to speak directly with your LAUSD representative? Get in touch with a team member by emailing ckla.lausd@amplify.com or by calling us directly.

Shalonda Johnson

Customer Success Manager

(213) 310-0107

shajohnson@amplify.com


Virtual Caravan Stop

Amplify CKLA for Grades K–2

After watching the K–2 video below, scroll down to learn even more, download resources, and access a demo.

Amplify CKLA for Grades 3–5

After watching the 3–5 video below, scroll down to learn even more, download resources, and access a demo.

What it is

Amplify CKLA is a core ELA program for grades K–5 that delivers:

  • A unique research-based approach truly built on the Science of Reading.
  • A combination of explicit foundational skills with meaningful knowledge building.
  • Embedded support and differentiation that gets all students reading grade-level texts together.
  • Opportunities for students to see the strengths and experiences that all people share while also celebrating each others’ unique identities and experiences.
  • Authentic Spanish language arts instruction with Amplify Caminos.

 

How it works

Amplify CKLA and Amplify Caminos, our authentic elementary Spanish language arts program, teach both foundational skills and background knowledge in K–2 and combines them in 3–5, as required by the Science of Reading.

  • In grades K–2, students complete one full lesson that builds foundational reading skills, as well as one full lesson that builds background knowledge.
  • In grades 3–5, students complete one integrated lesson that combines skills and knowledge with increasingly complex texts, close reading, and a greater writing emphasis.

See pages 30-65 of the CKLA Program Guide and pages 18-33 of the Caminos program guide below to learn more.

 

How it works

How it Works

Amplify CKLA teaches both foundational skills and background knowledge in grades K–2 and combines them in 3–5.

  • In grades K–2, students complete one full lesson that builds foundational reading skills and one full lesson that builds background knowledge.
  • In grades 3–5, students complete one integrated lesson combining skills and knowledge with increasingly complex texts, close reading, and a greater emphasis on writing

What students explore

Amplify CKLA builds knowledge coherently across subjects and grades.

Students make connections from year-to-year by exploring grade-appropriate subject-area knowledge and vocabulary in history, science, literature, and the arts while learning to read, write, and think creatively and for themselves.

Download the at-a-glance resources below to learn more.

What students explore

What students read

Amplify CKLA puts a variety of texts in the hands of students every day to build and strengthen background knowledge and vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension, and decoding and fluency skills.

A comprehensive approach to literacy instruction requires that students have a wide range of text experiences that include reading, listening, discussing, and writing. Check out our text complexity guide to learn more by clicking here. The overwhelming majority of questions, tasks, and assignments in CKLA materials are text-dependent. See how we use questioning and analysis skills to help students understand text in CKLA here.

More than that, we ensure the texts students read represent the world around them. With a diverse range of authors, topics, and characters, all students have ample access to both windows and mirrors. Our texts include:

  • Authentic books.
  • Authentic text passages.
  • Student Readers.
  • Novel Guides (grades 3–5).

Download the lists below to explore specific grade-level texts.

What students read

Access and equity

We believe we have a responsibility to provide literacy instruction that gives every student the same opportunity to succeed and excel.

We know that early reading affects achievement throughout school and beyond—well into college and career. Yet most literacy programs continue to fall short of supporting early literacy success. That’s why we’re so proud that CKLA is helping close the reading gap between students within diverse communities.

Explore how we make learning equitable for all learners with the resources below.

Built on the Science of Reading

Watching students learn to read: magic. Knowing how they get there: science.

As you consider your next core ELA program, it’s critically important to understand what the Science of Reading really means and what it tells us about how to teach more effectively. Unlike other programs, Amplify CKLA was built upon these insights and practices, making it easier for teachers to implement this proven approach.

Download the resources below to dive deeper into the Science of Reading.

Built on the Science of Reading

Supports LETRS

Amplify CKLA aligns with the instructional principles recommended LETRS.

  • Structured–Concepts are taught through consistent routines.
  • Sequential–Concepts are taught in a logical, well-planned sequence.
  • Systematic–Phonemes are taught from simplest to most complex.
  • Explicit–Decoding and encoding concepts are taught directly and explicitly.
  • Multi-sensory–Instruction is delivered through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways.
  • Cumulative–Concepts are applied in decodable, connected texts with constant review and reinforcement.

A comprehensive and cohesive solution

A strong literacy program is not just about a reading program or an assessment tool: it brings together curriculum, instruction, regular practice, intervention, and assessments.

Amplify has brought these components together in our early literacy suite of curriculum, to ensure that you have what you need for multi-tiered support.

 

Access demo

Ready to explore on your own? Follow the instructions below to access your demo account.

Explore as a teacher

First, watch the quick teacher navigation video to the right. Then, follow the instructions below to access your demo account.

  • Go to my.amplify.com
  • Select Log in with Amplify
  • Enter this username: t1.allentown.literacy.science@demo.tryamplify.net
  • Enter this password: t1.allentown.literacy.science
  • Select the CKLA icon and your desired grade level

Additional Resources

Check out the information below to learn more about Amplify CKLA and see how Amplify CKLA is impacting classrooms all over the country.

Contact us

Interested in speaking directly with your representative?

Janet Barry

Account Executive

(630) 946-4157

jabarry@amplify.com

S3-04: Using AI and ChatGPT in the science classroom

A graphic with the text "Science Connections" and "Amplify" features colorful circles and curved lines on a dark gray background.

In the latest episode of the Science Connections podcast, we explore AI in education and its impact on students. Listen as I sit down with teachers Donnie Piercey and Jennifer Roberts to discuss ChatGPT and how we can use it to build science and literacy skills in K–12 classrooms while preparing students for the real world.

And don’t forget to grab your Science Connections study guide to track your learning and find additional resources!

We hope you enjoy this episode and explore more from Science Connections by visiting our main page!

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT

Jennifer Roberts (00:00:00):

If a kid graduates from school without knowing that AI exists, they’re not gonna be prepared for what they face out in the world.

Eric Cross (00:00:07):

Welcome to Science Connections. I’m your host, Eric Cross.

Eric Cross (00:00:12):

This season of the podcast, we’re making the case for everyone’s favorite underdog, science. Recently we’ve been highlighting the magic that can come from integrating science and literacy. So if you haven’t checked out those recent episodes, definitely go back in your feed after you’re done with this one. This time around, we’re going to deep dive into what artificial intelligence means for literacy instruction, and how science can be a force for good, in responsibly exposing students to AI. To help me out, I’m joined by two extremely accomplished educators. Jen Roberts, a veteran high-school English teacher from San Diego, who among many things runs the website LitAndTech.com. And I’m also joined by fifth-grade teacher Donnie Piercey. In addition to being Kentucky’s 2021 Teacher of the Year, Donnie also has an upcoming book about bringing AI into the classroom. Whether you’ve never heard of ChatGPT or whether you’re already using it every day, I think you’ll find this a valuable discussion about the intersection of science, English, and technology. Here’s Jen and Donnie.

Eric Cross (00:01:17):

So first off, welcome to the show. It’s good to see you all. What I wanna do is kind of start off by introducing both of you. And so we’ll just go K–12. So <laugh>, Donnie.

Jennifer Roberts (00:01:30):

Donnie goes first.

Eric Cross (00:01:31):

Donnie’s gonna go first. Donnie out in Kentucky. Just a little background. What do you teach; how long you’ve been in the classroom; and what are you having fun with right now?

Donnie Piercey (00:01:38):

Yeah, so my name is Donnie Piercey. I’m a fifth-grade teacher from Kentucky. Live and teach right here in Lexington, Kentucky, right in the center of the state. I’m the 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. But I’ve been teaching elementary school for the past … I think this is year 16 or 17. It’s long enough where I’ve lost count, and I can’t even count on fingers anymore. My friends like to joke that I’ve taught long enough where now I can count down. You know, it’s like, “All right, only so many more years left.” But yeah, teach all subjects. Science definitely is one of the subjects that I don’t just try to squeeze into my day, but make sure that … it’s not even a devoted subject, but one that I definitely try to — don’t just have that set time, but also try to do some cross-curricular stuff with it. So definitely the rise of AI in these past few months, which feels like years by this point, has definitely played quite the role, in not just changing the way that I’ve been teaching science, but really all my subjects. So, excited to chat with y’all about it.

Eric Cross (00:02:47):

Nice. I’m excited that you’re here. And Jen?

Jennifer Roberts (00:02:51):

Hi, I’m Jen Roberts. I teach ninth-grade English at Point Loma High School, and that’s where I usually stop when I introduce myself. But for your sake—

Eric Cross (00:03:00):

I will keep introducing you if you stop there. <laugh>

Jennifer Roberts (00:03:04):

I am nationally board-certified in English Language Arts for early adolescence. I am the co-author of a book called Power Up: Making the Shift to 1:1 Teaching and Learning, from Stenhouse, with my fabulous co-author Diana Neebe. Shout out to Diana. I blog at LitAndTech.com about teaching and technology and literacy and the intersection of those things. And I’m looking forward to talking about how AI is showing up in my classroom and the fun things I’m doing with it.

Donnie Piercey (00:03:31):

And one of us is actually secretly a robot, and you have to guess which one.

Jennifer Roberts (00:03:35):

Have to guess which one. Yes. <laugh>

Eric Cross (00:03:37):

That would be super-meta. And you were the CUE — Computer-Using Educator — outstanding teacher or educator? Whatever. Either one. Of the year.

Jennifer Roberts (00:03:45):

I was the CUE ’22 Outstanding Educator. Yes. And I’ve won a few other things as well.

Eric Cross (00:03:53):

The gaming backpack.

Jennifer Roberts (00:03:54):

I’ve won a gaming backpack recently! Yes. I once won an iPad in a Twitter chat.

Eric Cross (00:03:58):

What?

Donnie Piercey (00:03:58):

What’s a gaming backpack? Hold on. We need to talk about that.

Jennifer Roberts (00:04:01):

We will talk about that. <laugh> And then, I was once a finalist for county Teacher of the Year. That’s as close as I got to Donnie. Donnie was the Kentucky Teacher of the Year. He got to go to the White House and stuff. That was exciting.

Donnie Piercey (00:04:13):

<laugh> I mean, to be fair, there’s only three million people in Kentucky, and about what, 50 million people that live in California? <Laugh> So odds are definitely stacked in my favor, I think.

Jennifer Roberts (00:04:23):

So you’re saying we’re even there? Is that, is that what you’re going for?

Donnie Piercey (00:04:25):

Yeah, evens out. Evens out.

Eric Cross (00:04:27):

So I’ve been looking forward to talking to you both for a while now, and talking about artificial intelligence. It’s like the big thing. And both of you, at different ends of the spectrum and in my life, have contributed to this. Donnie, you’ve been sharing so much great information online about how you’re using AI in elementary. Jen, you are the reason I got into education technology years ago, right when I was becoming a teacher. And so being able to talk with you both about it excites me a lot. So first off, for the listeners who may not have any experience with it — and there’s still a lot of people out there who have not been exposed to it, haven’t got their feet wet with it yet — I’m hoping we could start off maybe with an explanation of … we could do AI, ChatGPT, I know that’s the big one. But simply explaining what it is, just for the new person. And whoever wants to start off can tell us about it. Or maybe we’ll start … we’ll, let’s actually, let’s do this: Let’s continue going like K–12? So Donnie, maybe you could … what’s your pitch to the new person of, “Hey, this is what it is”?

Donnie Piercey (00:05:31):

All right. So, AI, artificial intelligence, probably the way that most people are exposed to it, at least since November when it launched, is through ChatGPT. Where if you Google it, you know it’s made by a company called OpenAI. The best way to describe what it is … when you go there for the first time, make an account, it’s free. You have like a little search window, looks like a Google search bar. And instead of searching for information, you can ask it to create stuff for you. So for example, like on Google search, you might type in a question like, “Who was the 19th president of the United States?” Where on ChatGPT, instead of just searching for information, it creates stuff for you. So you could say, you could ask it to, “Hey, write a poem about the 19th president of the United States.” Or, “Write a short little essay comparing, I don’t know, Frederick Douglass to Martin Luther King Jr.” And it would do that for you. You know, that’s most people’s first exposure to AI, at least in these past few months. Instead of … you know, it’s artificial intelligence, but it’s not just chatbots. There’s lots of other AI that exist out there.

Jennifer Roberts (00:06:47):

And I think that’s the thing: that people don’t realize how much AI is already in their lives.

Donnie Piercey (00:06:51):

For sure. Yeah.

Jennifer Roberts (00:06:52):

You know, they just haven’t seen … the term that I see being used a lot now is “generative AI.” AI that can produce something. It can produce writing, it can produce art, it can produce a script, it can produce a character. But the AI that has been helping you pick what to watch next on Netflix and the AI that’s helping Google help you get where you wanna go on Google Maps faster, those are forms of artificial intelligence as well.

Donnie Piercey (00:07:21):

Yeah. I mean, even those, when you get that that message in Gmail, and instead of having to type out that response that says, “Yeah, that sounds great,” you can just click the little button that says, “Yeah, that sounds great.” I mean, that’s been in Gmail for years, but that’s artificial intelligence too.

Eric Cross (00:07:39):

Absolutely. So why is it important, do you think, for educators to, to be familiar with it? Like, why are we all so excited about it?

Jennifer Roberts (00:07:47):

So, educators need to know what kids are into, and kids are obviously into ChatGPT. And anyone who’s an educator right now has probably already had something cross their desk — or more likely their computer screen — that was written by AI and passed off as a student’s own work. And that is, of course, the great fear among teachers everywhere, that this is what kids are just gonna do these days and they won’t be able to catch it and children won’t be doing their own work and this and this. But I think the big reason teachers need to know what’s going on is because teachers need to be futurists. Our clientele will live in the future. We teach kids, kids will become adults, adults will live in the world. And so if we’re not thinking about and trying to predict on some level what’s gonna happen 5, 10, 15 years from now … we might be wrong, but what if we’re right?

Jennifer Roberts (00:08:38):

And if we’re not at least trying to think about what is their future world gonna look like, then we’re not serving our students well. I did a whole night talk on that. So I think ChatGPT is part of that. I teach seniors. I had this moment of realization I felt a few months ago. I’m like, “This is gonna be the world they graduate into. They need to know what this is before they leave me.” If I don’t teach them how to use this well, and not the way they’re using it — which is to copy and paste the teacher’s assignment and drop it into ChatGPT and take whatever it spits out and turning that in without even looking at it — if I don’t teach ’em how to use it critically, if I don’t teach them how to write effective prompts, if I don’t teach them how to use the AI as a tool, as a collaborator, then they’re gonna graduate into a world where they lose out to people who do know how to do that. And I think the advantage goes to kids who have access and knowledge of what’s in front of them and what’s available, and can use all of the tools at their disposal. Because when you’re writing in school and you write with a collaborator, that could be considered cheating. But when you do that out in the adult world, that’s considered doing a good job. <Laugh> Being a team player. <Laugh> You know, adults don’t work alone for the most part. And adults are expected to churn out beautiful, perfect content no matter how they got there. So if I’m not teaching my kids how to use this, they’re not being ready. They’re not gonna be ready to be the adults that I want them to be.

Donnie Piercey (00:10:07):

A hundred percent agree. And I also believe … as you know, I teach elementary school. I also don’t think anybody is saying that on the first day of kindergarten, you hand a kid a Chromebook and load up an AI chatbot or ChatGPT and say, Hey, this thing’s gonna do all your work for you for the next 12 years; just coast through life. You don’t have to think creatively. You don’t have to learn how to develop a paragraph or learn how to write a speech or develop an idea. Like, I don’t think anybody’s saying that, because as an elementary school teacher, there’s many days when I’m like, “Y’all, we’re just putting the Chromebooks away today and we’re just gonna go old-school. We’re just gonna maybe just jot down five quick ideas and stand up and present those ideas to the class.”

Donnie Piercey (00:10:54):

Because while AI definitely will, like you were saying, Jen, play a significant role in the lives of our students who are, not just graduating, but the 10- and 11-year-olds in my classroom this year. A significant role in their lives. It’s also really important to recognize that we’re not saying that this means that “Hey, kids don’t have to work anymore.” They still have to put forth that effort. There’s still — one of the ways that you become a good writer is by trial and error. And sometimes that trial and error comes through talking to a teacher or talking like you were saying to a peer or collaborating with a peer and saying to them, “Well, this sentence here, this paragraph here, really doesn’t make sense.” And I do believe one of the ways — especially as AI starts to become more fine-tuned and starts to be embedded more and more in tools like Google Docs and Microsoft Word — is it’s almost going to be a tutor to students.

Donnie Piercey (00:11:56):

Mm-hmm. <affirmative> Where I could very easily see in a few years, or maybe a few months, who knows what Google or any of these other big companies has rolling out, where a student could highlight a paragraph that they wrote simply, and then say, “Hey, proofread this for me,” or “Check for coherence.” Or even just ask a simple question: “Does this paragraph make sense?” Because you can already do that. You can copy a paragraph over into a chatbot and say, “Hey, does this make sense?” You know, “Rate my idea from one to 10,” and it’ll do that for ’em.

Jennifer Roberts (00:12:26):

We did that last week <laugh>.

Donnie Piercey (00:12:28):

Yeah. Right. I mean, that’s the thing. That technology exists now. It’s just not totally embedded yet. But based on what I’ve read and what I’ve seen, that’s gonna happen sooner rather than later. And it’s really, really important that we teach our students that, “No, you’re not just gonna use this, this tool to cheat, but you can use this tool to help you become a more creative student.”

Jennifer Roberts (00:12:50):

This is the use case in my classroom. Can I talk about that? You ready for that?

Eric Cross (00:12:53):

Please.

Jennifer Roberts (00:12:54):

OK.

Eric Cross (00:12:54):

Please.

Jennifer Roberts (00:12:55):

So my ninth graders are writing a comparative analysis essay, where I took them to the student art gallery and I made them pick two pieces of completely unknown student art and take notes on it, so they could go back and write this essay. And as soon as we got back to class, I said, can ChatGPT write this for you? And they all kind of froze ’cause I didn’t tell them what ChatGPT was. And they weren’t sure if they were allowed to know or not. And finally one of them kind of bravely raised his hand and said, “No.” And I said, “Why not?” And he said, “Well, the AI hasn’t seen the art. How can it write an essay about art when the art is completely original that we just went and looked at?” I said, “It’s almost like I planned it that way, isn’t it?” And they laughed nervously. And then I said, “Does that mean it can’t help us with this assignment?” And they said, “Well, no — of course it can’t help us, because it has not seen the art.” And I said, “Well. …” And I open ChatGPT, and I typed in what they were trying to do: “I need to write a comparative analysis essay comparing two pieces of student art on these reasons. And I need to choose which one did it better, basically. Can you help me with an outline?” and ChatGPT produced a lovely outline. And I looked at that with my students and we looked at it together and I said, “This is what it gave us. Would this be helpful to you?” And they’re like, “Yeah, that would be helpful to us.” So we — to be clear here, I was the only one using ChatGPT in the room. They were not actually using it. We were using it together. I copied and pasted the outline that it gave us and put it in their learning management system where they could access it so they could use the outline that the robot provided, and then they could use that to make their own writing better. So then I let them write for a little while, and, after they’d written for a little while, I said, “Does anybody wanna let me share your first paragraph with ChatGPT and see what it thinks of how you’re doing?” And a brave student raised his hand and we took his paragraph and we put it in ChatGPT, and it spit back advice. We said, “This is what I have so far for my first paragraph. Do you have any advice for me?” And we gave it the writing, and the first piece of advice it gave back was very generic, you know, “Add a hook,” you know, like kind of thing. But after that, it started to get more specific about things he was actually doing in his writing. And it started to give him some feedback. And we looked at that together as a class. And I said, “Does any of that feedback help you?” And he said, “Oh yeah, absolutely. I’m gonna go add some revisions to my paragraph.” And other students did too. They looked at the feedback he got and used that to improve their writing. And so everybody went and revised. And I said, “Look, if you take what the robot gives you and you copy and paste it, and you turn it in as your own work, it’s gonna get flagged for plagiarism. And that’s not gonna go well. But if it gives you writing advice the same way I would give you writing advice, and you decide that advice is good, and you take that advice and you incorporate it into your own writing yourself, then the robot’s making you better, but you’re still the one doing your own writing.” And the writing they turned in from that assignment was, was better. It wasn’t written by ChatGPT; it was still about the student art that they found in the gallery. But I showed them a path. Like, it can help you with an outline, it can help you with feedback. Right? These are fair ways to use it that’s gonna make you better. And they really liked that. They really liked — no one had shown them that before. The idea that you don’t just take the teacher’s prompt and give it to it … like, these are new uses to students and worked well.

Eric Cross (00:16:17):

So right now, you both just laid out these ways that you’re using it. And I do this with people that I’m trying to introduce to ChatGPT or AI. ‘Cause I get excited. Anyone could write a 500-word persuasive essay on the use of color in The Great Gatsby or The Outsiders, and they can get something back within seconds. But for a lot of educators, it might feel like the sky is falling.

Donnie Piercey (00:16:43):

Oh, understandably! Understandably. I mean, that totally makes sense.

Eric Cross (00:16:49):

What would you say to them? Donnie, go ahead.

Donnie Piercey (00:16:51):

Yeah. Well, I feel like every teacher kind of goes through the same experience when they see like a generative chatbot. I mean, all these major companies are gonna start incorporating AI, the generative AI piece. And a lot of times, when they see it for the first time, two things. First they’ll say “Oh, but I’ll know that that’s not my students’ writing.” Which, frankly, I think is a good thing, because that tells me that the teachers know their students’ writing. They’ve seen them write in person. They’ve conferenced with them one-on-one. And if a student were to turn something in to me, who I know might be a struggling writer, maybe it’s not their strength, and all of a sudden they’re turning in this10-page dissertation-worthy thesis written at a PhD level, I’m like, “All right, man, you’re nine. Can we talk about where this came from?” <laugh> But I also don’t think that at like the heart, I don’t feel like kids want to cheat. I really don’t. I feel like sometimes like kids are in a situation where they’re like, “OK, I’ve got nothing left. I gotta get this assignment done.” And when those kind of things happen, that’s when we as teachers, we have those one-on-one conversations. Even when I showed my students ChatGPT and even some of the AI image-generating stuff for the first time, and I talked to them about, “What do y’all think about this?” Because, you know, they’re under 13. In my district, ChatGPT is blocked for students. Staff, we have access to it. And that’s just because one, it’s so new, and at the same time, we need to figure out, “What’s the best way they can go about using this tool?” But when we were talking about it as a class, you know, I didn’t want to ignore the elephant in the room. So I asked them, I said, “Hey, do you feel like this is something that you all would use to. …” I mean, I used the word. I said “cheat.” And to be honest, the majority of the students in my class, they were taken aback. They’re like, “What? You think we just would cheat all the time?” Right? <Laugh> And I’m like, “Oh, well good. I’m glad to know that integrity is still alive and well.” But yeah, that’s definitely my thoughts on it, as far as not only the student integrity piece — I think that that’s the big thing that you need to just bring up with your students. Because again, I like to think that I’ve seen my students write enough that if they were going to turn something in that wasn’t their voice, or it didn’t sound like them, like I could have that conversation. And don’t be surprised, too, if in the next … I don’t know, one month to a year, there’s lots of AI detectors that exist. A lot of them are these like third-party things. You can go ahead, but I would not be surprised if in the next year or so, like you start to see those AI detectors be built into Google Docs, into Microsoft Word, into even Canva. And honestly, it’s almost like a fail-safe button for teachers, that we could say “All right, this is telling me that this is 99% probably written by AI.” So you can have that conversation with a student that way.

Jennifer Roberts (00:20:03):

I mean, if you’re worried about it, Formative, right now, will even tell you if something is copy-and-pasted into the boxes that they give you for students to write in. I find that kids who cheat are desperate, you know. Especially at the high school level. They’re panic mode. And, and usually their panic comes from, “I have no idea how to even start this assignment.” And so part of what I wanna use ChatGPT for is to lower that barrier for them. Like, you’ve got an assignment, you don’t know where to start. Tell the robot, tell ChatGPT, about the assignment and ask it for a list of steps. You know, ask it for an outline. Ask it for a time management plan. I see so much tremendous potential for this to help many of my students with IEPs who have executive functioning issues.

Donnie Piercey (00:20:49):

Oh, a hundred percent, right?

Jennifer Roberts (00:20:51):

Yes, a hundred percent. This can be their personal assistant who, you know, instead of me sitting with them one-on-one and saying, you know, “This is the task you need to do, let’s break it down into these six discrete chunks,” the artificial intelligence can do that for them. And it can do that for teachers too. <laugh>

Donnie Piercey (00:21:09):

Jen, I was just thinking about, how long until we see like the phrase artificial intelligence written onto a student’s IEP? I could see that happening very, very soon.

Jennifer Roberts (00:21:20):

Right? They should be able to use that. And then, also, of course, all of its amazing beneficials for teachers. I had to completely rewrite a unit of my curriculum. I knew what I wanted to do. I had some ideas of things I wanted to put in there. And I resorted to, I went to EducationCopilot.com and typed in my stuff that I had: You know, what standards I wanted to cover, what outcomes I was hoping for mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And it generated an eight-week unit for me. And I actually told it then to go back and do it as a 12-week unit so that I’d have more stuff in there to go and cherry-pick to decide what I really wanted to do. But it gave me ideas. It gave me places to start. It saved me an hour of just brainstorming. And I don’t think that was cheating. I still got to go in and decide which ideas were valid. And I still got to … you know, I mean, I’m a teacher. Can I get accused of cheating? I don’t think that’s a thing. It’s—

Eric Cross (00:22:18):

That’s collaborating! It’s collaborating!

Donnie Piercey (00:22:20):

Collaborating! It’s a feature! It’s a feature.

Jennifer Roberts (00:22:22):

It’s Tony Stark talking to Jarvis. You know, they’re figuring it out together.

Donnie Piercey (00:22:26):

Oh, when you use the AI, Jennifer, do you call yours Jarvis? In my class we call him Jeeves. ‘Cause remember Ask Jeeves?

Jennifer Roberts (00:22:33):

I think Eric calls it Jarvis.

Eric Cross (00:22:35):

Yeah. Jarvis is gonna be the AI’s name when, when I can get that fully functioning. There are some things that you had said, I just wanna circle back on. Donnie, Jen — so what I heard was like, best intentions. The part you said about integrity and students wanting to cheat … even the mindset that we go in assuming our students, what they would want to do and assuming best intentions, really kind of frames how you look at this kind of technology. And then Jen, you kind of brought up why students cheat, and realizing that either they don’t feel equipped, or maybe it’s time management, or something else. But most people — and I believe this as an educator — most students want to learn, and they want to be able to perform and achieve. And when they cheat, it’s because they didn’t feel like they could, for whatever reason. Whether it’s it’s outside factors, whether it’s something internal, motivation, whatever it is.

Jennifer Roberts (00:23:24):

Or they were very disconnected and just didn’t care.

Eric Cross (00:23:27):

Sure.

Jennifer Roberts (00:23:27):

This is just busy work the teacher’s giving me, so I’m gonna give it very little of my time and energy. But I think, yeah, it can be that. But if the kid cares about it, if they wanna learn, they wanna learn, you know?

Eric Cross (00:23:40):

Right.

Jennifer Roberts (00:23:40):

This is the day of the internet. Any kid can learn anything they really want to learn. And we see that all the time in our classes. The kid who has zero interest in what I’m teaching in English, but he is an expert coder, and that’s what he wants to spend his time learning. He’s like, “Can I read this C++ book as my independent reading book?” And I’m like, “You know, actually, you can. Go ahead.” <Laugh>

Eric Cross (00:24:01):

Yeah. And for both of you, saying that this makes content more accessible … and I think Donnie, or Jen, you said something about IEPs. I actually put in having it write an IEP to see what would happen. I gave it a prompt for a student’s ability level and I asked it to create a plan. And then I asked it to create a rationale. And it did! And it was good! I went through and vetted it. And right now … you know, a lot of it is funny, ’cause the conversation I’m having with different teachers is kind of like the Wikipedia one. Remember when Wikipedia first got out and everyone was like trying to discourage everybody from using it, because, well, it could be changed by anybody? And now everyone’s like, “Oh, check Wikipedia, and then steal the sources, ’cause they’re already done for you.” Like, the mindset has shifted since then. And I was talking to someone and they said, “Well. …” And I said, “We can use AI, it could be a tutor, these other things. …” And they said, “Yeah, but what happens?” And then insert apocalyptic scenario. Like, what happens if you don’t have access to wifi? And it reminded me of, for some reason, cooking classes. So in the 1700s you probably had to be able to farm to be able to generate your food. Right? Like, you had to get it from somewhere. But if you take a culinary class now, you just go to the grocery store. And someone might say, “Well, but you should know how to farm, ’cause what if there was this worldwide apocalypse and nobody could go to the grocery stores?” <Laugh> And you’re like, “Well, balance of probability though.” You know, it’s like we’ve been really been living in these iterations of life, and I think this next step for some folks … like, we don’t even realize, even like something like bank statements, right? So many folks are paperless. And there’s always a what-if scenario. What if you need it and the internet goes down. But we get so used to to to technology advancing and making our lives different. This kind of seems like that next iteration. And I wanna ask you this question: Are we looking at like the next calculator? The next internet, with this tech? Or do you think it’s too early to say?

Donnie Piercey (00:26:01):

Well, I’ve seen a lot of people compare ChatGPT to a calculator. I’ve seen that pop up on social media. There’s, “Oh well, no, this is like when the calculator was invented. Everyone was up in arms about how ‘that’s not what math students should do.’ Math should be pencil and paper, math should be this.’” However, you can give a kid a calculator and you can give ’em a word problem and they can punch in all the numbers, but they could do the wrong operation or they could put the decimal point in the wrong place, ’cause the student is still the one who’s controlling what’s on the calculator. Where with AI, all you gotta do is just copy it and then paste it into the bot and it’ll spit out whatever the question asked it for. Whether it was, you know, a 500-word rationale or proof for something in geometry, or if it’s analyzing data on a chart, it’ll do all that.

Jennifer Roberts (00:27:00):

Yes. But it’s not that magical. It’s back to what Eric did with the IEP. He put in a prompt and then he knew enough to ask for a rationale and then he knew enough about IEPs to critically read the results he got and make sure they actually worked for what he needed. He had to know all that. He was an expert using it to do an expert thing. My husband’s a computer scientist; he got ChatGPT to help him write an app, and it was a new programming language to him, and he could put in the data and he could ask for things that I would’ve never thought to ask for. But because he knows the language of computer science, he knew what to ask for. And when it gave him results that were bad, he could see that, and he could say, “Yes, but do it again, but without this,” or “make this part more efficient.” He, again, knew what to ask for. So I think the generative AI is, as a partner with humans, a powerful thing. But if the human doesn’t know what they’re doing, yeah. You’re still not gonna get great results.

Donnie Piercey (00:28:03):

<laugh> And I think that’s why I’m coming at this from the elementary school perspective, right? Because in K–5 students are still learning, like, “Hey, where does the decimal point go?” They’re still learning, you know, if you’re dividing by a two-digit number, where does the first digit go, if you go in the old long-division algorithm? And so they’re still acquiring that base-level knowledge that … I don’t know, maybe this is similar to in Jurassic Park when Jeff Goldblum says, “It didn’t take any knowledge to attain,” you know, “they stood on the shoulders of geniuses,” that whole thing. Like they had to acquire the knowledge for themselves, was his whole point. And so that’s why I don’t think it’s exactly the same as the calculator. It is definitely going to change things, in a similar way that the calculator did. But to me it’s just a whole new animal. And I don’t know if it’s going to be like the next internet, Eric — if you’re gonna get little devices that have AI built into it, like a Star Wars kind of thing, like a droid or something that follows you around — all that would be kind of cool, not gonna lie. But whether it’s something that you’ll access through the internet, something that’s built into your TV, that part I don’t know. But I do know that there’s a reason why all of these apps and all these companies are investing so much — not just energy, but time and money into it. Because they’re recognizing. “OK, this really has the potential to change things.” But if used well, and used safely, to change people’s lives for the better.

Eric Cross (00:29:41):

So I definitely hear that you both agree with the statement that if AI ChatGPT was used in the classroom, it could be a force for good. And literacy development. And I wanna shift gears a bit and then come back to the AI. So with that said — and we’re gonna get into some best practices in a minute — in Science Connections right now in this season, we’re making the case for how science can do more in classrooms and in schools. And so I’m I’m curious about what both of you think about the role in science fostering a better future when it comes to AI and education. And this season we’re really talking a lot about literacy. You know, in schools, so often it’s taught in a siloed way. And Donnie, you’re doing multi-subject. Jen, you’re single-subject: English. And we’ve really been trying to make this case for how science can actually support literacy, and these skills that students are trying to develop. So we’re going a little old-school, kind of diving into your content specialty, but maybe even pre-AI, or maybe AI has a component in this. But Don, maybe we’ll start with you. How has science been a way that has been helpful for your own literacy instruction? I know you do a lot of science, because I see your Google Earth stuff and the thing you did with the solar systems back in the day. And I think —.

Donnie Piercey (00:30:54):

Oh my gosh! You remember my <laugh> … wow.

Eric Cross (00:30:58):

That was amazing!

Donnie Piercey (00:31:00):

We haven’t done that since the pandemic. But I had my students go out, and using Google Earth, we built a scale model. Each of the students partnered up and they planned out on Google Earth a scale model of the solar system. They picked an object from around their house and we talked about like, “Don’t pick something bigger than a beach ball, or else, you know, your Neptune’s gonna end up like 10 miles away.” But you know, they just picked like a small ball, like a basketball, soccer ball, something like that. Or football, for international friends. And then we calculated the size of every other planet. And then on Google Earth, using their front lawn as where the sun was, then we went and we calculated where other planets would be, and then we actually drove to those locations and like held up the objects that would represent Neptune, Jupiter, Saturn, and all that. But it was a lot of fun.

Eric Cross (00:31:59):

And is that still accessible? ‘Cause I know you have some websites that you put resources out there.

Donnie Piercey (00:32:03):

Yeah. Yeah, I can … I wanna say on my Resources page — Resources.MrPiercey.com — I’ve got a link on there to a couple of student examples that I can share. And if not, when we get off this call, I’m gonna go on and put them on there <laugh> so people can find it. I’ll even throw on there just the assignment itself. So if you wanted to copy that and do that with your students, you could.

Eric Cross (00:32:27):

Donnie, the reason why I brought that up is because I saw that you had posted that or shared it a long time ago, and I just thought it was the coolest thing that you could totally do with middle-school students or high-school students. Jen, when I became a teacher, you said, “We’re all teachers of literacy.”

Jennifer Roberts (00:32:43):

<laugh> Yeah. I think we forgot to tell them that I was one of your professors.

Eric Cross (00:32:47):

Yes. <Jennifer laughs> One of the people who’ve definitely influenced and shaped my teaching. And that statement has never left my mind: that we’re all teachers of literacy. And I want to ask you, at the high-school level, how can science educators, or how can science — how have you seen it, or how does it, support literacy, when it’s done right?

Jennifer Roberts (00:33:09):

Like I said, I think we’re all teachers of literacy, but I think literacy is bigger than just reading and writing. I don’t think someone is literate if they can’t talk somewhat knowledgeably about what’s happening with climate change. I don’t think someone’s literate if they don’t know what’s going on in the world. And I think so much of what’s going on in the world has to do with science. We’re doing that all the time. If I could teach English just by giving kids articles about science, things to read, that would make my day. Right? We would never read another piece of fiction again. It would all be, you know, what’s happening to the ice sheet in Greenland. My students thrive on reading non-fiction. And then whenever that non-fiction touches on science is even more interesting. And whenever I can get them writing about data, particularly their own data that they collected, I think that’s building those science literacy skills as well. So I think science and English blend together very, very well. I think the literacy aspects of that are fantastic. There are more subject-specific vocabulary words, advanced vocabulary words, in science than any other discipline. And I don’t see why those shouldn’t come up in English as well. You know, my seniors will do a unit at the end of the year on the new space race. Unless I replace it with a unit about generative AI, which I’m seriously considering doing, ’cause I think they really need to learn about bias in AI algorithms and things like that. And I would like to have them read a whole bunch about that stuff. And I wanna give them the open letter that all those CEOs signed that said that AI research should slow down, and make them part of that live conversation about what’s happening in that field. So science comes into that. You know, when we read Into the Wild, we start talking about a whole bunch of scientific concepts. And when it rains in Southern California, we pull up weather maps and look at radar and talk about that and how that works.

Donnie Piercey (00:34:59):

That’s like once every 10 years, Jen? <Laugh>

Jennifer Roberts (00:35:02):

Well, actually, this year it rained a lot. It rained a lot in San Diego. Which is actually very high-interest for them. ‘Cause they wanna know, is it gonna be raining at lunchtime?

Eric Cross (00:35:12):

Jen, you said something … you have your students writing about data?

Jennifer Roberts (00:35:16):

Oh yeah.

Eric Cross (00:35:17):

Can you tell me more about that?

Jennifer Roberts (00:35:19):

So, this is something we’ve done with the ninth grade team for a long time now, is writing about their own data. So it started with a unit about stereotypes and stereotype threat. And they would collect data individually and then they would enter that data into a Google form and then we would give them the spreadsheet of the aggregate data from the whole ninth grade. And then we morphed that unit into one about academic honesty, and they filled out a survey at the beginning of the unit about their feelings about academic honesty and about experiences with academic honesty and cheating and homework and things like that. And then we would do the unit. We’d do all the readings in the unit. And they’d have these “aha” moments about things that were happening at other schools. And then at the end of the unit, we would give them back their own aggregate data and ask them to write about whether or not academic honesty was an issue at our school. And then to support that answer with evidence from their own dataset. So they had that spreadsheet to comb through and figure out, you know, where am I gonna stand on this? We give them the multiple-choice questions we gave them as the graphs, in Google Slides, so that they could write about them and talk about them, too. So yeah, getting kids to write about data. And the the sentence frames we gave them were sentence frames out of, They Say, I Say, from the chapter on writing about science. And <laugh> as they write this stuff, they’re like, “I feel so smart writing this way.” And I’m like, “I know, ’cause you’re writing about big important topics!” Right? And writing about their own data come to think of it is another great way to make an assignment both very personal to them, but also make it ChatGPT-proof, you know, if you’re looking for something that kids can’t just hand to the robot, the robot doesn’t have that data set.

Eric Cross (00:37:08):

Absolutely. And Donnie, at the elementary level, do you, do you make connections between science and literacy? In your class? You talked about with math, definitely with the solar system, but now, I’m curious, what are your newer projects? What have you been working on lately?

Jennifer Roberts (00:37:23):

What’s up now, Donnie?

Eric Cross (00:37:24):

Yeah, what are you doing?

Donnie Piercey (00:37:25):

Oh, man. Well, let me think. I’m just trying to think of some fun projects that we’ve done this year. Science that we can tie in Literacy and also some student creation. Just recently we had a … so I’ve wanted to expose my students to famous scientists that weren’t just white dudes from Europe. So for this year, what I did — and I actually used AI for this — I went into ChatGPT and I asked for 64 famous scientists and it listed them all off. And then I asked it, like, how many of these were white? And I think it said like 61 of them. You know, it had like Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and a couple of other … I didn’t know who they were. So I’m like, “All right, so we need to make this more diverse and make this more equitable.” ‘Cause you know, with the student population in my classroom, try to find equal representation to make sure they can see themselves in some of these scientists. So, eventually got it narrowed down to where I had about 64 scientists. Half are women, half are men from all continents except Antarctica. I assigned these scientists to my students. Some got two; some got three. And their assignment was to go and one, do some individual research on this person, find out what they were famous for, what they were most well-known for, turn it actually into a persuasive piece, where I said, “Hey, you’re gonna have one slide.” And I’ll tell you why I gave him one slide in a minute. On that one slide, you’ve gotta convince the person who sees it that this scientist is the most important scientist since the dawn of creation. I said, “You could use images, text — I don’t care if they were famous for something that you didn’t even understand what it was. It’s a persuasive piece. You’re 10. Go all out. Add gifs, do that whole thing.

Eric Cross (00:39:21):

This is awesome.

Jennifer Roberts (00:39:21):

I wanna do this project.

Donnie Piercey (00:39:23):

And if you picked up on the number 64, and I did this in March, so what we did was throughout the weeks of March Madness of the women’s and men’s NCAA tournament, whenever a game was going on, we had another round of voting. I just paired ’em up. I was gonna like seed them, like 1 to 64 — that’s just way too much work for me <laugh>. So I just kind of did random kind of thing. But all the students had to do — they just saw the slides side-by-side, and the only question they had was, “Based on what you see here, who is the most important scientist? This person or this person?” And it eventually came down to Carl Sagan going up against Marie Curie.

Eric Cross (00:40:04):

OK, that’s a good matchup.

Donnie Piercey (00:40:06):

Yeah, well, the Marie Curie slide, they just liked the radium piece. So they added like some green glowing gifs. And I said, “Guys, it doesn’t always grow glow green.” But whatever. Anyway, eventually Carl Sagan, in case you wanted to know, according to the 10-year-olds in my classroom, is the most important scientist in the history of the world. So I don’t know if I agree with that per se — I think maybe Newton or somebody else might have had something else to say about it — but fun assignment. It was a unique way to expose my students to a bunch of ideas. I remember the student that I assigned Newton, the only thing that that she knew about Isaac Newton was “Didn’t he get hit in the head with an apple?” And I said, “Well, not exactly, I think you might have read or maybe seen too many like old-school cartoons or whatever.” But she ended up doing some research. She’s like, “Oh, I’ve heard of that before! That equal and opposite reaction thing.” Didn’t know what it meant. I had another student that just got really … you know, if you’ve ever been on one of those YouTube kicks where it’s just, you go like nine levels deep onto like, “What does this theorem mean?” Student sits in back of my classroom, I walked by one day and he’s just watching something on like the fifth dimension and what it might be. And I said, “Oh, your scientist got you started on that.” So definitely was a lot of fun. Unique way to combine reading, writing, but also expose my students to some ideas. And we’re definitely gonna do it again. I’ve actually done this assignment before. I picked 64 random elements on the periodic table. But their only slide that they have to make is “What’s your element? What is it used for? And then, why is this the most important element since the dawn of creation?” <Laugh> And, you know, there’s always that student that gets hydrogen. They’re just like “Sweet!” Right? They get excited about that one. <laugh>

Eric Cross (00:41:59):

Explosions.

Donnie Piercey (00:42:00):

Yeah. But then, for that kid who likes a challenge, or that student with the “gifted” label, you give them, like, einsteinium or palladium. Some of the more challenging ones. And they go all out with this. I didn’t use AI for that one, but it was kind of fun, and I figured it’d be neat to share an idea that another teacher could try.

Eric Cross (00:42:20):

Well you probably have at least two teachers right now that are gonna go and try that. And we’re both looking at you. So.

Donnie Piercey (00:42:24):

Go for it.

Eric Cross (00:42:25):

Thanks for that idea. I’m imagining my students coming in with jerseys with “neon.”

Donnie Piercey (00:42:29):

Oh yeah. <laugh>

Eric Cross (00:42:30):

“Neon” on it. Just all ’80s out.

Donnie Piercey (00:42:33):

The game behind it, too, is you tell kids — again, this is just so the 10-year-olds in my class don’t get their feelings hurt — but I say, “Hey, and if your element gets knocked out, you just have to start cheering for whoever beats you in the tournament.” So by the end, you kind of got half the class cheering for one and half the class cheering for whatever.

Jennifer Roberts (00:42:53):

So the only thing I got outta that whole story that I’ve got for you is, as a child I met Carl Sagan. That’s all I got.

Donnie Piercey (00:43:02):

For real?

Jennifer Roberts (00:43:02):

For real.

Donnie Piercey (00:43:03):

So did he talk with that cadence and tone?

Jennifer Roberts (00:43:06):

Yes.

Donnie Piercey (00:43:06):

Like in real life? Wow.

Jennifer Roberts (00:43:07):

Yes. My father was one of the cinematographers on the original Cosmos. And I got to go to the set a few times.

Donnie Piercey (00:43:14):

That’s incredible!

Jennifer Roberts (00:43:15):

I did not appreciate what I was seeing as a child. But as an adult, I’m like, “That was cool. I was there.”

Donnie Piercey (00:43:20):

“You can see my shadow off in the distance.”

Jennifer Roberts (00:43:23):

I mean, maybe that’s part of why I’ve always had an interest in science. I’ve always had fantastic science teachers. Every science teacher I ever had was amazing.

Donnie Piercey (00:43:31):

I credit mine to Mr. Wizard. I don’t know if you ever watched Mr. Wizard and Beakman’s World?

Eric Cross (00:43:35):

I remember Mr. Wizard. Yep. Yep. I definitely remember Mr. Wizard, Beakman’s World, all those. That was on Nickelodeon back in the day. I had to get up early to watch that one. But there’s a YouTube video—

Donnie Piercey (00:43:44):

Six am!

Eric Cross (00:43:44):

<laugh> It was! It was super-early! But there was one, Don, I don’t know if you’ve seen this on YouTube, but it said “Mr. Wizard Is Mean,” and it’s just clips of when he’s—

Donnie Piercey (00:43:56):

Yelling at kids!

Eric Cross (00:43:56):

Chastising. Or being really direct. It’s just one after another.

Donnie Piercey (00:44:02):

He always asked ’em a question and if the kid, you know, didn’t answer it right, he’d be like, “Well, you’re not right, but you’re wrong.” You know, whatever. <Laugh>

Eric Cross (00:44:14):

I have to make sure I’m not subconsciously saying Mr. Wizard quotes when I’m talking in the classroom, when things are happening. But yeah, that video’s hilarious. So I just want to bring us back to AI, and ask this question: Do you think science has a special role to play when it comes to teaching kids about AI responsibly? Does science have a special role in that?

Jennifer Roberts (00:44:36):

I think the responsible piece of AI I wanna teach my students about is the part about the bias in the algorithms and the bias in the training. And I want them to understand how it works, well enough to make informed decisions about how it impacts their lives.

Donnie Piercey (00:44:56):

Hmm.

Jennifer Roberts (00:44:57):

Because I do have concerns about a tool that was trained on the internet. And the answers it gives you is the average of the internet. And do we trust the internet? And the answer from kids is always, “Well sorta, no.” <Laugh> So I want them to understand the social science behind that.

Donnie Piercey (00:45:18):

Yeah. And just along that same point, having the students recognize that just because, you know, you copy-and-paste a question in, the answer it spits out might not always be correct. So, teaching them that just like you would with a source that you find about a topic that you’re researching, you’ve gotta fact-check.

Jennifer Roberts (00:45:44):

It’s just like being a good scientist. A good scientist wouldn’t always accept a single result or the first result. You know, you would look at multiple angles. You would try things different ways. Last week I took the article my seniors were reading about victim compensation after 9-11, and in front of them, I gave ChatGPT, I said, “Are you familiar with this article by Amanda Ripley? And ChatGPT came back and said, “Oh yes, this was written in the Atlantic in 2020 and it’s about these things, blah, blah blah.” And my students looked at that and went, “That’s not the article we read.” And I said, “I know. It got it wrong. That’s amazing!” Yeah. And I was so happy that it got it wrong! ‘Cause I wanted them to see that happen.

Donnie Piercey (00:46:21):

And I guess one of the big science questions there, or one of the big science components there, is that idea of inquiry. Right? It’s almost like you have to teach students how to ask those deep questions about what AI spits out.

Eric Cross (00:46:35):

All of those tips are great. And it leads me to this last question I want to ask. New teachers that are out there — it actually doesn’t even matter; new teachers, experienced teachers, all of us are kind of new at different levels of this race. We’re all kind of starting it together. I mean, it hit mainstream. We’re all getting exposed to it. You all really dive into it. When tech comes out, I know you two really like, “OK, how can we use this to transform education and do awesome things for kids?”

Donnie Piercey (00:47:04):

Usually, when new tech comes out, “How can this make my life easier?” is usually the question. Yeah.

Jennifer Roberts (00:47:09):

“How can I save myself time with this?” Yes.

Donnie Piercey (00:47:11):

“How can this result in me watching more TV and you know, less grading,” sometimes.

Eric Cross (00:47:16):

And I start there like you, but then I end up more time that I fill with another project. And I need to learn how to stop doing that. I’m like, “Oh! I got more free time! … to go take on this other task.”

Jennifer Roberts (00:47:28):

Oh, all of my tech adoption is driven by “how can I work less?”

Eric Cross (00:47:32):

So you’re you’re talking to a new teacher, teacher’s getting exposed to this, they’re starting the school year or they’re just getting their feet wet with it. What advice would you give them about AI, incorporated into content or even just best practices? Where you’re at right now in your own journey, and someone’s asking you about it —what would you share with ’em? And Jen, I want to start with you.

Jennifer Roberts (00:47:53):

So, the first thing I did is I was in the middle of grading, you know, 62 essays from my seniors about Into the Wild, when ChatGPT became a thing last November. And I wanted to see what would happen. So the first thing I did was take the prompt that I had given my students and gave it to ChatGPT, ’cause I had just graded a whole bunch of those essays and my brain was very attuned to what my rubric was doing and what I was expecting as the outcome. So I could take what ChatGPT gave me as that quote unquote “essay” and evaluate it critically. And I was ready to do that. So my first advice is take something you’re already asking students to do and ask ChatGPT to do the same thing. So that as you look at the student results, you can compare that to what ChatGPTgives you. If what you’re finding is that ChatGPT can generate something that would earn a decent grade from you, you might need to change that assignment. And it doesn’t need to be a big change, but it might need a tweak or something, so that it, it does rely on the student voice, the students to do something more personal. I’m finding very helpful in my classroom is having my kids do projects where they are recording themselves on — I like Flip. So they’re writing a scene together and they’re having to record the scene together. And I’m emphasizing more of the speaking roles than the writing roles necessarily. So yes, first, take something you’re already doing, paste in to ChatGPT, see what the results are, see how that fits with what your students are doing, and then do that for every assignment you give and just sort of see what comes out of that, and see which assignments are failing and which assignments are working. ‘Cause that’s gonna give you a sense, when you do see one of those results from your students, you’ll be able to recognize it. But it’ll also help you tweak your assignments and decide, “How can I make this a little more original or a little bit more authentic for my students?” And if the robot, if the AI, can’t generate a response, what could the AI do that would be helpful to your students? Would be my next question. So can you use the AI to help them generate an outline? Can you use the AI to help them generate a list of steps to help them get started? And when you’re comfortable enough doing that by yourself, then don’t be afraid to open it in front of your class. If it’s not blocked at your school site, which I hope it’s not. Because I think the advantage goes to kids who have access to this in the long run, or at least see what it is and know what it is. Right? Because if a kid graduates from school without knowing that AI exists, they’re not gonna be prepared for what they face out in the world. So give them a chance to see you using it. Model effectively using it. I have a blog post about that. I just wrote it. LitAndTech.com. You can check that out. “Introducing 9th graders to ChatGPT.” How it went, right? There’s a chart there you can have. It’s my very first draft of this, but it seems to be very popular. So, you know, show students how it can be used as their mentor. If I can’t come read your paragraph because I have 36 kids in my classroom and I cannot stop and read everybody’s first paragraph, can you, if you want to, give your first paragraph to ChatGPT and ask for advice? And will that advice be helpful to you? So showing students how it can be used responsibly is, I think, something every teacher should be doing right now. And don’t hold back just because you’re afraid you’re gonna be teaching them what this is. They know what this is. Right?

Donnie Piercey (00:51:13):

They know what it is.

Jennifer Roberts (00:51:13):

Especially if you teach high school. They know what it is. I’ve had parents thank me for showing them how to use it responsibly. You know, this can actually be a really useful tool, but if you’re trying to make it do your work for you, it will probably fail you. If you’re trying to use it to help you do your work, it will probably be helpful. Sort of the way I’m breaking it down for them at this point. You want the great metaphor? The great metaphor is if you build a robot and send it to the top of a mountain, did you climb that mountain? No. If you build a robot and ask it to help you get to the top of the mountain, and you and the robot go together, did you climb that mountain? Yes.

Eric Cross (00:51:53):

I like that. I’m thinking through this. I’m processing that now.

Donnie Piercey (00:51:57):

Me too.

Eric Cross (00:51:59):

Yeah. I just imagine a robot holding my hand climbing Mount Everest and I’m like, “Yeah, I did it.”

Donnie Piercey (00:52:04):

If I got a robot though, like I would have to dress it like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2. Like I would just have to.

Eric Cross (00:52:10):

Of course.

Donnie Piercey (00:52:10):

Of course.

Eric Cross (00:52:13):

Donnie, same question. Advice. Teachers getting immersed into it. Tips. What would you say?

Donnie Piercey (00:52:20):

So, I would definitely agree with everything that Jen said. Just, if anything else, to familiarize yourself with it. Almost like pretend like it’s a student in your classroom and it’s answering questions, just so that way you can see what it can do. And you’re kind of training yourself, like, “Oh, well, if I ever need examples, exemplars.” If you’re in a writing piece and you don’t wanna sit there and write out four different types of student responses — you know, advanced writer, beginning writer, whatever — great way to to do that is you just—

Jennifer Roberts (00:52:48):

Oh yeah. We did that.

Donnie Piercey (00:52:48):

—copy the prompt in and give a beautifully written piece that a fifth grader would be impressed with. Boom. It’ll do it for you. In my classroom, the way that I approach it is I kinda look at AI as almost like this butler that I don’t have to pay. That if I need it to do something for me, it’s just bookmarked. I can click it. And I mean, sometimes I just talk to it like it’s a person. And it’s almost like, in the chat window, I’m just rambling at it, what I’m trying to do. And it’s almost like I’m talking to a coworker, and I’m trying to hedge out some ideas for a lesson. Simple example: For a science lesson, if you’re trying to come up with … let’s say you’re a fifth-grade — or, sorry, I teach fifth grade. Say you’re a seventh-grade science teacher. And you’re trying to teach the students in your class about Newton’s third law of motion. You know, every action [has an ] equal and opposite reaction. Look around your room. See what you have. Maybe look around and you’re like, “All right, I got a whiteboard, microscope, I’ve got magnets, a cylinder. …” And you just copy all this stuff into ChatGPT. Say, like, “Hey, I have all of these items. Cotton balls, peanut butter, whatever.” And say, “I’m trying to teach students Newton’s third law of motion. Give me some ideas of some ways I could teach it using some of these materials.” And it’ll do it! It’ll give you like five to 10 ideas!

Jennifer Roberts (00:54:15):

And then tell it what your students are into. Like, my students are really into basketball. Can you work that into this lesson?

Donnie Piercey (00:54:21):

Yeah! They’re into the Avengers! Hey, find some way to tie Spider-Man into this. You know, that was a pun that didn’t go so well. But, you know <laugh> figure out some way that you could incorporate this and it’ll do it. And Eric, like you said, it won’t be perfect. Right? But if anything else, if you’re a starting teacher and you’re trying to brainstorm ideas — try it.

Eric Cross (00:54:44):

And Donnie, as you were saying that, I was thinking — first, I imagined Spider-Man shooting cotton balls with peanut butter all over them — and then my mind went to having students have these items, like you were saying. And then they create labs, working alongside AI. To do inquiry. To create a lab about something, and then going and performing and collecting data. OK, that’s — now I wanna go do that tomorrow!

Donnie Piercey (00:55:10):

Listen, it is so easy to do. If you have an extra computer in your classroom. … We were talking about Jarvis and Iron Man and Tony Stark earlier. Make a new chat in ChatGPT. Tell it, “I want you to pretend that you are Tony Stark. Only answer questions as if you are Tony Stark.” Or “Pretend you’re Jarvis.” Whatever. “Stay in character the whole time. I’m going to have sixth grade students come up to you and ask you questions about science or forces of nature, and only answer questions like you’re Iron Man.” And guess what? You keep that station in your classroom. Students are working on a project — you know, in elementary school, a lot of times we’ll have that, “ask three before me” — you’re supposed to ask three friends before you go and bug the teacher. Well, maybe one of those “three before me” can be that little computer station, where they go up and ask Tony Stark a question, and then it answers them as Jarvis or Iron Man. I mean, we’re really just scratching the surface with all this AI stuff. And as more and more companies and more and more creatives are gonna start to realize everything that it can do, we’re gonna start to see it more and more. And hopefully we as teachers can really figure out how to use this tool to, of course, help students, but also help them be creative and explore and learn on their own.

Eric Cross (00:56:35):

That’s amazing. And just both of you are just dropping gems right now. And I wanna wrap up by saying — and I’ve said this before on earlier podcasts I’ve done — but at this phase in my life, the people that I’m the biggest fans of are teachers. And it’s true. I don’t mean that in a cliche way. When I watch celebrities and things like that, when I watch professional sports, that doesn’t fill me the way it used to when I was a kid. At this point, as a professional, I get inspired by other educators who are just doing awesome things. And when I think about educators who are doing that, you two are on that list of people that make me better. And when I get better, I can do better things for my kids. And so, one, I want to thank you for staying in the classroom and continue to support students. They’re so lucky to have you both. The second thing I wanted to say is, Jen, I wanna start with you. Where can people — and I know we said at the beginning — but where can people find the stuff that you put out? You got blogs, your social, your book.

Jennifer Roberts (00:57:28):

I got lots of social. Twitter, I’m JenRoberts1 on Twitter. And then my blog is LitAndTech.com. And then I’m on lots of the new social too, the Mastodons, the Spoutables, the Posts — those kinds of things — as just Jen Roberts, because I got in early and I got my real name without a 1. And there was some other one I’m on recently that I’ve forgotten about. But there’s lots of ’em. They’re fun. And I’m Jen Roberts. You can find me there.

Donnie Piercey (00:57:56):

And I’m SergeantPepperD on AOL, if anyone’s interested.

Eric Cross (00:58:00):

If you wanna hit Donnie up on AIM. <Laugh>

Donnie Piercey (00:58:03):

SergeantPepperD.

Jennifer Roberts (00:58:04):

You know, speaking of rock stars and people who do amazing things, I did write a blog post about using ChatGPT in the classroom, but I hear Donnie wrote a whole book.

Eric Cross (00:58:13):

Oh yeah. So, Donnie! Donnie, that’s a great segue. Thanks Jen. Donnie, how do people find out more? And can you tell us about this book you wrote, that’s coming out in the summer?

Donnie Piercey (00:58:22):

Yeah, so the book I wrote is called 50 Strategies for Integrating AI Into the Classroom. It’s published by Teacher Created Materials. They reached out to me. They had seen some of the stuff that I was doing, not just with ChatGPT, but also some image-generating AI stuff. You know, I got featured on Good Morning America, which was kind of cool. And they saw that and they said, ‘Hey, that looks really neat.” Reached out to me and asked me to write a book. And the idea behind the book, that launches this summer, it’s just 50 ideas, 50 prompts, different things that, as a classroom teacher, that you can do. So, you know, I think there’s so many AI books that are out there now. A lot of them are big ideas, which I think are important. Definitely important discussions that need to be, have around, the ethics of AI. What’s the role that AI should play in the classroom. But I just wanted to write a book, kind of like the discussion that, that Jen and I were just having, which is like, “Can we just share a whole bunch of ideas, different things that we could try with our students?” So definitely check it out. And I appreciate you giving me a shout-out too. That was cool, Eric. Thank you.

Eric Cross (00:59:35):

Of course. Definitely. And Donnie, your Twitter is again. …

Donnie Piercey (00:59:39):

Oh, @MrPiercey, M R P I E R C E Y.

Eric Cross (00:59:44):

Follow Donnie. Follow Jen. Tons of stuff on there. Both of you, thank you so much. For your time, for talking about students and how we can take care of them, science, literacy, AI. I hope we can talk about this again. I feel like even if in just six months, we might be saying different things. In a year, the landscape might completely change. And that makes it really fun. But thank you both for being on the show.

Jennifer Roberts (01:00:04):

Thank you for having us, Eric.

Donnie Piercey (01:00:05):

Thank you so much, Eric. We appreciate it, bud.

Eric Cross (01:00:10):

Thanks so much for listening to my conversation with Jen Roberts and Donnie Piercey. Jen Roberts is a veteran English teacher at San Diego’s Point Loma High School and author of the book Power Up: Making the Shift to 1:1 Teaching and Learning. You can keep up with her at LitAndTech.com. And Donnie Piercey is a fifth-grade teacher from Lexington, Kentucky. He hosts the podcast Teachers Passing Notes. Stay up-to-date with him at Resources.MrPiercey.com. And let us know what you think of this episode in our Facebook discussion group, Science Connections: The Community. Make sure you don’t miss any new episodes of Science Connections by subscribing to the show, wherever you get podcasts. And as always, we’d really appreciate it if you can leave us a review. It’ll help more people and AI robots find the show. You can find more information on all of Amplify’s shows on our podcast hub, Amplify.com/hub. Thanks again for listening.

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What Jennifer Roberts says about science

“If I’m not teaching my students how to use this, then they’re not going to turn into the adults we need them to be… If we’re not at least trying to think about what our future world is going to look like, then we’re not serving our students well.”

– Jennifer Roberts

High School English Teacher

Meet the guests

Jen Roberts is a Nationally Board Certified high school English teacher with 25+ years of experience teaching Social Science and English Language Arts in grades 7-12. She has had 1:1 laptops for her students since 2008 and is the co-author of Power Up: Making the Shift to 1:1 Teaching and Learning. A Google for Education Certified Innovator since 2011, Jen was named the CUE Outstanding Educator in 2022. Her interests include literacy instruction, standards based grading, and leveraging Google tools to make her teaching more efficient and effective.

A woman with light skin and blond hair stands outdoors, framed by illustrated graphics including a blue flask and curved lines. Green foliage is visible in the background.

Donnie Piercey, the 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, is a fifth-grade teacher in Lexington, Kentucky.  With a passion for utilizing technology to promote student inquiry, learning, and engagement, he has been teaching since 2007. In addition to being in the classroom, he runs a podcast, Teachers Passing Notes that is produced by the Peabody Award winning GZMShows, and holds several recognitions, including a National Geographic Fellowship to Antarctica in 2018. His most recent work in Artificial Intelligence has not gone unnoticed, earning him multiple appearances on Good Morning America, the Associated Press, and PBS. His upcoming book, “50 Strategies for Integrating AI in the Classroom” published by Teacher Created Materials, is written for educators looking for practical classroom approaches to using AI. All told, Donnie has been invited to keynote and present at schools in thirty-three states and on five continents.

A man with short brown hair and a beard smiles at the camera, wearing a red shirt, framed by a circular graphic with a blue flask icon.
A laptop screen displays the “Science Connections: The Community” private group page, with science-themed icons decorating the background and edges.

About Science Connections

Welcome to Science Connections! Science is changing before our eyes, now more than ever. So…how do we help kids figure that out? We will bring on educators, scientists, and more to discuss the importance of high-quality science instruction. In this episode, hear from our host Eric Cross about his work engaging students as a K-8 science teacher. 

Welcome to Grade 4

BACK TO MAIN TK–5 PAGE

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Students engage in various science experiments, including testing conductivity with a lamp, playing with slime, examining objects, and using sand trays.

What students learn

When you’re ready:

  • Find a summary of each unit below including each unit’s student role and anchor phenomenon.
  • Click on the orange “See how the unit works” link to download a helpful Unit Guide. These guides make great companions to busy reviewers looking for a big-picture understanding of how each unit works.
Illustration of a nighttime cityscape with illuminated windows and streetlights, a visible moon, and stars in the sky. A solitary figure stands out in one of the windows.

Unit 1

Energy Conversions


Student role: System engineers


Phenomenon: The fictional town of Ergstown experiences frequent blackouts. Their electrical system seems to be failing.

See how this unit works

A gecko prepares to catch a cricket under a streetlight at night. The yellow arrows illustrate the lamplight hitting the cricket and reflecting in the gecko's eyes.

Unit 2

Vision and Light


Student role: Conservation biologists

Phenomenon: The population of Tokay geckos in a rain forest in the Philippines has decreased since the installation of new highway lights.

See how this unit works

Illustration of a rocky coastline with angular cliffs in reddish tones on the left and a body of blue water below.

Unit 3

Earth’s Features


Student role: Geologists


Phenomenon: A mysterious fossil is discovered in a canyon within the fictional Desert Rocks National Park.

See how this unit works

Two dolphins swim underwater in a blue-tinged environment, facing each other, and one appears to open its mouth slightly.

Unit 4

Waves, Energy, and Information

Student role: Marine scientists


Phenomenon: Mother dolphins in the fictional Blue Bay National Park communicate with their calves despite the distance between them.

See how this unit works

How teachers teach

When you’re ready:

  • Scroll down and take a closer look at your classroom resources.
  • Click on the orange links below each component to see grade-specific samples.
A laptop displays a PowerPoint presentation in presenter view, with slides about observing objects in plastic containers and related sensory instructions.

Classroom Slides

These customizable PowerPoints are available for every lesson of the program and make delivering instruction a snap with visual prompts, colorful activity instructions, investigation set-up videos and animations, and suggested teacher talk in the notes section of each slide.

Video introduction to Classroom Slides

Sample Classroom Slides

Sample Classroom Slides (Spanish)

A computer screen displays an educational website titled "Earth's Features" with chapters and illustrations of canyons; a printed teacher’s guide is shown beside it.

Teacher’s Reference Guide

Available digitally and in print, our unit-specific reference guides are chock full of helpful resources, including scientific background knowledge, planning information and resources, color-coded 3-D Statements, detailed lesson plans, tips for delivering instruction, and differentiation strategies.

Login to platform below to access

A variety of craft materials arranged on a white surface, including cardboard sheets, plastic cups, yarn, binder clips, pink balls, yellow pom-poms, and other assorted supplies.

Materials Kits

Our kits include enough non-consumable materials to support a class of 36 students and enough consumable items to support 72 students. In other words, each kit can last two years! Plus, our unit-specific kits mean you just grab the tub you need and then put it all back with ease.

List of investigations by unit

List of materials by unit

Two book covers titled "¡Apagón!" and "BLACKOUT!" show a dark city street with headlights from a car illuminating the scene at night.

Student Books

Our award-winning Student Books include content-rich nonfiction and informational texts designed to introduce concepts and also deepen understanding. Books are read to, with, and by students with ample scaffolding and support provided by the teacher in whole-class, small-groups, and student pairs.

List of Student Books by unit

Systems

Energy Past and Present

Sunlight and Showers

Blackout!

It’s All Energy

A laptop displays a diagram showing the upper river, floodplain, and river delta with labeled cross-sections above a landscape map of a river flowing to the sea.

Simulations and Practice Tools

Our digital Simulations and Practice Tools are powerful resources for exploration and data collection, and allow students the ability to explore scientific concepts that might otherwise be invisible or impossible to see with the naked eye.

Video overview of digital tools

Device calendars by unit

List of digital tools by unit

Two science workbooks, one in Spanish and one in English, titled "Energy Conversions: Blackout in Ergstown" with white covers and orange labels at the bottom.

Consumable Notebooks

Available for every unit, our Student Investigation Notebooks contain instructions for activities and space for students to record data and observations, reflect on ideas from texts and investigations, and construct explanations and arguments.

Sample Student Investigation Notebook

Sample Student Investigation Notebook (Spanish)

A man wearing glasses and a maroon shirt smiles at the camera on a laptop screen with the words "MYSTERY doug" and a speech bubble saying "Doug.

Mystery Science

Our exclusive partnership with Mystery Science means you get our NGSS core curriculum plus two years of free access to Mystery Doug and his extensive library of captivating videos that deepen students’ understanding of each unit’s phenomenon.

Mystery Science lesson alignment

A person with headphones works on a laptop; a line from their head transforms into a rocket, symbolizing imagination, innovation, and the foundational skills essential for multilingual learners.


Coming Soon

Unlike other publishers, we don’t make you wait until your next adoption to get the latest and greatest from Amplify. We’re always launching new and exciting features. What’s more, we’ll push them out to you even after you adopt us!

See what’s coming for 2020-2021

Committed to reading equity

We believe that all students have the right to read complex texts and engage in rich classroom discussions. They should also see themselves reflected and experience new worlds through reading.

This commitment guides our text selection, unique artwork, and dedication to reaching every student where they are.

A student with curly hair reads a book in a classroom, while other students are visible in the background, sitting at desks.

Text selection

Texts in the Amplify ELA curriculum cover a wide range of topics, themes, and genres, with differentiated supports that ensure that all students can work through each reading and lesson. Taken as a whole, the texts show students a diverse picture of the world, while fostering a lifelong love of reading.

Illustration of diverse people and landscapes, featuring native designs, botanical elements, and a silhouetted airplane against a script background.
A painted scene shows a blue sky with scattered white dots resembling stars and red clouds, against a backdrop of dark and light color gradients.

In the Liberty & Equality unit, students reflect on the harrowing journeys and avenues to freedom that enslaved African-Americans were forced to forge.

Character & Conflict

Students read A Raisin in the Sun, a play that focuses on the impact of poverty and racial tensions on family relationships and identity within an African-American family.

Summer of the Mariposas

In the Summer of the Mariposas unit, students dive into a retelling of the Odyssey through a contemporary Hispanic lens as they explore sibling and extended-family relationships.

A pencil sketch of an airplane is shown on a textured background with orange and yellow watercolor paint.

In the Perspectives and Narrative unit, students explore a coming of age moment for an adolescent daughter of immigrant parents.

Red Scarf Girl

In the Red Scarf Girl and Narrative unit, students learn about a key historic moment in Asian and world history, while making connections to relatable themes like authority figures imposing rules on children, and family and peer loyalties standing at odds.

Mysteries & Investigations

In the Mysteries & Investigations unit, many of the texts present an ethnically and culturally diverse group of characters, including many pre-teen or teen protagonists rebelling against authority, navigating their relationships with their peers and families, and figuring out their unique identities.

Created with diverse perspectives

With our new illustrations, time spent in our classrooms will feel relevant and relatable to every student. We’ve brought together an art team with unique perspectives and visual styles so that their diversity can shine along with the
complex texts in our curriculum, and illuminate their relationship with our literature. Everyone deserves to see themselves as the hero of a story. It is our hope that our students will find themselves within our program, and will be ever more curious in their learning, and engaged in their reading.

https://youtu.be/_FLV_Le7Zoc
A person sits at a desk with art supplies, flowers, and plants, speaking on camera. An orange play button overlays the image, indicating a video. A colorful artwork hangs on the wall behind them.

Dive into the world of Mysteries &
Investigations with Dr. Womack,
the illustrator who may have once
become a scientist…

A person sits on a couch in a room decorated with colorful artwork and a wooden sculpture; a play button icon is overlaid at the center.

Meet Tre, a seeker and traveller that became homies Fredrick Douglass through illustrating his narrative for our program…

A woman with long dark hair in a red top sits indoors near a window with yellow flowers and colorful decorations; a play button overlay is at the center.

There’s no one way to be a maker, and Jackie certainly has made a lot of things. Check out the weird and mysterious world of her miniatures…

A person with curly hair and hoop earrings speaks indoors, with colorful posters and decorations visible in the background. An orange play button overlays the image.

She’s been drawing characters and comics ever since middle school. Now see the drama of Edel’s work in the mythos of the Greeks…

A woman stands in front of a wall covered with colorful artwork. An orange play button icon is overlaid on the center of the image.

Travel through countries and narratives with Caroline, as she shares her delicate watercolors for illustrating the hero’s journey…

A man with short brown hair and a beard sits at a desk near a window, with artwork displayed on the wall behind him. An orange play button is centered over the image.

The haunting work that Patrick creates will leave you feeling a sense of melancholy and longing, but not without hope for the future…

A woman in a red blazer sits in an office with open books and art prints on the wall. An orange play button is overlaid in the center of the image.

She’s been drawing characters and comics ever since middle school. Now see the drama of Edel’s work in the mythos of the Greeks…

A man in a light blue shirt speaks while seated in a creative workspace with colorful artwork and sketches displayed on the wall behind him.

As a latino American, Eddie is an illustrator, a father, and a teacher. He is working in collaboration with Poetry in America to use his heritage as inspiration…

A woman sits in front of a wall covered with colorful educational posters, partially obscured by a large play button icon in the center.

Listen to a word from Tory, the Art Director at Amplify, on how the vision
was set for the project and how she brought the team together that would get to illustrate ELA…

Fanart

Here is a library of all the inspiring art that our beloved fans have submitted for our program. Do you or your students have a favorite literary character from our program? Send us your fanart to be shared with our community here!

A collage of various portrait illustrations and drawings, including stylized faces, historical figures, animals, and astronauts, in both color and black and white.

Boost Reading pilot for mCLASS® and Acadience™ Reading schools

Hooray! We’re thrilled you’re considering giving Boost Reading a try! This site contains all the resources you’ll need to learn more about the program and get started with your pilot. We’re confident you’re going to love how Boost Reading puts your mCLASS and Acadience Reading data to work.

Colorful cartoon animals and objects surround a circular portal with a purple glowing ring, featuring silhouetted figures in its center.

Resources to support your pilot

What is Boost Reading?

Boost Reading is a digital reading program that complements ELA programs with adaptive and targeted practice in foundational reading skills. While it can be used on its own, Boost Reading also integrates with mCLASS and Acadience Reading, which means that you get extra benefits like automatic rostering and placement in the program based on a student’s mCLASS composite score. From that point forward, the program takes every student on a personalized journey that addresses gaps and bolsters foundational skills at a pace that supports their individual development.

A laptop and tablet displaying mClass with Boost Reading software, featuring fun, colorful graphics of a school and nature scene on the laptop, and a user interface for progress tracking on the tablet.
Digital progress report showing reading skills for Taylor in Grade 2. Trouble spots highlighted for decoding VC and CVC words. Progress bars and teacher options visible.

How do I get started with Boost Reading?

Good news! Boost Reading has already been enabled within your mCLASS and Acadience Reading accounts. To get started with the program, you’ve got only two steps left: adjusting your student login settings and setting up your student devices. The resource below will walk you through how to do both.

Note: Boost Reading works on most classroom devices, including Windows Devices with Windows 7+, Chromebooks with Chrome OS, and Mac devices with OS 10.11+ or iOS 11+.

What else can you tell me about Boost Reading?

As students engage in skill practice, their paths through the game world adapt to meet their unique learning needs. Boost Reading includes more than 40 standards-aligned games that build language, foundational skills, and comprehension skills, while also developing:

  • Phonological awareness
  • Phonics
  • Vocabulary
  • Text analysis
  • Comprehension
  • Microcomprehension (i.e., the smaller aspects of comprehension that make up the reader’s mental model of a text)

Some additional resources that you might find helpful:

Laptop displaying a screen with various colorful educational app icons arranged in a grid on a green chalkboard background.

For questions, please contact your Amplify representative

Robert “Bob” McCarty
Senior Account Executive
Email: rmccarty@amplify.com
Phone: (435) 655-1731

Welcome to your Amplify Science California pilot!

We’re thrilled to welcome you to the Amplify family, and we look forward to making your experience with Amplify Science California successful from day one.

On this site, you’ll find resources, tips, videos, and other helpful information designed to support you throughout your pilot experience.

Collage of three images showing children engaged in various activities: two boys with a book, two girls using straws, and a group watching intently. Connected by abstract lines and circles.
A woman sits at a table, using a laptop and a textbook. She is in a classroom with shelves of educational supplies in the background.

Tips for getting started successfully

It takes time to learn any new program and get used to its patterns and flow—time that you aren’t always afforded in a pilot situation. Based on our work with thousands of pilot teachers who are now happy users, we can tell you with 100% confidence that it gets easier. In no time, you’ll be preparing and delivering all your lessons with ease.

Until you become comfortable with the organization of each unit and how one lesson flows into the next, the following resources will be key in helping you prepare to teach your first unit.

Unit Guide

These short and sweet guides provide a big picture overview of each unit’s phenomenon and storyline, the key questions that guide learning, and how the storyline develops from chapter to chapter. We even spoil the big reveal at the end by pointing out ahead of time what students figure out throughout the unit.

Ready to download? Navigate to your grade level using the menu bar above, scroll to the Unit Types section, and then download the appropriate Unit Guide(s).

Cover and inner pages of a unit guide titled "Patterns of Earth and Sky" for Grade 5, featuring text explanations and images related to science concepts.
Laptop screen displaying an educational website with a lesson on "tortoise parts" featuring a colorful turtle graphic on the header.

Lesson Overview

Reading this short summary is a great way to get a quick snapshot of the learning that will take place during the day ahead. It includes a short description of the lesson, student learning objectives, and an at-a-glance list of activities.

Where to find it? Log into the digital Teacher’s Guide and navigate to the lesson you want to teach by following this click path: Grade Level > Unit > Chapter > Lesson. Next, scroll to the Lesson Brief section and click Overview. This same information is also found in your printed Teacher’s Reference Guide.

Material and preparation tips

Also found in the Lesson Brief section of your digital Teacher’s Guide and printed Teacher’s Reference Guide is a complete list of materials that you’ll need to gather as well as step-by-step lesson preparation tips organized by:

  • Before the Day of the Lesson
  • Immediately Before the Lesson
  • At the End of the Day
A laptop screen displays the Amplify Science platform, showing a lesson plan titled Materials and Preparation with text boxes detailing teaching steps and preparation tips.
A screenshot of an academic paper about "animal and plant defenses" showing a table of contents with 30 statements, organized into lessons and chapters.

3-D Statements

Color-coded for easy readability and quick scanning, our 3-D Statements can be found at point-of-use for every unit and lesson, making it easy to pinpoint the exact SEPs, DCIs, and CCCs that will be targeted on any given day.

Where to find them? Log into the digital Teacher’s Guide and navigate to any Unit Guide or Lesson Brief and click the expandable box called 3-D Statements. A complete list of 3-D Statements can also be found in the back of any printed Teacher’s Reference Guide.

Coherence Flowcharts

These are another great tool for helping you visualize the flow of a unit and the connections between the questions that drive students’ experiences and:

  • The evidence they gather
  • The solutions they figure out
  • The new questions they generate

Where to find them? Log into the digital Teacher’s Guide, navigate to your desired unit, scroll to the Unit Guide, and look in the Printable Resources section.

Amplify Science California supports you every step of the way on your journey to the California NGSS.

Support is always within reach

Your role as a pilot teacher is important. Your district is counting on you not only to evaluate how Amplify Science California works in your classroom, but also to pick a reliable and supportive long-term partner. We feel confident that we’re that partner, and we look forward to proving that to you during your pilot experience.

Just as it will be when you become a customer, support during your pilot will always be within reach through the following channels.

Pilot support coordinator

Your dedicated pilot support coordinator has extensive experience delivering training, rostering students, answering both pedagogical and technical questions, and delivering demonstration lessons. Said another way, he or she is here to help. So, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Who is my pilot support coordinator? Look for his or her contact information in the pilot support brochure that you received during your pilot implementation training.

Amplify Science California supports you every step of the way on your journey to the California NGSS.
Interface of an educational website on animal and plant defenses, featuring chapter tiles with illustrations, and a chat support window labeled 'Hi Teacher' offering new conversation options.

Intercom chat

In addition to traditional lines of communication, our Intercom feature gives you the ability to chat with our customer support, technical support, and pedagogical support teams in real time directly from the digital platform. This ensures that issues that arise in the classroom can be addressed as quickly as possible.

Support teams can be reached from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday.

Email

Our customer support, technical support, and pedagogical support teams can also be reached by email at help@amplify.com.

Support teams can be reached from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday.

Open-plan office with people working at desks, multiple computer monitors, plants, and bright natural light from large windows.

Boost Reading pilot for mCLASS®schools

Hooray! We’re thrilled you’re considering giving Boost Reading a try! This site contains all the resources you’ll need to learn more about the program and get started with your pilot. We’re confident you’re going to love how Boost Reading puts your mCLASS data to work.

Colorful cartoon animals and objects surround a circular portal with a purple glowing ring, featuring silhouetted figures in its center.

Resources to support your pilot

What is Boost Reading?

Boost Reading is a digital reading program that complements ELA programs with adaptive and targeted practice in foundational reading skills. While it can be used on its own, Boost Reading also integrates with mCLASS, which means that you get extra benefits like automatic rostering and placement in the program based on a student’s mCLASS composite score. From that point forward, the program takes every student on a personalized journey that addresses gaps and bolsters foundational skills at a pace that supports their individual development.

A laptop and tablet displaying mClass with Boost Reading software, featuring fun, colorful graphics of a school and nature scene on the laptop, and a user interface for progress tracking on the tablet.
Digital progress report showing reading skills for Taylor in Grade 2. Trouble spots highlighted for decoding VC and CVC words. Progress bars and teacher options visible.

How do I get started with Boost Reading?

Good news! Boost Reading has already been enabled within your mCLASS accounts. To get started with the program, you’ve got only two steps left: adjusting your student login settings and setting up your student devices. The resource below will walk you through how to do both.

Note: Boost Reading works on most classroom devices, including Windows Devices with Windows 7+, Chromebooks with Chrome OS, and Mac devices with OS 10.11+ or iOS 11+.

What else can you tell me about Boost Reading?

As students engage in skill practice, their paths through the game world adapt to meet their unique learning needs. Boost Reading includes more than 40 standards-aligned games that build language, foundational skills, and comprehension skills, while also developing:

  • Phonological awareness
  • Phonics
  • Vocabulary
  • Text analysis
  • Comprehension
  • Microcomprehension (i.e., the smaller aspects of comprehension that make up the reader’s mental model of a text)

Some additional resources that you might find helpful:

Una pantalla de computadora portátil que muestra una cuadrícula de íconos de juegos educativos, incluidos títulos como "Word Slide", "Field Observer", "Grumpy Goblins" y "Curioso Crossing".

For questions, please contact your Amplify representatives:

Dianne Lee
California Sales Director
dilee@amplify.com
(949) 246-2083

Christina Lugo
Pilot Coordinator – Statewide
clugo@amplify.com
(949) 838-7600

JoAnna Chocooj
Pilot Coordinator – Northern California
jchocooj@amplify.com
(707) 290-1728

Brooke Johnson
Pilot Coordinator – Southern California
bjohnson@amplify.com
(858) 349-2134

Boost Reading pilot for mCLASS® schools

Hooray! We’re thrilled you’re considering giving Boost Reading a try! This site contains all the resources you’ll need to learn more about the program and get started with your pilot. We’re confident you’re going to love how Boost Reading puts your mCLASS data to work.

Colorful cartoon animals and objects surround a circular portal with a purple glowing ring, featuring silhouetted figures in its center.

Resources to support your pilot

What is Boost Reading?

Boost Reading is a digital reading program that complements ELA programs with adaptive and targeted practice in foundational reading skills. While it can be used on its own,Boost Reading also integrates with mCLASS, which means that you get extra benefits like automatic rostering and placement in the program based on a student’s mCLASS composite score. From that point forward, the program takes every student on a personalized journey that addresses gaps and bolsters foundational skills at a pace that supports their individual development.

A laptop and tablet displaying mClass with Boost Reading software, featuring fun, colorful graphics of a school and nature scene on the laptop, and a user interface for progress tracking on the tablet.
Digital progress report showing reading skills for Taylor in Grade 2. Trouble spots highlighted for decoding VC and CVC words. Progress bars and teacher options visible.

How do I get started with Boost Reading?

Good news! Boost Reading has already been enabled within your mCLASS account. To get started with the program, you’ve got only two steps left: adjusting your student login settings and setting up your student devices. The resource below will walk you through how to do both.

Note: Boost Reading works on most classroom devices, including Windows Devices with Windows 7+, Chromebooks with Chrome OS, and Mac devices with OS 10.11+ or iOS 11+.

What else can you tell me about Boost Reading?

As students engage in skill practice, their paths through the game world adapt to meet their unique learning needs. Boost Reading includes more than 40 standards-aligned games that build language, foundational skills, and comprehension skills, while also developing:

  • Phonological awareness
  • Phonics
  • Vocabulary
  • Text analysis
  • Comprehension
  • Microcomprehension (i.e., the smaller aspects of comprehension that make up the reader’s mental model of a text)

Some additional resources that you might find helpful:

Laptop displaying a screen with various colorful educational app icons arranged in a grid on a green chalkboard background.

For questions, please contact your Amplify representatives

Monty Lammers
Senior Account Executive
Email: mlammers@amplify.com
Phone: (719) 964-4501

A closer look at grades 3–5

Amplify Science is based on the latest research on teaching and learning and helps teachers deliver age-appropriate, high-quality, literacy-rich instruction that enables students to take on the roles of scientists and engineers to solve real-world phenomena every day.

In the 3–5 classroom, this looks like students:

  • Collecting evidence from a variety of sources.
  • Making sense of evidence in a variety of ways.
  • Formulating convincing scientific arguments.
Un collage de cuatro imágenes que muestran a estudiantes realizando experimentos científicos: secando estructuras, trabajando con plantas, vertiendo la mezcla en un vaso de precipitados y regando plantas en contenedores.
A four-step process diagram: Spark, Explore, Explain and elaborate, and Evaluate, each with an icon and description, connected by arrows, ending with a summary statement below.

Program structure

Our cyclical lesson design ensures students receive multiple exposures to concepts through a variety of modalities. As they progress through the lessons within a unit, students build and deepen their understanding, increasing their ability to develop and refine complex explanations of the unit’s phenomenon.

It’s this proven program structure and lesson design that enables Amplify Science to teach less, but achieve more. Rather than asking teachers to wade through unnecessary content, we designed our 3–5 program to address 100% of the NGSS in just 88 days.

Scope and sequence

Every year of our grades 3–5 sequence consists of 4 units and 88 lessons. Said another way, each unit contains 20 lessons plus two dedicated assessment days (a Pre-Unit Assessment and End-of-Unit Assessment).

Lessons for grades 3–5 are written to last a minimum of 60 minutes, though teachers can expand or contract the timing to meet their needs.

Grid of nine educational lesson cards, each featuring a different science topic like "balancing forces" and "weather systems" with grade levels and lesson durations listed.

Unit types

Each unit delivers three-dimensional learning experiences and engages students in gathering evidence from a rich collection of sources, while also emphasizing a particular science and engineering practice.

In grades 3–5:

  • One unit emphasizes the practice of investigation.
  • One unit emphasizes the practice of modeling.
  • One unit emphasizes the practice of engineering design.
  • One unit emphasizes the practice of argumentation.
Investigation Units

Investigation units focus on the process of strategically developing investigations and gathering data to answer questions. Students are first asked to consider questions about what happens in the natural world and why, and are then involved in designing and conducting investigations that produce data to help answer those questions.

Modeling Units

Modeling units provide extra support to students engaging in the practice of modeling. Students use physical models, investigate with computer models, and create their own diagrams to help them visualize what might be happening on the nanoscale.

Engineering Design Units

Engineering design units provide opportunities for students to solve complex problems by applying science principles to the design of functional solutions, and iteratively testing those solutions to determine how well they meet preset criteria.

Argumentation units

Argumentation units provide students with regular opportunities to explore and discuss available evidence, time and support to consider how evidence may be leveraged in support of claims, and independence that increases as they mount written arguments in support of their claims.

Units at a glance

Illustration of a high-speed train traveling on an elevated track with a red light on the front, set against a blue sky and green landscape.
Balancing Forces

Domain: Physical Science

Unit type: Modeling

Student role: Engineers

Phenomenon: The town of Faraday is getting a new train that floats above its tracks.  

Illustration of wolves in the foreground, quail perched on a branch, a bear, and elk in a grassy, wooded landscape with hills in the background.
Inheritance and Traits

Domains: Life Science

Unit type: Investigation

Student role: Wildlife biologists

Phenomenon: An adopted wolf in Graystone National Park (“Wolf 44”) has some traits that appear similar to one wolf pack in the park and other traits that appear to be similar to a different wolf pack. 

A bird stands on the ground, looking down at a yellow snail near some green grass against a blue background.
Environments and Survival

Domains: Life Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering design

Student role: Biomimicry engineers

Phenomenon: Over the last 10 years, a population of grove snails has changed: The number of grove snails with yellow shells has decreased, while the number of snails with banded shells has increased.  

An orange orangutan climbs a vine in a dense green jungle with tall trees and the sun visible in the background.
Weather and Climate

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Argumentation

Student role: Meteorologists

Phenomenon: Three different islands, each a contender for becoming an Orangutan reserve, experience different weather patterns.  

City buildings at night with lit windows, a full moon, stars in the sky, and a person standing by a window on the left.
Energy Conversions

Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering design

Student role: System engineers

Phenomenon: The fictional town of Ergstown experiences frequent blackouts.  

A streetlight shines at night; arrows show its light reflecting off a cricket to a gecko, illustrating how the gecko sees its prey.
Vision and Light

Domain: Physical Science, Life Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Investigation

Student role: Conservation biologists

Phenomenon: The population of Tokay geckos in a rain forest in the Philippines has decreased since the installation of new highway lights.  

Illustration of rocky cliffs with reddish and brown tones beside a flowing blue river under a clear sky.
Earth’s Features

Domain: Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Argumentation

Student role: Geologists

Phenomenon: A mysterious fossil is discovered in a canyon within the fictional Desert Rocks National Park.  

Two dolphins are facing each other underwater against a blue background.
Waves, Energy, and Information

Domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Modeling

Student role: Marine scientists

Phenomenon: Mother dolphins in the fictional Blue Bay National Park seem to be communicating with their calves when they are separated at a distance underwater.

Earth orbits the Sun in space, shown by a dashed blue line; an arrow on Earth indicates its rotation direction.
Patterns of Earth and Sky

Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Investigation

Student role: Astronomers

Phenomenon: An ancient artifact depicts what we see in the sky at different times — the sun during the daytime and different stars during the nighttime — but it is missing a piece.  

Red blood cells scattered over a swirling red and white background, creating an abstract representation of blood flow.
Modeling Matter

Domain: Physical Science

Unit type: Modeling

Student role: Food scientists

Phenomenon: Chromatography is a process for separating mixtures. Some solids dissolve in a salad dressing while others do not. Oil and vinegar appear to separate when mixed in a salad dressing.  

Illustration of wind carrying particles from the ocean, over a coastal town, and up a steep, green mountain slope under a clear blue sky.
The Earth System

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering Design

Student role: Water resource engineers

Phenomenon: East Ferris, a city on one side of the fictional Ferris Island, is experiencing a water shortage, while West Ferris is not.  

Illustration of a cheetah standing on the ground and a sloth hanging from a tree surrounded by various plants and mushrooms in a jungle scene.
Ecosystem Restoration

Domains:Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Argumentation

Student role: Ecologists

Phenomenon: The jaguars, sloths, and cecropia trees in a reforested section of a Costa Rican rain forest are not growing and thriving.  

Steps for Interviewing

Amplify Professional Learning Specialist Applicants

Congratulations on being invited to interview for the Professional Learning Specialist role!

Please take these three steps in order to schedule and prepare for your interview.

Step 1: Review the PLS Flipbook
Step 2: Schedule your Interview
Step 3: Prepare for your Interview

Interviews for Cohort 2 will take place from April 27th – May 8th.

A group of four people sitting at a table in a meeting room, using laptops. One person laughs while others work. An analog clock on the wall shows the time.

Step 1: Review the PLS Flipbook

Amplify Professional Learning Specialists (PLS) will be responsible for facilitating high-quality professional development (PD) to teachers and school leaders, ensuring educators feel confident taking steps to implement our programs and ultimately drive student success. 

Please read the PLS flipbook to ensure you have a clear understanding of the role and ensure this is the right fit for you. These details are captured in pages 16 – 33 of the flipbook.

Several key PLS responsibilities are highlighted below:

  • Delivering remote and onsite professional development for approximately 30-40 educators per session during the summer season (May – September 2026), possibly longer.
  • Must be available to be scheduled during normal school hours (Monday–Friday) in all U.S. time zones.
  • Must be available an average of three days per week on Monday through Friday from July 13–August 21. Three consecutive days is strongly recommended as it will potentially lead to more onsite delivery opportunities.
  • PLSs who are current educators and returning to full-time roles at school/districts must have a return to work date after August 21st.
  • Traveling via car, plane, and/or public transportation, sometimes with minimal advance notice and including overnight stay at hotels.   
  • Paying all travel-related expenses in advance, with reimbursements being processed 2-3 weeks following submission of the expense reimbursement requests.

Please reach out to pls_hiring@amplify.com if you have additional questions.

Step 2: Schedule Your Interview

Our second round of interviews will take place between April 27th – May 8th. We do not have any earlier interviews available, all available slots are shown on the calendars linked below.  

Please schedule an interview for the specific role for which you have applied: 

  • Literacy or STEM Candidates: schedule a 30 minute interview by clicking here: “PLS Interviews: May 2026” 
  • Bilingual Candidates: schedule a 45 minute interview by clicking here: “Bilingual PLS Interviews: May 2026” only. You do not need to sign up for a separate 30 minute interview.
  • Once you have scheduled your interview, you should receive a confirmation email from Calendly.  If you do not receive this email, please reach out to PLS_hiring@amplify.com for support.

If you need to reschedule your interview, you may do so directly by clicking the reschedule link in the confirmation email from Calendly to select a new interview option during the current interview window.  Once you have rescheduled, you will receive a new confirmation email and updated calendar invitation. Please do not sign up for more than one interview.

We ask that you only reschedule if absolutely necessary and request at least 24 hours notice prior to your interview day/time.

Step 3: Prepare for Interview

Prior to your scheduled interview, prepare your interview activity! Please view the video to the right for help preparing. 

  • Guidance for the task can be found here: PLS Performance Task Guidance Document
  • You should come ready to share your screen via Google Meet and present the provided activity in under 5 minutes.
  • Talking points are included for each screen to guide your presentation.
  • During your interview we will be looking for proficiency with the following tech skills: independently sharing screen, speech matching animation, and moving from screen to screen with ease.
Two people stand in an office, with one person pointing at a laptop screen while the other looks on. Papers and a window are visible in the background.

Offer, Onboarding, and Training

  • Qualified candidates will receive an offer via email.  The offer will include your product placement and regional assignment.
  • If you accept the offer, our partner contracting agency will reach out to you to provide the necessary documentation to begin the onboarding process. This will include a background check. You will also need to provide college transcripts, please begin gathering these items.
  • Once you have completed the onboarding process with our partner contracting agency, you will begin your official Amplify PLS onboarding process on May 11th for Cohort 1 or June 15th for Cohort 2. A majority of onboarding will be remote, with one in person training on June 6th – 7th for Cohort 1 and July 8th – 9th for Cohort 2. More details to come!
  • Once you are certified, our PD Operations team will begin to schedule you for PD engagements within your region and across the country!

Info Session

Get more details from PD staff members about the PLS role, regional placement, the onboarding process, and ongoing support.

We will address the most common questions we receive:

  1. What is the role of a PLS?
  2. Where will I deliver sessions?  What content will I deliver?
  3. How will onboarding work?
  4. How will I be supported?

The information session recording can be watched here.

Passcode: @N+4hmfi

FAQ

PLS FAQ

Hear from our Professional Learning Specialists

“I have been able to connect with teachers and support them in their implementation of Amplify products. I especially love coaching opportunities where I have time to see teachers in action, model lessons for them, and debrief and problem solve what is going on in their classrooms. I would have loved that opportunity when I was in the classroom.”

Amy Wiktor

Professional Learning Specialist

Hear from our Professional Learning Specialists

“I feel like I have learned so much about the Science of Reading, facilitation, and am inspired by the positive contribution I can make to both teachers and students. I am putting something positive back into the world and spreading kindness every day! Very fulfilling.”

Jennifer Piehl

Professional Learning Specialist

Hear from our Professional Learning Specialists

“I’ve had a lot of new experiences and love the networking involved throughout the Amplify community. Seeing new places in different parts of the country has been incredible, as well! Plus, the work environment has been the most positive, uplifting, and motivational workplace I’ve ever been a part of! ”

Justin Suder-Grose

Professional Learning Specialist

Thank you for your interest!

Contact us with questions at pls_hiring@amplify.com

School year 2026–2027 requirements

iPad® 7+
Description: 1024 x 788 or higher, 32GB or higher
Operating system: iPadOS 18+
Browser: Safari 18+
PC
Description: 1.4 GHz dual core or greater, 1024 x 768 or higher, 4GB of RAM or higher
Operating system: Windows: 10+
Browser: Chrome (latest 2 versions)
Chromebook
Description: 1.4 GHz dual core or greater, 1024 x 768 or higher, 4GB of RAM or higher
Operating system: Chrome OS
Browser: Chrome (latest 2 versions)
Mac®
Description: 1.4 GHz dual core or greater, 1024 x 768 or higher, 4GB of RAM or higher
Operating system: macOS 15+
Browser: Safari 15+, Chrome (latest 2 versions)
iPadiPad Air® 4
iPad 8+
Chromebook™Acer Chromebook 314
Samsung Chromebook 4
Dell™ Chromebook 3120
HP Chromebook x360
MacMacBook Pro®
MacBook Air®
Interactive BoardA Google certified EDLA device, such as the SMART RX Series

The following devices are not supported due to known sub-optimal performance from older hardware or complicated settings:

MicrosoftSurface Tablet®

School year 2025–2026 requirements

iPad® 7+
Description: 1024 x 788 or higher, 32GB or higher
Operating system: iPadOS 17+
Browser: Safari 17+
PC
Description: 1.4 GHz dual core or greater, 1024 x 768 or higher, 4GB of RAM or higher
Operating system: Windows: 10+
Browser: Chrome (latest 2 versions)
Chromebook
Description: 1.4 GHz dual core or greater, 1024 x 768 or higher, 4GB of RAM or higher
Operating system: Chrome OS
Browser: Chrome (latest 2 versions)
Mac®
Description: 1.4 GHz dual core or greater, 1024 x 768 or higher, 4GB of RAM or higher
Operating system: macOS 14+
Browser: Safari 15+, Chrome (latest 2 versions)
iPadiPad Air® 4
iPad 8+
Chromebook™Acer Chromebook 314
Samsung Chromebook 4
Dell™ Chromebook 3120
HP Chromebook x360
MacMacBook Pro®
MacBook Air®
iMac®
Interactive BoardA Google certified EDLA device, such as the SMART RX Series

The following devices are not supported due to known sub-optimal performance from older hardware or complicated settings:

MicrosoftSurface Tablet®

We will provide active support of our applications on the following devices for the full school year listed below.

Device final support year

iPad 62024–2025
iPad Air 32025–2026
iPad 52022–2023
iPad Air 22021–2022
iPad 22018/2019
iPad 32018/2019
iPad 42018/2019

Network environment

MINIMUM

REQUIREMENTS
User devices:Connect to Amplify servers via ports 80 and 443.
Latency:No more than 165 ms during peak utilization.
Connection speed:2 mbps per device during peak usage (10 mbps recommended). Boost Reading requires a connection speed of 10 mbps per user for optimal performance.
URLs:For the complete list of URLs to allow, please visit https://amplify.com/allowlist/.

Requirements

mCLASS assessments are optimized for most touchscreen devices using Chrome™ or Safari® web browsers. The teacher-led, observational assessments are best conducted using touchscreen but will function using a laptop and mouse as well. Please check our device support lifecycles and purchase recommendations lists below prior to purchasing.

Boost Close Reading is currently not supported on iPads.

Due to its smaller screen, the iPad Mini is not supported.

Amplify curriculum applications require the ability to project from the teacher’s device.

Boost Reading Benchmark uses speech recognition software to analyze students’ oral reading. For the most accurate results, use a wired dual-ear headset with a boom microphone that extends in front of the student’s mouth. Avoid headsets with active noise cancellation (ANC) unless that feature can be disabled. Bluetooth headsets are currently incompatible with our speech recognition technology and should not be used.

iPhone 13 and later running iOS 17+ and Safari
Galaxy 11 and later running Android 15+ and Chrome

Introducing mCLASS Math: An Asset-Based Benchmarking and Progress-Monitoring Assessment System

Thursday, 4pm ET

Don’t miss our finale of Assessment and Intervention Week! After using the week to talk about the strategies and benefits of asset-based assessment, we’ll join Kelly Serpa Howe, Ed.D., to dive into the new mCLASS Math and how this program opens a window into student thinking and supports conceptual understanding, all while maximizing valuable planning and instructional time.

Introduction to mCLASS Math

Thursday, 4pm ET

Don’t miss our finale of Assessment and Intervention Week! After using the week to talk about the strategies and benefits of asset-based assessment, we’ll join Kelly Serpa Howe, Ed.D., to dive into the new mCLASS Math and how this program opens a window into student thinking and supports conceptual understanding, all while maximizing valuable planning and instructional time.

A closer look at grades 6–8

Amplify Science is based on the latest research on teaching and learning and helps teachers deliver rigorous and riveting lessons through hands-on investigations, literacy-rich activities, and interactive digital tools that empower students to think, read, write, and argue like real scientists.

In the 6–8 classroom, this looks like students:

  • Collecting evidence from a variety of sources.
  • Making sense of evidence in a variety of ways.
  • Formulating convincing scientific arguments.

Is your school implementing the domain model? Click here.

Collage of four images showing children engaged in educational activities such as conducting experiments and crafting in a classroom setting.
A four-step process diagram: Spark intrigue, Explore evidence, Explain and elaborate, and Evaluate claims, connected by arrows, with an engagement statement below.

Program structure

Our cyclical lesson design ensures students receive multiple exposures to concepts through a variety of modalities. As they progress through the lessons within a unit, students build and deepen their understanding, increasing their ability to develop and refine complex explanations of the unit’s phenomenon.

It’s this proven program structure and lesson design that enables Amplify Science to teach less, but achieve more. Rather than asking teachers to wade through unnecessary content, we designed our 6–8 program to address 100% of the NGSS in fewer lessons than other programs.

Scope and sequence

Every year our grades 6–8 sequence consists of 9 units, with each unit containing 10–19 lessons. Lessons are written to last a minimum of 45-minutes, though teachers can expand or contract the timing to meet their needs.

A grid of educational icons, each representing a different science topic, such as earth and space science, life science, and physical science, with titles and lesson counts.

Unit types

Each unit delivers three-dimensional learning experiences and engages students in gathering evidence from a rich collection of sources, while also serving a unique purpose.

In grades 6–8, there are three types of units:

  • One unit is a launch unit.
  • Three units are core units.
  • Two units are engineering internships.
Launch units

Launch units are the first units taught in each year of Amplify Science. The goal of the Launch unit is to introduce students to norms, routines, and practices that will be built on throughout the year, including argumentation, active reading, and using the program’s technology. For example, rather than taking the time to explain the process of active reading in every unit in a given year, it is explained thoroughly in the Launch unit, thereby preparing students to read actively in all subsequent units.

Core units

Core units establish the context of the unit by introducing students to a real-world problem. As students move through lessons in a Core unit, they figure out the unit’s anchoring phenomenon, gain an understanding of the unit’s disciplinary core ideas and science and engineering practices, and make linkages across topics through the crosscutting concepts. Each Core unit culminates with a Science Seminar and final writing activity.

Engineering Internship units

Engineering Internship units invite students to design solutions for real-world problems as interns for a fictional company called Futura. Students figure out how to help those in need, from tsunami victims in Sri Lanka to premature babies, through the application of engineering practices. In the process, they apply and deepen their learning from Core units.

Units at a glance

Abstract digital artwork featuring a yellow human figure, red shapes, and a blue-toned screen, with vibrant, multicolored patterns and textures in the background.
Microbiome

Domain: Life Science

Unit type: Launch

Student role: Microbiological researchers

Phenomenon: The presence of 100 trillion microorganisms living on and in the human body may keep the body healthy.  

An abstract illustration of a person receiving an oral examination, with colorful geometric shapes and an eye chart in the background.
Metabolism

Domain: Life Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Medical researchers

Phenomenon: Elisa, a young patient, feels tired all the time.  

Abstract orange background with geometric shapes, featuring icons of a vest, bar chart, leaf, beaker, fruit, medical stethoscope, and an envelope within a hexagonal frame.
Metabolism Engineering Internship

Domains: Life Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering internship

Student role: Food engineers

Phenomenon: Designing health bars with different molecular compositions can effectively meet the metabolic needs of patients or rescue workers.  

Six spiders with varying body colors (brown, yellow, blue, and red) and patterns are arranged on a dark, textured background, seemingly in a diagram or chart formation.
Traits and Reproduction

Domain: Life Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Biomedical students

Phenomenon: Darwin’s bark spider offspring have different silk flexibility traits, even though they have the same parents.  

Illustration of a person with closed eyes in a red winter coat and hat, surrounded by falling snow and orange circles on a dark background.
Thermal Energy

Domain: Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Thermal scientists

Phenomenon: One of two proposed heating systems for Riverdale School will best heat the school. 

Abstract illustration of a sun with blue and orange rays over a colorful landscape featuring green hills and a vibrant sky.
Ocean, Atmosphere, and Climate

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Climatologists

Phenomenon: During El Niño years, the air temperature in Christchurch, New Zealand is cooler than usual.  

Illustration of clouds above a small town and farmland, with wind currents depicted swirling through the landscape under a blue sky.
Weather Patterns

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Forensic meteorologists

Phenomenon: In recent years, rainstorms in Galetown have been unusually severe.  

A polar bear stands on a small floating ice sheet in the ocean, surrounded by melting ice, with a red sun in the sky.
Earth’s Changing Climate

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Life Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Climatologists

Phenomenon: The ice on Earth’s surface is melting.  

A purple hexagonal graphic with icons including a building, wrench, screwdriver, sun, molecules, paint bucket, and tiles on a geometric patterned background.
Earth’s Changing Climate Engineering Internship

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering internship

Student role: Civil engineers

Phenomenon: Designing rooftops with different modifications can reduce a city’s impact on climate change.  

A robotic rover sits on a hill in a rocky, reddish landscape, with visible tracks in the dust leading to its current position under a hazy sky.
Geology on Mars

Domain: Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Launch

Student role: Planetary geologists

Phenomenon: Analyzing data about landforms on Mars can provide evidence that Mars may have once been habitable. 

Two green prehistoric reptiles with long snouts are near the shore; one is on land while the other swims in blue water, with plants, rocks, and an island in the background.
Plate Motion

Domain: Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Geologists

Phenomenon: Mesosaurus fossils have been found on continents separated by thousands of kilometers of ocean, even though the Mesosaurus species once lived all together.  

A purple geometric background featuring a hexagonal badge with a telescope, mountain, audio wave, and star symbols inside.
Plate Motion Engineering Internship

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Engineering internship

Student role: Mechanical engineering interns

Phenomenon: Patterns in earthquake data can be used to design an effective tsunami warning system.  

Illustration showing an ocean, forest, and mountains with a smoking volcano, plus a cross-section of underground tectonic plates.
Rock Transformations

Domain: Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Geologists

Phenomenon: Rock samples from the Great Plains and from the Rocky Mountains — regions hundreds of miles apart — look very different, but have surprisingly similar mineral compositions.  

Four stages of an orange popsicle melting on a stick, from fully frozen on the left to completely melted on the right, against a plain background.
Phase Change

Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Chemists

Phenomenon: A methane lake on Titan no longer appears in images taken by a space probe two years apart

Green geometric background with an outlined hexagon containing icons: a parachute, ruler, letter "A," bandage, stacked blocks, and a folded corner paper.
Force and Motion Engineering Internship

Domains: Engineering Design, Physical Science

Unit type: Engineering internship

Student role: Chemical engineering interns

Phenomenon: Designing portable baby incubators with different combinations of phase change materials can keep babies at a healthy temperature. Domains: Engineering Design, Physical Science

Abstract illustration showing red and blue circles on a split blue and light background, representing molecular movement across a membrane or barrier.
Chemical Reactions

Domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Forensic chemists

Phenomenon: A mysterious brown substance has been detected in the tap water of Westfield.  

An underwater scene with a large whale surrounded by turtles, jellyfish, and various fish swimming in different directions.
Populations and Resources

Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Biologists

Phenomenon: The size of the moon jelly population in Glacier Sea has increased. 

Low-poly digital illustration of a fox hunting a rabbit in a forest with pine trees, mushrooms, mountains, and the sun in the background. Another rabbit sits near the trees.
Matter and Energy in Ecosystems

Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Ecologists

Phenomenon: The biodome ecosystem has collapsed.  

Two people climb over rocks filled with electronic devices; inset illustrations show a boot, a belt of batteries, and a radio.
Harnessing Human Energy

Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design

Unit type: Launch

Student role: Energy scientists

Phenomenon: Rescue workers can use their own human kinetic energy to power the electrical devices they use during rescue missions.  

A spacecraft approaches and docks with a modular space station featuring large blue solar panels, set against a black space background.
Force and Motion

Domain: Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Physicists

Phenomenon: The asteroid sample-collecting pod failed to dock at the space station as planned.

Green graphic with hexagonal emblem showing an infant, a thermometer, layered materials, a medical symbol, and a flame icon.
Force and Motion Engineering Internship

Domains: Engineering Design, Physical Science

Unit type: Engineering internship

Student role: Chemical engineering interns

Phenomenon: Designing emergency supply delivery pods with different structures can maintain the integrity of the supply pods and their contents.

Illustration of a roller coaster car with passengers raising their arms as they descend a steep track against a blue sky with clouds.
Magnetic Fields

Domain: Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Physicists

Phenomenon: During a test launch, a spacecraft traveled much faster than expected.  

Illustration of the Earth with arrows representing radiation or energy entering the atmosphere from space, focused on the Asia-Pacific region.
Light Waves

Domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Spectroscopists

Phenomenon: The rate of skin cancer is higher in Australia than in other parts of the world.

A city skyline at night with illuminated windows, a large full moon, stars in the sky, and a bridge visible on the left side.
Earth, Moon, and Sun

Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Astronomers

Phenomenon: An astrophotographer can only take pictures of specific features on the Moon at certain times.  

Four polygonal dinosaurs walking in a row, three green and one yellow, each with a rock and purple spikes on their backs, set against a grassy background with a blue sky.
Natural Selection

Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Biologists

Phenomenon: The newt population in Oregon State Park has become more poisonous over time.  

Red geometric background featuring a hexagonal emblem with icons of a world map, mosquito, DNA strand, bar chart, and interconnected blocks.
Natural Selection Engineering Internship

Domains: Engineering Design, Life Science

Unit type: Engineering internship

Student role: Clinical engineers

Phenomenon: Designing malaria treatment plans that use different combinations of drugs can reduce drug resistance development while helping malaria patients.  

Two tortoises with long necks are by a river; one is browsing leaves from a bush while the other is walking near the water's edge.
Evolutionary History

Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science

Unit type: Core

Student role: Paleontologists

Phenomenon: A mystery fossil at the Natural History Museum has similarities with both wolves and whales.    

Two books titled "The Knowledge Gap" and "The Writing Revolution" by Natalie Wexler, beside a portrait of a woman with short, curly hair and a blue top.

Leadership and literacy brunch with Natalie Wexler

with Amplify and Riverside USD 

Thursday, February 27, 2020

9:30–11:30 a.m. PST

Location:
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School – Library
19661 Orange Terrace Parkway
Riverside, CA 92508

Registration deadline: Space is limited at this free event! RSVP by February 20 to secure your spot. 

Who should attend: Supervisors, ELA and reading directors, curriculum coordinators, and principals. 

About the event

Join us for a free brunch, author talk, and book signing with education writer and author Natalie Wexler on February 27 from 9:30–12 a.m.

During our time together, Natalie will discuss the latest research around reading, writing, and engagement in elementary school, along with the key findings of her book The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—and How to Fix It (2019).

As our guest, you’ll:

  • Meet and hear from education writer and author Natalie Wexler.
  • Mingle with other district leaders from Riverside USD and surrounding areas.
  • Enjoy a delicious brunch with colleagues.
  • Leave with a signed copy of Natalie Wexler’s book The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—and How to Fix It (2019).

Agenda:

9:30 a.m.: Arrive, check in, and visit our brunch buffet.
10–11 a.m.: Hear from Natalie Wexler
11–11:15 a.m.: Q&A with Natlie Wexler
11:15–11:30 a.m.: Book signing

Banquet room set up for an event with round tables, black chairs, floral centerpieces, and place settings, next to large windows and doors overlooking an outdoor patio.
A woman with short curly blonde hair is smiling next to the cover of the book "The Knowledge Gap" against a background with blue, yellow, and orange curved stripes.

Natalie Wexler

Natalie Wexler is an education writer and the author of The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—and How to Fix It (2019). She is also the co-author, with Judith C. Hochman, of The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades (2017) and a senior contributor to Forbes. Her articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and other publications. Before turning to education, Wexler worked as a freelance writer and essayist on a variety of topics, and as a lawyer and legal historian. She lives in Washington, D.C.

Submit this form to register for the event!

Amplify literacy curriculum sample boxes – TX

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Slow and steady progress at middle-of-year highlights the urgency of data-driven instruction.

Slow and steady progress at middle-of-year highlights the urgency of data-driven instruction.

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Amplify literacy curriculum sample boxes

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A digital reading intervention that delivers growth across every tier of instruction

Boost Reading is a student-led K–5 digital intervention, built on the Science of Reading, that delivers systematic instruction. Students receive targeted, adaptive practice that meets them where they are, while teachers get simple and meaningful insights into student progress without extra work. Fully aligned to Amplify CKLA and mCLASS®, Boost Reading brings powerful support to every tier of instruction. Para la versión en español, haga clic aquí.

A young girl wearing headphones smiles while using a laptop, with colorful graphics and badges indicating "Moderate ESSA Evidence" and "Built on the Science of Reading," highlighting a K–5 personalized reading curriculum.

Proven impact for students who need it most

Boost Reading meets ESSA’s Moderate (Tier 2) Evidence criteria and consistently moves students who score below and well-below benchmark toward benchmark with just 30 minutes of use per week. Boost Reading provides extra support to students (including multilingual/English learners and students with dyslexia) struggling with reading, with practice that builds a strong foundation for future reading success from the ground up. Learn more about the program’s impact on the Boost Reading research page.

Nearly 65% of kindergarten students who started the year at risk and used Boost Reading reached benchmark by the end of the year, compared to 48% of the comparison group.

Learn more

English language learners who started the year below benchmark were 43% more likely to finish the year on track compared to those who did not use Boost Reading.
“My students love the program, and they don’t even realize they are learning some tough concepts. Their reading scores are improving even since the beginning of the year.”

Amber

Junior High ELA teacher, California

Critical to MTSS with differentiated support for every learner

Boost Reading adapts automatically, so students practice the right skills at the right moment. Tier 2 students get meaningful independent intervention support, while Tier 3 students receive additional skill reinforcement between their staff-led sessions with mCLASS Intervention. Boost Reading follows the same foundational skills sequence as Amplify CKLA, which means that students practice skills unique to them, making Boost Reading an effective part of a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS).

Split image: On the left, a girl uses a laptop with the label “Tier 2 Student-led intervention” featuring a K–5 personalized reading curriculum. On the right, a teacher assists two boys with laptops, labeled “Tier 3 staff-led intervention.”.

Data you can actually use in your classroom

Boost Reading shows you exactly what you need to know about student progress, through simple growth reporting on the Teacher Dashboard. See who’s improving, who needs support, and which skills to target next without having to spend time digging through complicated data.

Aligned to Amplify CKLA and mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition

Boost Reading follows Amplify CKLA’s scope and sequence, making it easy to integrate into your daily routines by reinforcing the same skills you’re already teaching. It uses mCLASS DIBELS® 8th Edition data to provide targeted support and placement, giving teachers a clear view of how students progress across all instructional tiers.

Three text boxes display the names of K–5 literacy resources: "Boost Reading," "Amplify CKLA," and "mCLASS," with the words "Boost," "Amplify," and "mCLASS" in orange font.
Oso de dibujos animados jugando al fútbol, pateando una pelota con la etiqueta "ma", con burbujas de discurso que dicen "¡hola!" en español e inglés, al lado de una portería con un letrero "Currículo de lectura personalizado para jardín de infantes a 5.º grado".

Closing the gap for
K–2 multilingual/English learners

Boost Reading’s Spanish literacy partner, Boost Lectura, strengthens early literacy for Spanish-speaking multilingual/English learners. When used together, the two programs give teachers side-by-side insight into skill progression in Spanish and English, helping accelerate learning across both languages.

Boost Reading efficacy study

Closing the literacy gap for K–5 students

Download now

What’s included

A dashboard section titled "Trouble Spots" lists students under "Early Decoding" by skill, showing names and resource links for decoding and spelling word skills from a K–5 personalized reading curriculum.

Pinpoint the skills that need your attention

The Trouble Spots section makes it easy to see which students are struggling and what skills they need to work on. Printable, ready-to-teach lessons allow you to pull together small groups in minutes.

Watch your students grow

Never miss a moment of your students’ literacy development, with monthly growth reporting! You’ll be able to track how students are developing skills month over month, and see their reading trajectory unfold.

Line graph titled "Monthly Growth" shows three risk categories—At Risk, Some Risk, Minimal Risk—from September to January. Visualize student progress using this K–5 personalized reading curriculum as your supplemental reading curriculum.
A chart compares Student 1, who demonstrates mastery in decoding blends, with Student 2, who needs targeted practice and reinforcement to decode words with blends using a K–5 personalized reading curriculum.

A program that grows with your students

Boost Reading continuously tailors instruction based on individual student performance. That means scaffolding foundational skills while building proficiency, one engaging activity at a time. There’s no stalled practice, and you’ll see steady progress across key reading skills.

Benchmark and growth assessments

Boost Reading combines built-in benchmark assessments with monthly skill scans to give teachers a holistic view of progress from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. The monthly skill scans act as check-ins between benchmark windows, so you’ll always know where students stand with a complete picture of their learning.

A chart titled "Benchmark Performance" shows equal 25% scores for four categories at the beginning and middle of the year when using a K–5 personalized reading curriculum; no data is available for end of year.
A flow chart shows language comprehension and word recognition strands merging into skilled reading, highlighting progression from basic to advanced skills—a clear visual for any K–5 literacy resource.

Science of Reading scope and sequence

Boost Reading introduces skills in the order research shows students learn best. Phonological awareness builds into phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension for a solid foundation and confident readers.

Administrator and caregiver reports

Administrators and caregivers are welcomed into the student reading journey with data on program usage, reading progress, and skill mastery.

Pie chart titled "Grades 2–5 Growth" shows 45% below, 31% typical, and 24% above. Legend explains growth percentiles for a K–5 personalized reading curriculum: above, typical, below.
Insignia de premio con el texto "Premios de excelencia en tecnología y aprendizaje 2023, regreso a clases, ganador del plan de estudios de lectura personalizado K-5".

Award-winning technology that drives student growth

Learn more

Explore more programs based on the Science of Reading.

All of the programs in our literacy suite are designed to support and complement each other. Learn more about our related programs:

Welcome to the Amplify Science classroom showcase!

The Amplify Science K–8 curriculum blends hands-on investigations, literacy-rich activities, and interactive digital tools to empower students to think, read, write, and argue like real scientists.

Discover inspiring classroom examples and teacher resources from educators nationwide who are bringing Amplify Science to life.

Want to showcase your classroom?

We love seeing how you bring learning to life! Share photos to inspire fellow educators.

A collage of four images: a Classroom Wall with a science board, a night sky with constellations, birds flying in the sky, and a classroom display about a gecko inspired by Amplify Science.
A collage of three classroom science boards on animal adaptations, rainforests, and force & motion—each featuring small cartoon animals—brightens the Classroom Wall and highlights hands-on activities inspired by Amplify Science.

Classroom Wall

Every Amplify Science unit includes a Classroom Wall that grows and evolves as students build understanding. Here are a few examples from real Amplify Science classrooms!

Grades K–5

Credit: Shannon Cox, Sabine Parish School District, LA

Credit: Rebecca Steindler O’Brien, P.S. 051 The Elias Howe School, NY

Credit: Veeh Nguyen, Belle Chasse Academy, LA

Credit: Brittney Gooden, LaSalle Parish, LA

Credit: Buffy Scott Marcantel, Maplewood Elementary, LA

Credit: Chrissy Campenni, Wyoming Area School District, PA

Credit: Christy Flynn, Grant Parish School Board, LA

Credit: William Howard Taft Elementary School, OH

Credit: Cristina Cullen, Glendora Unified School District, CA

Grades 6–8

Credit: Erica Fernandez, Elsinore Middle School, CA

Credit: Sheyenne Cahalan, Knox County R-1 School District, MO

Credit: Joshua Ryan Abellera, Fertitta Middle School, NV

Credit: Karen Wynne, Portola Middle School, CA

Credit: Crystal Cuaron Baker, Las Cruces Public Schools, NM

Credit: Natalia Seoane, Heritage Intermediate School, CA

Credit: Lisa Anglim, Elizabeth Ustach Middle School, CA

Credit: Maria Katsanos, New York City Public Schools, NY

Credit: Lindsey Hampf, Upper Township School District, NJ

Credit: Anna Radef, Cadwallader Middle School, NV

Credit: Jessica Kruger, Gardner International, MI

Credit: Albert Hutchful, Clark County School District, NV

Credit: Kim Eich, Anoka-Hennepin Public School District 1, MN

Credit: Shannon Cox, Sabine Parish School District, LA

Credit: Anna Radef, Clark County School District, NV

Hands-on science activities

Students engage in hands-on science activities throughout Amplify Science. These photos capture curiosity in action and showcase real students exploring, building, testing, and investigating in Amplify Science classrooms.

Students engage in hands-on activities and experiments with liquids and solids, reading, and preparing materials, enhanced by illustrations and abstract art around the photos, supporting the Amplify Science curriculum.

Grades K–5

Grade 1: Animal and Plant Defenses
Designing animal defenses during the Animal and Plant Defenses unit
Credit: Veeh Nguyen, Belle Chasse Academy, LA

Grade 1: Light and Sound
Exploring shadows for the Light and Sound unit
Credit: Brittney Gooden, LaSalle Parish, LA

Grade 1: Light and Sound
Investigating vibrations during the Light and Sound unit
Credit: Jennifer Baker, Rapides Parish School Board, LA

Grade 1: Light and Sound
Puppet show for the Light and Sound unit
Credit: Anna Dardar, Rapides Parish School Board, LA

Grade 2: Changing Landforms
Exploring sand samples for the Changing Landforms unit
Credit: Rebecca Steindler O’Brien, P.S. 051 The Elias Howe School, NY

Grade 3: Balancing Forces
Exploring forces with magnet tricks for the Balancing Forces unit
Credit: Maureen Patt, Broad Street Elementary School, NH

Grade 3: Inheritance and Traits
Imaginary clay creatures to investigate traits in real organisms for the Inheritance and Traits unit
Credit: Maribel Ramos, Esperanza Academy Charter School, PA

Grade 3: Inheritance and Traits
Students showing off their knowledge for the Inheritance and Traits unit by creating their own drawings.
Credit: Sandi O’Brien, Parkmead Elementary School, CA

Grade 3: Inheritance and Traits
Determining which offspring belong to which set of parent pigeons based on similar traits for the Inheritance and Traits unit
Credit: Sandi O’Brien, Parkmead Elementary School, CA

Grade 3: Inheritance and Traits
Using celery as a real-life example of how the environment can impact traits, during the Inheritance and Traits unit
Credit: Sandi O’Brien, Parkmead Elementary School, CA

Grade 3: Environments and Survival
Modeling how ruby-throated hummingbirds with different traits meet their need for food during the Environments and Survival unit
Credit: Sandi O’Brien, Parkmead Elementary School, CA

Grade 3: Weather and Climate
Learning the best ways to collect, measure, and compare rainfall data for the Weather and Climate unit
Credit: Sandi O’Brien, Parkmead Elementary School, CA

Grade 4: Energy Conversions
Students created their own simple systems using a solar panel, alligator clips, wires, an LED light, and a buzzer during the Energy Conversions unit
Credit: Sandi O’Brien, Parkmead Elementary School, CA

Grade 4: Energy Conversions
Designing wind turbines during the Energy Conversions unit
Credit: Sandi O’Brien, Parkmead Elementary School, CA

Grade 4: Vision and Light
Planning vision models for the Vision and Light unit
Credit: Maribel Ramos, Esperanza Academy Charter School, PA

Grade 4: Vision and Light
Writing a scientific explanation for the Vision and Light unit
Credit: Chrissy Campenni, Wyoming Area School District, PA

Grade 5: Patterns of Earth and Sky
Investigating daytime and nighttime during the Patterns of Earth and Sky unit
Credit: Sandi O’Brien, Parkmead Elementary School, CA

Grade 5: Patterns of Earth and Sky
Hands-On Flextension: Making artifacts for the Patterns of Earth and Sky unit
Credit: Adriana Barrera, J.W. Bishop Elementary School, TX

Grade 5: Modeling Matter
Flavor ingredients test for the Modeling Matter unit
Credit: Kevin Butters, Grand Island Public Schools, NE

Grade 5: Modeling Matter
Testing ingredients to make salad dressing during the Modeling Matter unit
Credit: Sandi O’Brien, Parkmead Elementary School, CA

Grade 5: Modeling Matter
Discussing solubility and attraction during the Modeling Matter unit
Credit: Cristina Cullen, Glendora Unified School District, CA

Grade 5: The Earth System
Designing freshwater systems for The Earth System unit
Credit: Sandi O’Brien, Parkmead Elementary School, CA

Grade 5: Ecosystem Restoration
Building terrariums for the Ecosystem Restoration unit
Credit: Elizabeth DeBoo, St. Frances Cabrini Academy, MO

Grade 5: Ecosystem Restoration
Leaves and Roots game board from the Ecosystem Restoration unit
Credit: Cyndi Thompson Crouch, Smithville School District, MO

Grade 5: Ecosystem Restoration
Food web models with students’ favorite stuffed animals for the Ecosystem Restoration unit
Credit: Halli Trinker, Boonton Township School District, NJ

Grades 6–8

Grade 6: Microbiome
Drawing scale models of microorganisms for the Microbiome unit
Credit: Elizabeth DeBoo, St. Frances Cabrini Academy, MO

Grade 6: Microbiome
Hands-On Flextension: Investigating microscopic evidence of life for the Microbiome unit
Credit: Elizabeth DeBoo, St. Frances Cabrini Academy, MO

Grade 6: Metabolism
Investigating chemical reactions with water, phenol red, baking soda, and calcium chloride for the Metabolism unit
Credit: Jessica Kruger, Gardner International Magnet School, MI

Grade 6: Metabolism
Introducing the classroom body systems model for the Metabolism unit
Credit: Elizabeth DeBoo, St. Frances Cabrini Academy, MO

Grade 6: Metabolism Engineering Internship
Healthy bars for the Metabolism Engineering Internship
Credit: Elizabeth DeBoo, St. Frances Cabrini Academy, MO

Grade 6: Thermal Energy
Simulating hot and cold water during the Thermal Energy unit
Credit: Whitney Stewart, Rapides Parish School Board, LA

Grade 6: Ocean, Atmosphere, and Climate
Playing the Ocean Currents game for the Ocean, Atmosphere, and Climate unit
Credit: Elizabeth DeBoo, St. Frances Cabrini Academy, MO

Grade 6: Weather Patterns
Modeling a warm air parcel for the Weather Patterns unit
Credit: Elizabeth DeBoo, St. Frances Cabrini Academy, MO

Grade 7: Geology on Mars
The Flowing Water Model for the Geology on Mars unit
Credit: Kim Eich, Anoka-Hennepin Public School District 1, MN

Grade 7: Plate Motion Engineering Internship
Modeling a tsunami wave for Plate Motion Engineering Internship
Credit: Elizabeth DeBoo, St. Frances Cabrini Academy, MO

Grade 7: Chemical Reactions
Investigating substance changes for the Chemical Reactions unit
Credit: Ashlie Beals Arkwright, SCAPA at Bluegrass, KY

Grade 7: Populations and Resources
Conducting a yeast experiment during the Populations and Resources unit
Credit: Elizabeth DeBoo, St. Frances Cabrini Academy, MO

Grade 8: Harnessing Human Energy
Investigating energy systems for the Harnessing Human Energy unit
Credit: Lisa Anglim, Elizabeth Ustach Middle School, CA

Grade 8: Force and Motion
Investigating forces on different objects for the Force and Motion unit
Credit: Elizabeth DeBoo, St. Frances Cabrini Academy, MO

Grade 8: Force and Motion Engineering Internship
Designing an Egg Drop Model during the Force and Motion Engineering Internship
Credit: Elizabeth DeBoo, St. Frances Cabrini Academy, MO

Grade 8: Magnetic Fields
Hands-On Flextension: Exploring electrostatic force for the Magnetic Fields unit
Credit: Melanie Wenger, Lincoln Park Middle School, NJ

Grade 8: Light Waves
Students observing that light can cause materials to heat up, change color, and move for the Light Waves unit
Credit: Gloria Davis, Panama-Buena Vista Unified School District, CA

Grade 8: Light Waves
Students discover what happens to light as it travels for the Light Waves unit
Credit: Gloria Davis, Panama-Buena Vista Unified School District, CA

Grade 8: Light Waves
Students participating in a fishbowl discussion to share observations and evidence for the Light Waves unit
Credit: Gloria Davis, Panama-Buena Vista Unified School District, CA

Grade 8: Earth, Moon, and Sun
Paper model of the Moon’s phases for Earth, Moon, and Sun unit
Credit: Elizabeth DeBoo, St. Frances Cabrini Academy, MO

Grade 8: Evolutionary History
Hands-On Flextension: Reconstructing owl pellet skeletons for the Evolutionary History unit
Credit: Elizabeth DeBoo, St. Frances Cabrini Academy, MO

New and noteworthy updates to mCLASS, mCLASS Lectura, and mCLASS Intervention!

mCLASS®, mCLASS Lectura, and mCLASS Intervention are introducing enhancements for the next school year. Explore the following improvements designed to save you time, extend your reach, and support your efforts to deliver the rigorous and riveting learning experiences your students deserve.

Updates

Enhanced mCLASS enrollment

Amplify’s enrollment improvements will provide mCLASS users with a quicker and more efficient set up this back-to-school season. These enhancements will also provide a consistent experience across your Amplify programs. Please note that our current mCLASS enrollment system will be retired, and customers who are affected have been contacted.

Additional benefits include the ability to set benchmark windows through Amplify’s Admin Portal and to create groups of students to which you can assign assessments.

More information can be found at https://start.amplify.com/24-25-mclass-enrollment/.

New mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura Admin Reports

We are excited to announce that changes to the Admin Reports for mCLASS are coming next school year. With these updates, you will experience a new admin reporting suite, replacing the previous Reporting and Analysis Suite (RAS), that delivers a more robust and user-friendly experience. This update includes several enhancements, including:

  • Faster performance: Spend less time waiting and more time making decisions with significantly reduced load and refresh times.
  • Improved user interface: Enjoy a cleaner, more intuitive design that makes navigation and data analysis even easier.
  • Saved filters between reports: Enjoy seamless transitions with the ability to maintain your filters across various reports.
  • National reference data analysis: Compare your school or district’s performance with the national data of all students assessed with mCLASS.
  • Enhanced assessment tracking: Complete data analysis for all students, including those with partial or no assessment results, through Benchmark Download Your Data (DYD) updates.
  • Improved student list for reports: Access better-organized student lists within the benchmark completion reports for more efficient monitoring.
  • Custom demographics in reports: Tailor your benchmark and progress monitoring DYDs using custom demographics for a more personalized analysis.
  • New monitoring capabilities: Track progress monitoring fidelity and download details about students who participate in mCLASS Intervention groups.

Former Acadience and IDEL users, please note: As a result of the transition to new Admin Reports, historical data for Acadience Reading (formerly DIBELS® Next), and IDEL will not be available next year. Please be sure to download any data from these programs for your records.

Learn how to download historical data for teachers and admin.

A dashboard displaying mCLASS Literacy Reports with benchmark performance data for DIBELS 8th Edition, filtering options, and color-coded score levels.

mCLASS Intervention updates

mCLASS Intervention’s Decode assessment will have a new look and feel, resembling the DIBELS 8th Edition measures. mCLASS Intervention will also be integrated with Amplify’s global navigation menu, giving educators quicker access to Classroom Reporting, the teacher-facing Assessment app and more.

Progress monitoring interface showing a list of words with checkboxes for correct, incorrect, and not recorded responses for a student named Sebastien Grone.

Enhancements to student-led assessments

Students and educators will notice helpful updates to the student-facing platform:

The owl animations in the student-facing mCLASS assessments will be replaced with a familiar character from the Boost Reading and Boost Lectura program, Alyx!

There will also be additional accessibility updates, including an in-app magnification tool that will allow for the size of all on-screen text to increase, and an option to turn off animations to reduce distractions.

A digital assessment screen shows "Beginning of Year Benchmark" with a start button, a cartoon avatar, and a settings menu for text size, closed captioning, and animations.

Improved navigation

This year, we’re rolling out a more user-friendly navigation experience with:

  • An accessible sidebar menu for quick access to key educator resources within sections like Content, PD Library, and Apps.
  • A new Apps menu organized by subject.
A dashboard interface showing program recommendations, each with a title, description, and “GO” button, along with illustrated icons for lightbulb, book, and people.

Free content for you to explore

Explore a growing library of free math, science, and literacy content using the Discover button. You can even assign these activities to students through the digital platform, giving them more ways than ever to explore, engage, and learn!

Screenshot showing a user navigating from the Amplify Classroom dashboard to the Discover Content library, with interface elements for browsing educational resources by subject and grade.

Noteworthy features

PD Library

You’ll find helpful professional development (PD) resources in the PD Library to ensure your mCLASS implementation runs smoothly. The PD Library can be accessed through the Programs & Apps menu in the top navigation bar when you’re logged into mCLASS.

A webpage introducing Amplify’s PD Library, with text describing its resources for educators and a video titled “Welcome educators!” on an orange background.

Demo mode in English Classroom Reporting

mCLASS English Classroom Reporting features a demo mode that guides teachers through sample classroom and student reports, highlighting realistic student data within the complete set of mCLASS instructional tools. This demo mode is especially helpful for onboarding purposes with teachers new to using mCLASS.

A demo mode dashboard for a classroom report tool, with a yellow pop-up instruction and highlighted "Benchmark" tab at the bottom.

Building math lessons: The playful side you never knew existed

Two people smiling in separate circles; one has a cartoon corgi icon, the other shows math blocks—perfect for celebrating early literacy skills—all set on a cheerful yellow background.

When you think of what goes on behind the scenes of building Amplify Classroom lessons, you probably envision carefully calculated math formulas and complicated equations, right?

Not exactly. Meet Sara Barring and Sean Sweeney from our interaction development team! They create animations and interactions for many of our most popular math lessons, and one day they decided to record some of their work sessions. What began as a simple “Wouldn’t it be fun…” conversation turned into something pretty remarkable: a front row seat to their joyous exploration of math.

Sean and Sara spend their days bringing math problems to life using Activity Builder, Amplify Classroom’s lesson-building tool. Their goal is to encourage students to explore their own thinking, moving beyond traditional right-and-wrong feedback. Instead of being told “no” when a guess is off, students get visual Responsive Feedback that demonstrates the meaning behind their thinking. In the grade 6 lesson Weight for It, for example, the animation shows them what would happen if the dog actually weighed what they guessed!

Sean and Sara help create a safe, playful space where making a mistake isn’t a failure, but a visual stepping stone that encourages students to try again. This creative process is exactly what they decided to capture on camera. Their video series, “Graph Time With Sara and Sean,” reveals what happens when pure curiosity guides work in graphing mathematics. Each episode opens the window into a genuine, surprising discovery, showing the magic happens when you stop worrying about perfection. Watching these videos, even those who feel intimidated by math or think math isn’t for them may feel inspired to try it themselves.

Redefining mistakes as happy accidents

In any field, the word “mistake” can feel loaded. But for Sara and Sean, the process of creating math animations is less about avoiding mistakes and more about seeing what happens.

A great thing about working in Activity Builder’s graphing calculator, Sara notes, is that you can immediately see how every adjustment affects the animation. This instant visibility helps shift your perspective—an unexpected result isn’t a failure, but a happy accident. According to Sara, these moments provide a pivot point into a new, unplanned direction.

Take one episode of “Graph Time” that wouldn’t exist without a happy accident Sean had while trying to create a firework animation for one of our lessons. That “mistake” led to the discovery of unexpected mathematical patterns that the team may not have found otherwise. These patterns seem to magically emerge from simple sine and cosine functions, revealing flower-like designs, perfect circles, and intricate geometric shapes that feel limitless in their variety, proving that mathematical beauty often reveals itself through curious experimentation rather than careful planning.

Sara and Sean hope to show viewers the reality of their work–with all the struggles, detours, and joy. You might expect someone who creates math animations all day to have their steps carefully mapped out. “We don’t,” Sean says, “and that’s part of what we like about it.”

The ripple effect: Transforming math culture

Sara and Sean’s playful approach to building curriculum content creates waves they hope will extend beyond their own creative joy, inspiring a new generation of math explorers.

For teachers, these videos offer more than just creative techniques—they provide a blueprint for shifting classroom culture. Sean emphasizes that viewers are seeing “the real work they do every day,” providing educators with an authentic model for bringing genuine excitement to mathematical learning. Sara, drawing from her teaching background, recognizes the transformative power of just changing the narrative: “Math gets such a bad rep a lot of the time, so even if Graph Time with Sara and Sean just offers a positive rebrand on some things, I think that’s powerful, too.”

When students see people having fun with math, through teachers or videos like “Graph Time With Sara and Sean,” they begin to see math as an invitation to explore. Sean and Sara are hoping they can help students find their own magic, making math less about intimidation and more about fun.

Check out Sara and Sean’s videos to see their graphing creations in action!

Ready to create your own amazing math adventures? Check out our Lesson Building Toolkit for bite-size tutorials on making your own lesson creations with Amplify Classroom.

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Winter Wrap-Up 01: Problem-solving and facilitating classroom discussions

Promotional graphic for Math Teacher Lounge podcast, episode 1, featuring Fawn Nguyen, Christy Thompson, and Kassia Omohundro Wedekind discussing classroom problem-solving and discussions.

As we prep for an exciting new season of Math Teacher Lounge: The Podcast, hosts Bethany Lockhart Johnson and Dan Meyer are looking back at the amazing speakers and conversations from past episodes and sharing some of their favorites!

First up: A season 2 double feature of the power of problem-solving with Fawn Nguyen and Facilitating Classroom Discussions with authors Christy Hermann Thompson and Kassia Omohundro Wedekind.

Fawn is a specialist on Amplify’s advanced math team and a former math teacher and math coach—so she knows her stuff! You’ll hear about her five criteria for good problem-solving problems, and the power and importance of exposing all students to problem-solving.

Then, we’ll move into Bethany and Dan’s conversation with Christy and Kassia to learn how hands-down conversations allow students to become better listeners and the steps you can take to implement hands-down conversations in your classroom.

Explore more from Math Teacher Lounge by visiting our main page.

Download Transcript

Dan Meyer: (00:01)

Hey folks. Welcome back to Math Teacher Lounge. My name is Dan Meyer.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (00:03)

And I’m Bethany Lockhart Johnson. Hello! Happy New Year! Hello, Dan Meyer.

Dan Meyer: (00:09)

HNY, Bethany. HNY to you and to all of the listeners out there in Math Teacher Lounge. HNY is the abbreviation that I use sometimes.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (00:18)

Oh, is that what that is? Is that—I wasn’t sure what that was. If on my birthday you send me HBD…no.

Dan Meyer: (00:25)

Yeah.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (00:25)

No. Unacceptable.

Dan Meyer: (00:27)

I will. No, you want the full thing. To demonstrate my care for your birthday, I gotta spell the whole thing out. I’m just trying to stay relevant. You know, I’m just trying to stay relevant and youthful. So I’m using The Abreevs.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (00:38)

The Brevvies.

Dan Meyer: (00:40)

To the extent of even abbreviating the word “abbreviation.” . So, any New Year’s resolutions you wanna share with the listeners, Bethany? While you think, I’ll just share mine real quick here. This is the year of the perfect Wordle streak for yours truly, Dan Meyer. I’m going the full 365. Watch. Watch me do it, folks. I’m naming it here. Live on air. recorded on air. Perfect Wordle year. What you got for the listeners, Bethany?

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (01:10)

Let’s see. It’s raining very hard here in Southern California, and my newest resolution is to embrace nature. My child wants nothing more than to go and splash in all the puddles.

Dan Meyer: (01:22)

Nice.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (01:23)

And be amongst the mud. And what I’m gonna keep telling myself—and so far, so far, I’ve been doing pretty good with this—thrive, child. Splash. Squish. We can dry you off. You will not melt. So I want to keep finding opportunities. Like, for instance, my response is, “It’s pouring rain. Let’s stay under covers and let’s read this book together!” And his response is like, banging on the windows, like, “Please let me go outside.” So I myself have some rain boots. I’m going to go forth and splash with my child. So hopefully you’ll see me doing that a bit more.

Dan Meyer: (02:08)

Love that.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (02:09)

Ask me what I’m doing. I’m outside, splashing in nature.

Dan Meyer: (02:12)

I don’t wanna put words in your mouth, but I have felt a bit like parenting is a means for rounding out aspects of my own personality that I have felt are—or habits or hobbies that are lacking. Like, I’ve never been real outdoorsy or into camping, but I don’t want that to limit my own kids’ aspirations or interests. So let’s do the thing that’s not super natural for me, for their own sake. Which is kind of what I’m hearing a little bit from you, which—that sounds exciting.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (02:35)

Do you wanna go camping together? Like, our families?

Dan Meyer: (02:38)

Uhhh. Let’s take this one off the air. I also love something that’s more relevant to a teachers audience that you said, that I think is super interesting, is how there’s ways that we can make the jobs harder for ourselves, that are optional. And what I hear from you is like, “I’m just not gonna freak out. We’re getting wet. We’re getting soggy. And I’m just not gonna freak out.” And I just think that that’s interesting to think about, the things that we take on, you know, that’s optional. Freaking out is optional, sometimes. And there’s other areas, I think, for parenting or for teaching, where it’s like, “Oh, do I really need to choose this particular battle?” And to reconsider that.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (03:19)

And in that spirit, our whole Wordle episode that we talked about? Do you remember you talked about how beautiful Wordle mistakes are, and how you keep learning from mistakes? I mean, you obviously want the final correct answer, but just, you know, when you get on a losing streak, Dan, I hope you’ll continue to pat yourself on the back.

Dan Meyer: (03:38)

Well, I will not be taking on a losing streak, or even lose one day. This is what’s gonna happen here. I’m just speaking that and putting it out in the universe.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (03:49)

Speak it!

Dan Meyer: (03:50)

But if it happens, I will be taking a long break from all human interaction. And lamenting, as I do.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (03:59)

Camping. Dan’s off in the woods, weeping.

Dan Meyer: (04:01)

That’s right. That’s right. Yeah. Well, we wanna share with you folks—an exciting programming note is that we are currently working very hard on producing a special fifth season of this podcast. You thought the other seasons were special? Let me tell you, this fifth season gives new meaning to the word “special.” And we can’t wait to tell you more about that. But in the meantime, Bethany, you wanna tell ’em what we’re up to in the meantime?

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (04:26)

Well, Dan and I went back and we were having a conversation about some of our most favorite conversations, or the conversations that people bring up to us. Like, when we were at the CMC conference, or NCTM, folks, when we talk about the podcast, they’re like, “Oh, I loved this one.” “Oh, I love this one.” And that, to me, I don’t know, that is exciting. And so, while we’re putting together this new season over these next few weeks, we’re gonna feature a few of our favorite conversations from our first four seasons. Dan, four seasons!

Dan Meyer: (04:59)

We’ve been at this for four seasons! And I do want to just emphasize something you said, Bethany: that all of our conversations are our favorite conversations. They’re all our special children. What we just felt like you, the listeners, did not quite learn enough from some of these, and so we really needed you to hear them again to make sure you got everything that you should get out of them. So, let’s tell ’em who’s up first. And who’s up first is a conversation we had about problem-solving with Fawn Nguyen, who’s an advanced math team specialist here at Amplify. Been a former math coach, math teacher. Just really done the work, is what I’d say about Fawn.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (05:38)

If you have been listening to this podcast, you’re like, “Whoa, whoa. Wait, I have not missed an episode. I didn’t hear Fawn’s interview.” That is because we used to be video only, not podcasts. So this conversation with Fawn was from, what, our second season?

Dan Meyer: (05:55)

Yeah.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (05:56)

And we were on video. And another thing about it is it was, this is a conversation that, when folks talk about problem-solving, a lot of the responses we’ve gotten are like, “Wait, I’ve never thought of problem-solving this way.” In fact, you’ll hear us say that exact thing . So we really appreciated the time with Fawn. And yeah.

Dan Meyer: (06:17)

Enjoy it, folks. Especially enjoy Fawn’s—I think a four-part?—definition of problem-solving, a word that’s often kind of mushily defined. And Fawn really goes into, I think, precision and depth on it. So hope you folks enjoy it.

Dan Meyer: (06:35)

Give a wave, Fawn, to the camera. Would you? Cool. Fawn has been a teacher for a very long time. She is someone who could have left the classroom at any point and taken any number of jobs in the math-teaching universe. But I’ve always admired that Fawn has taught kids for a very long time, and that has given her, in my view, just a lot of clarity on what is important to her about students. I’ve seen her not get upset or obsessed with certain kinds of small niche issues that a lot of us, like, they get a lot of us down in the classroom, sometimes. And she’s maintained a laser focus on among many other things, problem-solving as a virtue in mathematics classrooms. So, please welcome Fawn to our show. Fawn, thanks so much for being here.

Fawn Nguyen: (07:18)

Hey, thank you so much. Thank you. I am so excited and honored that you guys invited me for this, Bethany and Dan.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (07:24)

Thank you for being here.

Fawn Nguyen: (07:26)

I love you, Bethany. Dan, I can tolerate, but I love you.

Dan Meyer: (07:30)

I really worked myself up there on that complimentary opening for you, and that’s how you get me back, here? OK. Problem-solving is fully on the consciousness of math teachers. Every math teacher knows that they need to say, like, “Yeah, oh, problem-solving. Yes. Love it. Do it. I dig it.” But even so, I feel like it’s become kind of a buzzword. Like, it’s not always obvious what that means…or am I doing problem-solving, really? So we’re curious: As someone who is a problem-solving expert, who is asked all over the world to talk about problem-solving: How do I know if I’m doing problem-solving in my classroom?

Fawn Nguyen: (08:12)

This is not my definition of it, but—nor am I an expert, by the way, Dan, thank you! but I try really, really hard and work on it!—my definition—or it’s not my definition, but I like it because it’s short and honest—is “problem-solving is what we do when we don’t know what to do.” And so—

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (08:32)

Ooh!

Fawn Nguyen: (08:32)

—with that mind-frame, I’m hoping teachers think more about what they task. Because I think it gets mislabeled a lot, as to what is problem-solving. If the kids already know what to do, there’s a solution path. Then it’s not problem-solving.

Dan Meyer: (08:48)

Yeah. So what are examples then? An example of, like, I might call something problem-solving, but it it fails that particular definition that you just proposed there. Very short, very honest definition.

Fawn Nguyen: (08:59)

Just, it needs to have constraint and contradiction to what the kids think naturally. It should come as a surprise. There’s an element of surprise in it. There’s tension.

Dan Meyer: (09:11)

Maybe if there’s harder numbers or, you know, decimals or fractions in the same kind of procedure…I can feel myself thinking, “Yeah, this is hard. This is problem-solving. Problem-solving equals hard. But we already know what to do.”

Fawn Nguyen: (09:27)

Or just word problems. That’s the most common thing. As soon as it just has words attached to the math, it becomes problem-solving. But that’s just coding it to me. That’s just coding it with words, wrapping it around. It doesn’t mean anything until we read through and see if there’s true problem-solving in it.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (09:45)

Like, what’s the moment that it becomes problem-solving? In the way that you envision it?

Fawn Nguyen: (09:53)

Well, I think there’s the bigger problem-solving of really bringing a task…I wanna call it left field. It just—we rarely ever, if ever, see it in the regular coursework, but it can also be problem-solving if we just take what we expect the children to do at the end of the unit, how about we front-load that? To me, that’s also problem-solving. And I’m trying to encourage teachers to do that last problem first. The task writers put more thought—not that they don’t do the rest of it!—but you know, this is a special one, because they label it “challenge,” or “enrichment,” or “are you ready for more?” I’ve seen those. And so it is this really special problem. And I would love for us to think about “do that first.” Because my biggest fear is that because it comes at the end, that not all the children are involved. And so that to me is the saddest part. Because we might not get to it, right? In mathematics, we always think, “OK, well, let’s do these problems and then we don’t have time for the rest.” But I think that’s your richest task right there, is at the very end. So why don’t we front-load it, start it, and it’s OK—of course it’s OK!—that we don’t all get it. But the exposure to all students is so important. Talk about, you know, equity. Talk about that, everybody gets the same thing. If everyone dug into that first one with everybody’s collaboration, and we get to share that, and then we leave it, because “Yeah, OK, now we learn more of the other stuff, right? That hopefully support. And then we can go back. And now everybody had a chance to go get into it, and then we can come back to it as, as many problems, we need to go back to it.”

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (11:37)

And that feels so powerful. Because it feels like—as a teacher, I’m thinking it would also inform my work, how I approach the unit, and how I approach the next steps. Right? Like, what kind of work would we be doing if I let it, if I allow it, to change the way that I approach the unit.

Dan Meyer: (11:58)

Yeah. What you’re describing is so powerful, and really asks a lot of the task designers as well, I think. There are problem-solving tasks that really require, like, abstract knowledge of the way formulas and variables fit together. And what I love about what Amplify is doing with their problem-solving, what you’re helping them do, is that they start with a true low floor that can draw in every student. And they might get stuck at different places; that’s fine. But everyone has a way in. That’s exciting.

Fawn Nguyen: (12:24)

It’s a big deal for me to have this opportunity and this trust, to integrate problem-solving into the curriculum, make it intentional. It’s difficult to implement. It is, to be honest. Because for me, what is a good task? This makes one of my four criteria: One is, it is non-routine. It is simply stated. Simply stated—that’s like your low floor. And then has multiple solutions. And the fourth: This makes it. Because that the teacher enjoys solving it. And so you have to enjoy solving it to bring it. Because so that way I can say to my kids, “This is my gift.” It really is, Because, you know, it has so much fun and joy. And I appreciate the struggle. And I wanna illustrate an example. For example, let’s say Dan and I are classmates. And I know that Dan gets A’s on his tests and the lowest score he ever got was an 89%. I, on the other hand, just sitting right next to him, I average D. I have a D average on everything. While Bethany, our amazing and wonderful teacher, brings in a problem. And when she brings it in, she says, “I worked on this problem. I found this problem; I worked on it; and I struggled with it. And it was amazing. I enjoyed it so much, I’m sharing it with you.” And all of a sudden it’s like, “OK!” And I”m sitting there, right? My teacher loves this problem so much; she’s bringing it in to share with us. And now, all of a sudden, it’s not, you know…and I know she only gives us non-routine. When she talks about problem-solving, it’s non-routine. So it’s not directly tied to the textbook that I’ve been struggling with. So it gives me a chance, it gives me a chance to contribute. To think differently. And now, suddenly I look forward to working with Dan, because in this space, in this problem-solving space, Dan is no longer Mr. Know-It-All. And so that’s what I mean by—I am saying this a hundred times, and I will not stop saying it—problem-solving levels the playing field. Our world is filled with unsolved problems. Are you kidding me? Right? We look around us, we have so many things that are not solvable, or people are working on it, and yet in mathematics, what happens? The bell rings; we start; and we solve everything during that time, and we leave. And that’s…yeah. No! No! We need to wrestle with problems.

Dan Meyer: (15:04)

And that was our conversation with Fawn Nguyen, which we first released way back in November, 2021. You folks can follow Fawn on Twitter at Fawn P Nguyen. Um, that’s @ F A W N P N G U Y E N.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (15:18)

So our episode today is a double feature. We are featuring another conversation that we loved from Season Two. This is a conversation with Christy Hermann Thompson and Kassia Omohundro Wedekind. They’re authors of the book, “Hands Down, Speak Out: Listening and Talking Across Literacy and Math.” And I don’t know if you remember, but not only did we have a conversation with them, but we did a whole book study on Facebook, a Facebook Live book study, over the course of several months. And it was one of my most favorite things. And then they did a webinar at the end. So our conversation with them on the podcast for me felt like such a beautiful dive into their book. And you know, I’ve said it before, you think you have something down in the classroom, you’re like, “Oh, hand-raising, I’ve got that down.” You think you have it down, but then somebody says, “OK, but have you ever considered thiiiis?” You know, and it just—

Dan Meyer: (16:17)

NOT that??

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (16:18)

, Not that? Something totally different? And I loved talking with them. They’re a lot of fun. And I loved the book.

Dan Meyer: (16:23)

Wonderful conversation, great book. Very provocative ideas. Yeah. As someone who’s like, “OK, classroom management, I gotta get the hand-raising going…”. In the classroom before we talked, they offered a really potent challenge to some really standard classroom management ideas. Yeah. Loved it.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (16:40)

And this conversation also offers some really practical tips for facilitating student conversations. So we think you’ll enjoy it. Here’s our conversation with Christy and Kassia.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (16:53)

So today we are talking about “Hands Down, Speak Out: Listening and Talking Across Literacy and Math, K—5.” And we have the authors here, Kassia Omohundro Wedekind and Christy Hermann Thompson. Before we begin, let’s define what a hands-down conversation is. A hands-down conversation is just another way to structure discourse in your classroom. So in a typical classroom, you might see students raising their hand and waiting on a teacher to call on them before they share their ideas or engage in discussion. But in a hands-down conversation, it’s students’ ideas and voices that are taking the lead, and teachers are stepping back and focusing on listening and facilitating. Hello! Welcome to the Lounge.

Kassia Omohundro Wedekind: (17:44)

Thank you. We’re excited to be here. We’re fans of Season One. So we’re ready to go.

Dan Meyer: (17:50)

I was a secondary teacher but I still found so much to love about the book. I think facilitating conversations is just generally challenging, and perhaps even more so in math, where answers feel so tightly dialed-in, in lots of ways. But I loved it. I would love for you to just explain to our audience, what is a hands-down conversation and how does that contrast with what might be standard practice for some people? For some classes?

Christy Hermann Thompson: (18:13)

We just started using the term hands-down conversation because we wanted to differentiate the fact that there are different times to have different types of dialogue in the math classroom, in the literacy classroom. And we use this as one of our tools. Right? It’s not that every day, all day long, we’re very against hand-raising and should never see that again. We find that having this as one of our tools will be where we make really clear to the students that this is a moment where we’re turning it over to you to negotiate the space and make the decisions about when your voice comes in and who speaks next. You know, carry on kind of like that dinner table or that playground or, you know, whatever is your natural habitat for talk. And bringing that into the classroom and then hoping that it also someday transfers back out of the classroom back into the real world.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (19:09)

For the teachers who feel like that’s terrifying to have students just start speaking, and speaking without any sort of control or my little equity sticks, my little popsicle sticks, or my popcorn, or whatever other thing they’re using, what would you say is the first step?

Christy Hermann Thompson: (19:25)

So I think recognizing and naming that fear is part of it. And then saying to yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen here?” You know, I think the worst that could happen is that nobody talks and it’s totally silent. Or on the other hand, everybody talks at the same time. And both of those things will happen! And so what? It’s gonna be messy. And if you just acknowledge that it’s gonna look messy, and that’s part of growing; that every child as they learn—and every adult—is messy as they grow.

Kassia Omohundro Wedekind: (19:59)

And we have to see what kinds of things will happen in a hands-down conversation. Like there’s no prerequisite. You just start and then you see what happens. And those are the signs that tell you, “What can help this community grow as talkers and listeners? If everyone’s talking at the same time, and they’re kind of pushing each other over with their words by saying, “I have something to add!” “I have something to add!” or something like that, that’s a common thing that sometimes happens at the beginning. Then you know that the next step is to do some work about how to hold your thoughts back, how to add, wait for a space in the conversation to talk. And those are all things we need people to know out in the world.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (20:41)

So can you give an example of a micro-lesson that…well, first, what do you define as a micro-lesson? And then, what’s an example of one that maybe somebody who wants to dip their toe into the world of hands-down conversations that they could try?

Christy Hermann Thompson: (20:56)

The reason we call them micro-lessons is because we wanted to differentiate from the term mini lesson, which is out there and tends to describe about 10 or 15 minutes that might take place at the beginning of a work period of time. And this is much smaller than that. We usually follow a pretty predictable structure of naming. Here’s this thing that’s so helpful when we’re having conversations, and we love to especially be able to name something that a student had done: “Kaylee did this yesterday and it really helped us.” So what we might call that is, “And then here’s how Kaylee and other people might do that. They might do something like this.” And, you know, having a little anchor chart, so there’s a visual reminder of that skill. “So when we’re having a conversation today, you could try…”. And that’s basically a micro-lesson, just in a nutshell.

Kassia Omohundro Wedekind: (21:51)

When I was doing these hands-down conversations and I had more space for myself to listen as a teacher, I’m like, “Well, look at those kids, like, slumped onto the ground, like, pulling the carpet apart, but they’re having this amazing conversation!” And so I learned that listening is a lot broader. So in this lesson that I’m thinking about, we just talk with kids about what are lots of different ways that listening can look like. Sometimes with younger kids, I’ll take pictures of them listening in different ways and we’ll notice things about them together. And then we invite them to talk with their Turn and Talk partner about like, “How do you like to be listened to?” Or “Tell me about how you listen.” And just kind of broaden that. And really, I like to think that like the micro-lessons are for the kids, but also I’m saying those things to say them for myself. Like, “Remember, you don’t have to insist that kids are staring each other down in the eyes all the time. Like, “It’s OK when they’re doing other things. There’s other ways of listening.” So I think I’ve learned as much from the micro-lessons each time I do them as the kids that I’m trying to help grow as listeners and talkers, as well.

Dan Meyer: (23:00)

You folks have a lot of really eloquent ideals you express, around democratic classrooms and engagement. But you also have just some very tangible, practical…even down to, like, how a teacher positions their body in space and the way they use their eyes to connect. I think it would be really helpful for teachers to hear that it’s not just they’re signing on to a manifesto of sorts, but there’s ways they can act their way into the beliefs that you both expressed here.

Christy Hermann Thompson: (23:26)

When I’m starting hands-down conversation work, if I put myself a little bit outside of the circle and look down, and give myself a clipboard, it, it helps me bite my tongue and it helps me give better wait time and see what the kids are doing before I have that tendency to jump in and teach and do lots of teacher-y things.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (23:48)

Kassia and Christy, thank you so much for joining us. We are so excited to have this conversation and to share your work. This is exciting. And I feel like this conversation is just the beginning of a deeper dive into this book.

Kassia Omohundro Wedekind: (24:01)

Thanks for having us.

Christy Hermann Thompson: (24:02)

Thank you.

Dan Meyer: (24:03)

Thank you both.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (24:06)

Thanks so much for listening to our conversations with Fawn Nguyen and Christy Hermann Thompson and Kassia Omohundro Wedekind, both of which were released in 2021, part of our second season. And, you know, we hoped you enjoyed listening to it for a first, second, maybe third, fourth time.

Dan Meyer: (24:24)

Let’s be real. There’s some real fans out there.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (24:26)

We loved it then. We love it now!

Dan Meyer: (24:28)

Yep, yep, yep. Please keep in touch with the show by following us on Twitter at MTL Show, and join our Facebook group, the Math Teacher Lounge community. We’d love to hear from you there. And please stay tuned for more info on what we’re cooking up here in the Math Teacher Lounge. Thank you folks for listening. Take care, Bethany.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson: (24:47)

Bye now.

Stay connected!

Join our community and get new episodes every other Tuesday!

We’ll also share new and exciting free resources for your classroom every month.

What Fawn Nguyen says about math teaching

“It’s a big deal for me to have the opportunity and this trust to integrate problem-solving into the curriculum.”

– Fawn Nguyen

Specialist, Math Advance Team, Amplify Desmos Math

Meet the guests

Fawn Nguyen

Fawn began her work with Amplify in 2022 as a Math Advance Team Specialist. She was a math coach for a K-8 school district for three years, and a middle school teacher for 30 years before that. Fawn has also received a number of accolades as an educator.

Christy Thompson

Christy Thompson is a Literacy Coach in Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. She has spent her teaching and coaching career particularly focused on listening to and learning from the talk of our youngest students.

Kassia Omohundro Wedekind

Kassia Omohundro Wedekind spent many wonderful years as a classroom teacher and math coach in Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia and now splits her time between being an independent math coach and an editor at Stenhouse Publishers. Her favorite days are spent in classrooms learning from the many ways children talk, listen and negotiate meaning together.

Three women are pictured separately in circular frames, each smiling and facing the camera, against a white background with overlapping pastel shapes—perfect for highlighting math teacher lounge discussions or sharing essential math teacher resources.
A graphic with the text "Math Teacher Lounge with Bethany Lockhart Johnson and Dan Meyer" on colored overlapping circles.

About Math Teacher Lounge: The podcast

Math Teacher Lounge is a biweekly podcast created specifically for K–12 math educators. In each episode co-hosts Bethany Lockhart Johnson (@lockhartedu) and Dan Meyer (@ddmeyer) chat with guests, taking a deep dive into the math and educational topics you care about.

Join the Math Teacher Lounge Facebook group to continue the conversation, view exclusive content, interact with fellow educators, participate in giveaways, and more!

Welcome, Florida educators!

Welcome to Amplify Desmos Math Florida! Below, you’ll find links to sample lessons and more information about our Amplify Desmos Math Florida program.

A laptop screen displays a math question with a scatter plot about staff and wait times; a worksheet with a similar graph is shown in the background.

Preview Lessons.

Check out the links below to explore our interactive sample lessons. 

Register to learn more about Amplify Desmos Math Florida.

Join us as we sit down with math experts and educators to explore how to support both students and teachers in math classrooms across Florida. This free professional learning series is designed to deliver collaborative, effective, and engaging math practices, as well as free activities to use right away. 

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A structured approach to problem-based learning

Amplify Desmos Math combines and connects conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application. Lessons are designed with the Proficiency Progression™, a model that provides teachers with clear instructional moves to build from students’ prior knowledge to grade-level learning.

Student thinking is valuable and can be made evident.

We believe that math class is a place where teachers can elicit, celebrate, and build on their students’ interesting ideas. Those ideas fuel meaningful classroom conversations and drive the learning process.

Three students sit at a table in a classroom, smiling and looking at a laptop together, with notebooks and papers in front of them.
A laptop screen displays a math question with a scatter plot about staff and wait times; a worksheet with a similar graph is shown in the background.

Robust assessments that drive learning and inform instruction

A variety of performance data in Amplify Desmos Math Florida provides evidence of student learning, while helping students bolster their skills. With explicit guidance on what to look for and how to respond, teachers can effectively support students as they develop their understanding.

Reporting and insights

Teachers and administrators have visibility into what students know about grade-level math with a variety of data reports. By evaluating not only what students know about grade-level math but also providing insight into how they think, teachers can confidently plan whole-class instruction and targeted intervention.

A digital dashboard displays student names and their performance levels in a grid, with a score distribution summary for assessment items shown in an overlay—ideal for tracking progress within the core curriculum or Desmos Math programs.

Access to grade-level math for every student, every day

Amplify Desmos Math Florida provides teachers with lessons, strategies, and resources to eliminate barriers and increase access to grade-level-content without reducing the mathematical demand of tasksall while supporting students in building strong number sense, fluency, and conceptual understanding.

Differentiation when and where it matters most

Teachers are provided with clear student actions to look for, matched with immediately usable suggestions for how to respond to student thinking. Each lesson also includes recommendations for resources to use with students to support, strengthen, and stretch their understanding of the lesson goal.

Boost Personalized Learning

Boost Personalized Learning activities in Amplify Desmos Math Florida target a skill or concept aligned to the day’s core lesson, with each student receiving personalized scaffolds based on what they already know. Designed to build fluency in mathematics, these activities adapt to each student’s unique needs and support skill-based growth.

Intervention Mini-Lessons aligned to core instruction

Amplify Desmos Math Florida Mini-Lessons are aligned to the most critical topics throughout a unit and provide targeted intervention for small groups of students who need additional support or more time.

A teacher sits at a table with two students, using small objects and a workbook to provide individualized instruction during a Boost Math lesson in a classroom with large windows.

Boost Math

Boost Math is a K–8 personalized learning and intervention program that provides Learning Pathways to ensure that every student succeeds. Our system supports all aspects of a strong Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) through learning progressions that connect foundational skills directly to core instruction.

Explore Boost Math

Contact us

Support is always available. Our team is dedicated to helping you every step of the way. Contact your dedicated Florida representative for program access, samples, and additional information.

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Jeff Rutter

Field Manager
jrutter@amplify.com

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Kamilah Simpson

Account Executive
ksimpson@amplify.com

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Thomas Gantt

District Manager
tgantt@amplify.com

Seattle Public Schools review for grade 6

Amplify ELA is the only ELA curriculum that takes the Science of Reading to the next level.

Truly designed for students entering the middle grades, Amplify ELA engages and empowers learners, and addresses the very specific and unique needs of students in grade 6.

Scroll down to learn how Amplify ELA is uniquely designed to help all your Seattle middle schoolers make learning leaps in literacy.

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Meet Amplify ELA.

Developed specifically for the needs of students entering the middle grades, Amplify ELA is a blended curriculum that promises:

  • A structured, yet flexible approach.
  • Carefully crafted, age-appropriate materials and activities that aren’t too “babyish” or too mature.
  • Complex, content-rich literature and informational texts that ensure ample opportunities for students to encounter both “windows and mirrors.”
  • Highly engaging lessons that keep adolescents plugged in and motivated to learn.
  • An instructional design that levels the playing field for every student.
  • Superior results.

Access and engagement for every student in the classroom

In Amplify ELA, all students read the same text with the help of differentiated supports. In other words, we don’t dumb things down; we bring students up. Our robust collection of varied texts and research-based approach to instruction not only engage students, but build confidence.

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Multilingual and English language learner support

With Amplify ELA’s integrated and designated ELD support, multilingual and English language learners (ML/ELs) are given a chance to shine.

Embedded supports enable students to engage with and participate in discussion of grade-level texts with their grade-level peers.

Flowchart showing Amplify ELA with two branches: Integrated ELD Support and Designated ELD Support, each with brief descriptions of their roles in English learning instruction.

Access demo

Ready to explore on your own? Follow the instructions below to access your demo account.

Access the Amplify ELA teacher digital platform.

First, watch the quick navigation video to the right. Then login using the directions below.

  • Click the ELA Teacher Platform button below.
  • Select Log in with Amplify.
  • Enter the following information:
    • Teacher username: t1.seattle_sd_ckla@demo.tryamplify.net
    • Teacher password: Amplify1-seattle_sd_ckla
    • Student username: s1.seattle_sd_ckla@demo.tryamplify.net
    • Student password: Amplify1-seattle_sd_ckla
  • Please note, these demo accounts expire on: February 26, 2026

Access the Amplify ELA student digital platform.

To access the student digital platform, follow the login directions below.

  • Click the ELA Student Platform button below.
  • Select Log in with Amplify.
  • Enter the following information:
    • Teacher username: t1.seattle_sd_ckla@demo.tryamplify.net
    • Teacher password: Amplify1-seattle_sd_ckla
    • Student username: s1.seattle_sd_ckla@demo.tryamplify.net
    • Student password: Amplify1-seattle_sd_ckla
  • Please note, these demo accounts expire on: February 26, 2026
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Amplify CKLA 3rd Edition Knowledge Experience Kit

Knowledge Experience Kit educator,

We are thrilled to introduce you to your Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) 3rd Edition Knowledge Experience Kit. Amplify CKLA 3rd Edition builds on the proven instructional approach of previous editions of Amplify CKLA to provide you with better-than-ever teaching and learning support. We truly appreciate the work you’re doing and are here to support you along the way.

Below, you’ll find resources to help you get started, including a materials checklist, detailed unit and domain information, support videos, and more! These tools will support your core literacy instruction with Amplify CKLA. We hope you find this site helpful in getting started.

Thank you for all you do,

—The Amplify CKLA team

Get started

To get started with your Amplify CKLA 3rd Edition Knowledge Experience Kit, you’ll first want to review the following:

You may also find the resources below helpful as you begin your Knowledge Experience Kit:

Amplify CKLA’s all-in-one digital platform offers essential tools that streamline instruction for teachers and engage students with meaningful content. Teachers can plan and deliver lessons efficiently, while students can access assignments, assessments, and fun practice games.

Presentation Screens
Deliver interactive lessons with ready-made, customizable slides for every lesson.

Auto-scored digital assessments
Assess vocabulary, comprehension, and knowledge development at the end of each K–2 Knowledge and 3–5 Integrated Unit.

Standards-based reports
Identify strengths and growth areas for individuals, small groups, or your entire class. Interactive dashboards offer detailed results from assessments and activities.

Skill-building practice games
Engage students with interactive games that reinforce concepts and make learning fun. Powered by Boost Reading™, these games align with lessons and provide real-time feedback.

eReader
Students access texts, take notes, and use audio-enabled eReaders to enhance their reading experience.

Sound Library
Students watch articulation videos and listen to songs for each sound to support phonological awareness.

Two computer screens display educational software. One screen shows an assessment report, and the other displays a student exercise about word usage, both featuring multiple-choice options.
Three educational book covers are displayed: one about geography with a world map, one about poetry with butterflies, and one about oceans with marine life.

Amplify CKLA Knowledge Experience Kit components checklist

Below are the components of your Amplify CKLA Knowledge Experience Kit, organized by grade level and teacher/student materials. Please click on your grade level to review the teacher and student materials listed and verify that all items have been received.

Cover of a geography teacher guide titled "All Around the World: Geography," featuring images of a globe, landscapes, and people.

Materials

Knowledge 7 Teacher Guide
Red Amplify CKLA activity book cover featuring a globe, sunflowers, and a list of contents related to geography and art.

Materials

Knowledge 7 Activity Book Sampler
Cover of "All Around the World: Geography" book, featuring a globe, children, and photos of various landscapes and cities.

Materials

Knowledge 7 Image Cards
Cover of "Charting the World: Geography" teacher guide, featuring a hand-drawn world map with colored pins, a compass, and pencils.

Materials

Knowledge 5 Teacher Guide
Cover of an activity book titled "Amplify CKLA." It features an open book with a person, a space shuttle, and nature in the background. A list of knowledge themes is included.

Materials

Knowledge 5 Activity Book Sampler
A geography workbook cover featuring a hand-drawn world map, various papers, a magnifying glass, a compass, and pencils on a wooden table.

Materials

Knowledge 5 Image Cards
Cover of a book titled "Sounds and Stanzas: Poetry" with whimsical illustrations of animals and leaves emerging from an open book. It is labeled as a Teacher Guide, Level 2.

Materials

Knowledge 7 Teacher Guide
Green cover of an activity book titled "Amplify CKLA," featuring a hot air balloon and a medieval castle illustration. Text includes various learning topics.

Materials

Knowledge 7 Activity Book Sampler
Colorful book cover with a person reading, surrounded by illustrated animals and autumn leaves. Text reads, "Amplify CKLA, Knowledge 7, Sounds and Stanzas: Poetry, Image Cards.

Materials

Knowledge 7 Image Cards
A book cover titled "Rhythm and Rhyme: Poetry" for Grade 3. It features an illustration of a pond with butterflies, a frog, and water lilies.

Materials

Knowledge Unit 3 Teacher Guide
A book titled "Rhythm and Rhyme: Poetry" with an illustrated cover featuring a pond, butterflies, and foliage. The book is part of Amplify CKLA, Unit 3, Poet’s Journal.

Materials

Poet’s Journal
Illustrated cover of a book titled "Rhythm and Rhyme: Poetry" featuring a pond with butterflies, lily pads, and a barcode at the bottom left. Grade 3 and "Amplify CKLA" are noted in the corner.

Materials

Knowledge Unit 3 Image Cards
Cover of "Inspiration and Ingenuity: American Innovation," featuring a classroom with a chalkboard, window view, and a lit bulb on a desk.

Materials

Knowledge Unit 9 Teacher Guide
Educational book cover featuring a classroom with science equipment, a chalkboard with drawings, and an open window showing a Ferris wheel. Title: "Inspiration and Ingenuity: American Innovation.

Materials

Knowledge Unit 9 Activity Book Sampler
Book cover of "Patricia's Vision: The Doctor Who Saved Sight" showing a girl looking through an eye examination machine.

Materials

Trade Book: Patricia’s Vision
Illustrated book cover titled "Mr. Ferris and His Wheel" by Kathryn Gibbs Davis, depicting a Ferris wheel against a starry night backdrop.

Materials

Trade Book: Mr. Ferris and His Wheel
Cover of "The Deep Blue World: Oceans" teacher guide featuring illustrations of marine life, including a whale shark, turtle, and various fish. The background is a vibrant ocean scene.

Materials

Unit 5 Teacher Guide
Activity book cover titled "The Deep Blue World: Oceans" with illustrations of a diver, sea creatures, and an open book on a purple background.

Materials

Unit 5 Activity Book Sampler
Textbook cover titled "Life in the Fathoms" featuring a diver, various sea creatures, and colorful coral reefs.

Materials

Unit 5 Reader

Access the Amplify CKLA all-in-one digital platform

Teachers will receive Amplify CKLA 3rd Edition demo login information to access the digital platform.

If you have not received your demo login information, please contact your administrative team. If you are in charge of Knowledge Experience Kit demo accounts for your school/district and have not received login information, please reach out to your account representative or help@amplify.com.

Contact your account executive to sign up for implementation training.

Sign up

Welcome Reviewers, to Amplify Desmos Math!

Amplify Desmos Math thoughtfully combines conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application. Each lesson is designed to tell a story by posing problems that invite a variety of approaches before guiding students to synthesize their understanding of the learning goals.

Scroll to learn more about the program and explore sample materials.

About the program

We believe in math that motivates. Our structured approach to problem-based learning builds on students’ curiosity to develop lasting grade-level understandings for all students. 

The program thoughtfully combines conceptual understanding, fluency, and application, motivating students with interesting problems they are eager to solve. Teachers can spend more time where it’s most impactful: creating a collaborative classroom of learners.

A powerful suite of math resources

Amplify Desmos Math combines the best of problem-based lessons, intervention, personalized practice, and assessments into a coherent and engaging experience for both students and teachers.

A digital interface displays a math screener report on the left and a math problem involving division, alongside a visual representation of students lined up on the right, integrating rich math resources from Amplify Desmos Math.

Screening and progress monitoring

mCLASS® Assessments, along with daily formative checks, measure not only what students know, but also how they think. The asset-based assessment system provides teachers with targeted, actionable insights, linked to core instruction and intervention resources.

Two side-by-side math activities for children: on the left, a caterpillar-themed block challenge, and on the right, a worksheet for finding pairs that sum to 10. These exercises are fantastic ways to amplify children's engagement with math concepts.

Core instruction

Amplify Desmos Math lessons provide a structured approach to problem-based learning, helping teachers create a collaborative math community with students at its center. Each lesson systematically builds on students’ curiosity to develop lasting grade-level understandings for all students.

Two pages from a New York math textbook on determining coordinates after a rotation. Includes sections on modeled review, guided practice, and teacher's notes, with diagrams and examples that amplify the learning experience.

Differentiation and intervention

Integrated resources like Mini-Lessons, Fluency Practice, and Math Adventures provide targeted intervention on a specific concept or skill connected to daily instruction. Extensions are also available to stretch students’ understanding.
Boost™ Personalized Learning activities help students access grade-level math through engaging, independent digital practice. Responsive Feedback™ adjusts to students’ work, providing item-level adaptivity to further support their learning.

Two pages from a New York math textbook on determining coordinates after a rotation. Includes sections on modeled review, guided practice, and teacher's notes, with diagrams and examples that amplify the learning experience.

An approach that supports teachers

Clear, step-by-step instructional moves help teachers plan and teach student-centered lessons that use student thinking to differentiate instruction and guide to grade-level understanding. They include:

  • Guidance on what to listen for and how to respond.
  • Clear learning objectives to keep learning on track for each activity and lesson.
  • Daily reinforcement activities to provide direct instruction when needed.

A structured approach to problem-based learning

Problem-based learning asks students to make sense of and think strategically about mathematically interesting problems. This approach allows students’ ideas to take
center stage, so they are active and engaged in their learning process. Teachers are able to hear and respond to student thinking in real time, guiding and differentiating instruction right in the moment.

Moving from “I do, We do, You do” to “You do, We do, I do”
Lessons begin by activating student’s prior knowledge and curiosity, inviting them to explore the math, collaborate, and refine their thinking. By focusing on developing student thinking first, teachers can better connect ideas, guide learning, and synthesize learning objectives.

Lessons that are rigorous and delightful

Every lesson in Amplify Desmos Math is designed to put students at the center of their learning. Utilizing research-based best practices, students engage in meaningful work based on rich problems and real-world experiences.

Two young girls build with colorful blocks at a table while an adult woman observes and assists them in a classroom setting.

Warm-Up

Lessons begin by inviting every student to contribute to the mathematical discussion. Instructional routines are often used to build fluency, set the context, activate prior knowledge, or highlight a strategy that may be helpful in the lesson. 

Rich learning activities

Math knowledge is built through experiences and meaningful interactions. Students notice, wonder, explore, calculate, predict, measure, explain their thinking, use math to settle disputes, create challenges for their classmates, and more. Teachers serve as a guide, using a Launch, Monitor, Connect framework:

  • Launch: Teachers offer a short introduction to the problem or challenge
  • Monitor: As students work individually, in pairs, or in groups, teachers ask questions and provide support to move student thinking closer to the intended math goal.
  • Connect: Teachers connect student ideas to the Key Takeaway of the activity to help students synthesize and solidify the big ideas.

Synthesis

Teachers ensure that students end the lesson with accurate and enduring understandings of the math goal through synthesis of student ideas, explicit instruction, and reflection.

A short Show What You Know assessment allows students to show what they know about the learning goals of the lesson and reveal what they are still learning.

Differentiation and practice

Lasting understanding requires reinforcement. Every lesson offers Lesson Practice instructional recommendations to Support, Strengthen, and Stretch learning.

Two side-by-side math activities for children: on the left, a caterpillar-themed block challenge, and on the right, a worksheet for finding pairs that sum to 10. These exercises are fantastic ways to amplify children's engagement with math concepts.

Print for every lesson with engaging digital experiences

Whether in print or digital form, engaging interactions enable students and teachers to openly exchange ideas. Each lesson includes student print materials, interactive teacher Presentation Screens, and digital resources for practice and differentiation. Some lessons also use manipulatives or provide options for students to use devices individually or in pairs. Device recommendations for student use are age-appropriate, with more frequent usage in middle and high school.

Demo access

Please login to the digital platform to experience our full program as part of your review. In order to access the digital platform, you’ll need to log into using your unique login credentials below.

  • Click the orange button below to access the platform.
  • Click “Log in with Amplify.”
  • Enter the username and password:
    • Username:
    • Password:
  • View the video for helpful platform navigation tips.

Assessments

By starting with what students already know, Amplify Desmos Math helps build a strong foundation for success to guide and support future learning. Teachers are empowered to transform every classroom into an engaged math community that invites, values, and develops student thinking. With explicit guidance on what to look for and how to respond, teachers can effectively support students as they develop their understanding.

Open math workbook showing an End-of-Unit Assessment with multiple-choice and written response questions on fractions and equivalent values.

Program assessments

A variety of performance data in Amplify Desmos Math provides evidence of student learning while helping students bolster their skills and understanding.

Unit-Level Assessments

Our embedded unit assessments offer key insights into students’ conceptual understanding of math. These assessments provide regular, actionable information about how students are thinking about and processing math, with both auto-scoring and in-depth rubrics that help teachers anticipate and respond to students’ learning needs.

Lesson-Level Assessments

Amplify Desmos Math lessons are centered around sense-making and in-the-moment feedback. Daily moments of assessment provide valuable evidence of learning for both the teacher and student.

Data and reporting

Amplify Desmos Math provides teachers and administrators with unified reporting and insights so that educators have visibility into what students know about grade-level math—and can plan instruction accordingly for the whole class, small groups, and individual students.

A table displays students' performance levels across various items, with a detailed score distribution for a specific assessment shown in a separate overlay. Geometric design elements accented the background, providing an engaging visual touch ideal for any math classroom using Amplify Desmos Math.

Assessment reports

Reporting functionality integrates unit assessments, lesson assessments, personalized learning, Benchmark assessments, and Progress Monitoring for a comprehensive look at student learning.

Our reports show proficiency and growth by domain, cluster, standard, and priority concept using performance data from unit assessments. Then our reports highlight areas of potential student need to allow teachers to modify their instruction and target differentiated support.

At-a-glance views of unit-level assessment results inform your instructional planning, and you can also drill down to item-level analysis.

Standards reports

Our standards report allows you to monitor proficiency at the class and individual student levels. Proficiency and growth are shown by domain, cluster, standard, and priority concepts. Areas of potential student need are highlighted to allow teachers to modify their instruction and target differentiated support.

Administrator reports

Amplify Desmos Math provides a complete picture of student, class, and district performance, allowing administrators to implement instructional and intervention plans.

  • Track student, class, and district performance with usage, completion, and assessment data.
  • Accurately group students and classes with the Benchmark and Progress Monitoring data of mCLASS Assessments and allow teachers to reliably implement and track the progress of Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention.
  • Provide one data-driven solution that educators can rely on for high-quality math instruction.

Differentiation and intervention

Amplify Desmos Math views differentiation as an ongoing process where teachers are both reactive and proactive to student needs, ensuring that all students have clear pathways to proficiency. Through rich data and teacher support, Amplify Desmos Math uses flexible categories of intervention and enrichment that adjust daily according to student thinking.

In-the-moment differentiation supports are available for every lesson, both digitally and in the print Teacher Edition.

A teacher sits at a table with two students, using small objects and a workbook to provide individualized instruction during a Boost Math lesson in a classroom with large windows.
A table showing differentiation teacher moves with examples of representing groups in different ways, support prompts, and a stretch question about patterns with more teams.

In-lesson differentiation

Within every lesson activity, teachers can use the suggestions in the Differentiation Teacher Moves table to provide in-the-moment instructional support while students are engaged in the work of the lesson. This table can help teachers anticipate the ways students may approach the activity, and provides prompts that they can use during the lesson to Support, Strengthen, and Stretch individual students in their thinking. Teachers are provided with clear student actions and understanding to look for, each matched with immediately usable suggestions for how to respond to the student thinking illustrated in each row of the table. In addition to using these suggestions in the moment as teachers monitor student work, teachers can review the Differentiation table in advance to help them anticipate how students are likely to approach the activity.

Differentiation: Beyond the Lesson

Teachers are provided with recommendations for resources to use with each group of students needing support, strengthening, and stretching after each lesson. Support, Strengthen, and Stretch resources include:

  • Mini-Lessons: 15-minute, small-group direct instruction lessons targeted to a specific concept or skill
  • Item Banks: Space for teachers to create practice and assessments by using filters and searching for standards, summative-style items, and more
  • Fluency Practice: Adaptive, personalized practice built out for basic operations and more
  • Centers (K–5): Lesson-embedded routines and practice for students that are vertically aligned across grade levels
  • Extensions: Lesson-embedded Teacher Moves including possible stretch questions and activities for students
  • Lesson Practice: Additional practice problems support every lesson
  • Math Adventures: Strategy-based math games where students engage with math concepts and practice skills in a fun digital environment
Two pages from a math workbook on determining coordinates after a rotation, with diagrams, problem sets, and instructional text, displayed on a yellow and gray background.
A classroom teaching guide displays strategies for discussing pre-image and image in math, goals for a parallelogram lesson, and tips for supporting multilingual learners.

Multilingual/English Learner supports

Supports for multilingual/English learners (ML/ELs) are called out at intentiSupports for multilingual/English learners (ML/ELs) are called out at intentional points within each lesson. These suggested supports are specific, targeted actions that are beneficial for ML/ELs. They often describe a modification to increase access to the task or provide support with contextual or mathematical language development that can often be helpful to all learners. ML/EL supports may also be attached to Math Language Routines.onal points within each lesson. These suggested supports are specific, targeted actions that are beneficial for ML/ELs. They often describe a modification to increase access to the task or provide support with contextual or mathematical language development that can often be helpful to all learners. ML/EL supports may also be attached to Math Language Routines.

Math Language Development

Every lesson in Amplify Desmos Math includes opportunities for all students to develop mathematical language as they experience the content. Amplify Desmos Math purposefully progresses language development from lesson to lesson and across units by supporting students in making their arguments and explanations stronger, clearer, and more precise. This systematic approach to the development of math language can be broken down into the following four categories of support:

  • Vocabulary: Units and lessons start by surfacing students’ language for new concepts, then building connections between their language and the new vocabulary for that unit.
  • Language goals: Language goals attend to the mathematics students are learning, and are written through the lens of one or more of four language modalities: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
  • Math Language Routines: Math Language Routines are used within lessons to highlight student-developed language and ideas, cultivate conversation, support mathematical sense-making, and promote meta-cognition.
  • Multilingual/English learner supports: Supports for multilingual/English learners (ML/ELs) are called out at intentional points within each lesson.
Two girls sit at a table with open books, one making hand gestures while smiling, the other looking at her and giving a thumbs up. Behind them are shelves filled with books, capturing the lively atmosphere of a math classroom.
Digital educational material showing an activity named "Hamster Homes" involving tube length and platform heights for a hamster cage. Includes a diagram with platforms measuring 9 inches.

K-5 sample materials

Click the links in the drop-down sections below to explore sample materials from each grade. For a full program review, please login to the digital platform or request physical samples.

For helpful navigation tips and more program information, download the Amplify Desmos Math Program Guide.

You can also watch a product expert walk through a lesson and the available program components.

Cover of Amplify Desmos Math Grade K Teacher Edition featuring three children playing with math-related objects and a group of rabbits sitting nearby, aligning with the engaging curriculum seen in New York math classrooms.

Teacher Edition

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 2, Sub-Unit 2: Counting and Comparing Images.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math: Student Edition Kindergarten," featuring an illustration of three children playing with math-related toys. A group of small white animals, possibly hamsters, play nearby. The scene brilliantly captures the joy of New York math exploration for young learners.

Student Edition

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 2, Sub-Unit 2: Counting and Comparing Images.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math Grade K Centers Resources" featuring a large, stylized red and pink "C" on a light pink background with simple geometric designs. This distinctive cover complements New York math curriculums with its engaging visual elements.

Ancillary sampler

Included in the ancillary sampler are examples from the program Assessment Resources, Intervention and Extension Resources, Centers Resources, Additional Practice, and Math Language Development Resources.

A digital activity screen, crafted in the style of Amplify Desmos Math, shows two paths with different quantities of mushrooms. The user is prompted to choose the path with more mushrooms. A bear is on the left side of the screen.

In this lesson, students apply their understanding of how to compare groups of images as they determine which group has more or fewer and then compare their strategies by guiding a bear through a path that has more mushrooms than the other.

Children interact with math activities on a large tablet while observing fish illustrations. The text reads "Amplify Desmos Math Grade 1 Teacher Edition, aligned with New York Math standards.

Skills Unit 2 Teacher Guide

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 1, Sub-Unit 1: Adding and Subtracting Within 10.

Illustration of three children engaged in math activities from the "Amplify Desmos Math: Student Edition 1" textbook. One child holds a number card, while the others manipulate counters and images, experiencing an exciting approach inspired by New York math techniques.

Student Edition

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 1, Sub-Unit 1: Adding and Subtracting Within 10.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math Centers Resources" for Grade 1, featuring a yellow and white 3D letter "C" on a light background.

Ancillary sampler

Included in the ancillary sampler are examples from the program Assessment Resources, Intervention and Extension Resources, Centers Resources, Additional Practice, and Math Language Development Resources.

An educational game screen, inspired by New York math standards, shows a subtraction problem, "4 - 1," with a frog moving along numbered lily pads to reveal the answer "3.

In this lesson, students find differences when subtracting 1 and 2 from the same number by helping a frog reach a lily pad where it can eat a bug.

Cover of the "Amplify Desmos Math" Grade 2 Teacher Edition, showcasing children measuring with rulers and a poster displaying a mathematical equation, set against whimsical scenery with a colorful dragon. Perfect for New York math classrooms.

Teacher Edition

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you review the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 1, Sub-Unit 1: Adding and Subtracting.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math Student Edition 2" showing three children performing a New York math activity with blocks and measurements.

Student Edition

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 1, Sub-Unit 1: Adding and Subtracting.

Cover of an educational book titled "Amplify Desmos Math Grade 2 Centers Resources" featuring a green "C" on a light green background, perfect for enhancing New York math education.

Ancillary sampler

Included in the ancillary sampler are examples from the program Assessment Resources, Intervention and Extension Resources, Centers Resources, Additional Practice, and Math Language Development Resources.

An educational activity where users must select the block with the correct number to make a total of 10 using the given block numbers. The UI, inspired by New York math standards, features a caterpillar and two tree stumps to amplify engagement with Desmos Math tools.

Students continue to develop fluency by finding the number that makes 10 by helping a millipede reach its favorite food – a clump of leaves!

Cover of a "Grade 3 Amplify Desmos Math Teacher Edition" book, featuring a cutaway building with diverse students and a teacher working on New York math problems and organizing materials.

Teacher Edition

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you review the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 1, Sub-Unit 3: Data on Scaled Graphs.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math Student Edition 3" showcasing illustrated children engaged in various mathematical activities inside a glass house structure, reflecting the dynamic energy of New York math.

Student Edition

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 1, Sub-Unit 3: Data on Scaled Graphs.

Cover of the Amplify Desmos Math Grade 3 Centers Resources book, featuring a 3D letter "C" in blue and white on a minimalistic background, perfect for aligning with New York math standards.

Ancillary sampler

Included in the ancillary sampler are examples from the program Assessment Resources, Intervention and Extension Resources, Centers Resources, Additional Practice, and Math Language Development Resources.

A page titled "Activity 2" features a table showing counts of rabbits, raccoons, and foxes, an image of animal stickers, and a bar graph representing the number of each animal, designed to amplify your New York math lesson with engaging visual data.

Students compare data represented on bar graphs with different scales by using animal stickers to create scaled bar graphs.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math: Teacher Edition Grade 4" showing children learning New York Math outdoors, using large mathematical tools and numbers, with one child in a wheelchair.

Teacher Edition

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you review the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 1, Sub-Unit 2: Using Factors and Multiples.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math: Teacher Edition Grade 4" showing children learning New York Math outdoors, using large mathematical tools and numbers, with one child in a wheelchair.

Student Edition

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 1, Sub-Unit 2: Using Factors and Multiples.

Cover of the "Amplify Desmos Math" Grade 4 Centers Resources book, featuring a large, stylized blue letter "C" on a light blue background. This essential resource for New York math educators ensures engaging and effective instruction.

Ancillary sampler

Included in the ancillary sampler are examples from the program Assessment Resources, Intervention and Extension Resources, Centers Resources, Additional Practice, and Math Language Development Resources.

Interactive educational activity asking users to determine platform heights using a 3-inch tube. The interface, inspired by Desmos math tools, features a dragging function and feedback system with a checkbox and "Try another" option, amplifying the learning experience.

Students choose tube lengths to connect to platform heights for hamster homes, identifying possible heights using what they know about multiples.

Illustration of three students engaging with various math activities outdoors and around large blocks. Text at the top reads "Amplify Desmos Math, Grade 5, Teacher Edition" - a perfect resource for New York math educators.

Teacher Edition

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you review the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 1, Sub-Unit 3: Volume of Solid Figures.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math: Student Edition, Grade 5" featuring students engaged in various mathematical activities outside, such as block building, measuring, and gardening—a perfect resource aligning with New York math standards.

Student Edition

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 1, Sub-Unit 3: Volume of Solid Figures.

Cover image of "Amplify Desmos Math Grade 5 Centers Resources" featuring a large purple letter C on a light purple background, showcasing the innovative approach of Amplify Desmos Math that's making waves in New York math education.

Ancillary sampler

Included in the ancillary sampler are examples from the program Assessment Resources, Intervention and Extension Resources, Centers Resources, Additional Practice, and Math Language Development Resources.

An interactive screen showing an activity about decomposing a figure into prisms, with a touch of Desmos Math integration. The user is asked to drag points to demonstrate the decomposition. Two prism illustrations are displayed, offering a glimpse of New York Math's approach.

Students decompose a figure into rectangular prisms and determine the volume of the figure by adding the volumes of the individual prisms.

6-A1 sample materials

Click the links in the drop-down sections below to explore sample materials from each grade. For a full program review, please login to the digital platform or request physical samples. 

For helpful navigation tips and more program information, download the Amplify Desmos Math Program Guide.

You can also watch a product expert walk through a lesson and the available program components.

A laptop displays a math warm-up activity with shapes and a scale, in front of two Amplify Desmos Math teacher edition books for grades 1 and 7.
Cover of the Grade 6 Amplify Desmos Math Teacher Edition, showcasing students engaging in various mathematical activities around a balance scale with variables, inspired by New York math educational standards.

Teacher Edition

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 6, Sub-Unit 1: Solving Equations.

Cover of “Amplify Desmos Math, Student Edition, Grade 6” featuring an illustration of children engaging in various New York math-related activities outdoors.

Student Edition

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 6, Sub-Unit 1: Solving Equations.

Cover image of "Amplify Desmos Math" for Grade 6, featuring a 3D pink letter "I" and the text "Intervention and Extension Resources." This New York math edition supports students with comprehensive resources.

Ancillary sampler

Included in the ancillary sampler are examples from the program Assessment Resources, Intervention and Extension Resources, Additional Practice, and Math Language Development Resources.

A digital math activity shows foxes on a seesaw balanced with 18-pound weights. A multiple-choice question and text box ask for the weight of a fox in pounds.

Students use equations and tape diagrams to represent seesaw situations and to determine unknown animal weights, helping them make connections between diagrams that represent equations of the form `x+p=q` or `px=q`.

Cover image of "Amplify Desmos Math Teacher Edition Grade 7" featuring an illustration of students engaging in math-related activities with geometric shapes and construction elements against a New York cityscape background.

Teacher Edition

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 6, Sub-Unit 3: Inequalities.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math, Student Edition, Grade 7" showing students engaged in math activities against a cityscape reminiscent of New York, with purple geometric structures and a crane in the background.

Student Edition

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 6, Sub-Unit 3: Inequalities.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math: Grade 7 – Intervention and Extension Resources" featuring a stylized 3D "I" on a light purple background, ideal for both New York math and national curricula.

Ancillary sampler

Included in the ancillary sampler are examples from the program Assessment Resources, Intervention and Extension Resources, Additional Practice, and Math Language Development Resources.

A digital math activity screen shows a character above a number line and a box with the inequality "x > -10" entered. A cursor points to the "Edit my response" button.

Students solve inequalities with positive and negative coefficients to solve a variety of challenges featuring a fictional sheep who eats grass according to an inequality.

Illustration of children engaging in learning activities outdoors near a large slide. The title "Amplify Desmos Math Grade 8 Teacher Edition" is shown at the top, highlighting its relevance to New York math curriculum standards.

Teacher Edition

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 6, Sub-Unit 2: Analyzing Numerical Data.

Cover of the "Amplify Desmos Math" Student Edition for Grade 8, featuring students engaging in various mathematical activities in a stylized outdoor New York setting.

Student Edition

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 6, Sub-Unit 2: Analyzing Numerical Data.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math Grade 8: Intervention and Extension Resources" featuring a stylized "I" on a gray background, tailored for New York math standards.

Ancillary sampler

Included in the ancillary sampler are examples from the program Assessment Resources, Intervention and Extension Resources, Additional Practice, and Math Language Development Resources.

A graph plots four robot colors by height and eye distance; on the right, matching colored robots stand side by side, labeled Red, Purple, Blue, and Green.

Students connect points on a scatter plot with individuals in a population and rows of data in a table. The analysis of scatter plots continues with data about the eye distances and heights of robots.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math: Algebra 1, Teacher Edition" featuring diverse characters engaged in mathematical activities, with a graph and a bridge in the background, illustrating the vibrant energy of New York math.

Teacher Edition

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from two complete sub-units on this site: Unit 2, Sub-Units 1–2: One-Variable Equations and Multi-Variable Equations.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math" Student Edition A1, featuring an illustration of diverse characters engaging in New York math activities against a backdrop of graphs and mathematical concepts.

Student Edition

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful. To help you preview the program, we have included samples from two complete sub-units on this site: Unit 2, Sub-Units 1–2: One-Variable Equations and Multi-Variable Equations.

Cover of an Amplify Desmos Math Algebra 1 ancillary sampler, featuring students interacting with graphs and mathematical models, including a rocket and a parabola.

Ancillary sampler

Included in the ancillary sampler are examples from the program Assessment Resources, Intervention and Extension Resources, Additional Practice, and Math Language Development Resources.

A math activity screen shows a cartoon snail, purple blocks, and a table comparing blocks and a math equation; a cursor hovers over the "Edit my response" button.

Students represent the solutions of a situation using a table, a graph, and multiple forms of an equation to identify multiple combinations of blocks that can help Shelley the Snail cross a gap.

Winter Wrap-Up 02: Mathematizing Children’s Literature

Promotional graphic for Math Teacher Lounge podcast, episode 2, featuring Allison Hintz and Antony Smith, discussing how mathematizing children's literature can build math fluency.

While we’re hard at work producing the exciting fifth season of Math Teacher Lounge: The Podcast, we’re continuing to share some of our favorite conversations from our first four seasons. This time around, we’re revisiting our popular episode that connected literacy and math!

In this episode, we sit down with Allison Hintz and Antony Smith, authors of Mathematizing Children’s Literature, to talk about what would happen if we were to approach children’s literature, and life, through a math lens–and how we can apply those same techniques to classroom teaching!

Explore more from Math Teacher Lounge by visiting our main page

Download Transcript

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (00:02):

Hi, I’m Bethany Lockhart Johnson.

Dan Meyer (00:04):

Hi, I’m Dan Meyer.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (00:05):

And we are so excited for another episode of Math Teacher Lounge. And as you know, podcast format; you’re listening now. I think one beautiful thing about the podcast format is that it gives us a little bit more time to have these rich conversations. And I promise I won’t do it, but I could talk to our guests for hours, hours! Authors Allison Hintz and Tony Smith have just released Mathematizing Children’s Literature: Sparking Connections, Joy, and Wonder Through Read-Alouds and Discussion. And today we get to talk to the authors. Allison, Tony, welcome. Welcome to the lounge.

Allison Hintz (00:53):

Thank you. We’re so grateful to be here.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (00:55):

We’re so excited to have you here. And I wanna say that my very first—was it my first math conference? Maybe it was my first math conference—up in Seattle, the CGI conference, and I’m all like, you know, wide-eyed and just like, “Can this be a place for me, this math community?” Re-envisioning my relationship with math and thinking about myself as a math teacher, what? And I went to your session on mathematizing children’s literature, and I was just so fired up. I was so wowed by your ideas, your energy, and your passion for students’ thinking. And I feel like as I read this book, I felt like I was hanging out with you. Like you were just so encouraging all the way through. Of educators, of other folks working with young people, and really guiding us how to listen with joy and with an open curious mind.

Dan Meyer (02:03):

Yeah. I would love to hear a bit about the genesis of this book for you folks. Like, I’m coming at this from a secondary educator lens. I’ve got small kids, so that’s also part of my interest here. But I love any book, any idea that seeks to merge what seems like two disparate worlds. Like it’s often the case that we feel like, well, there’s approaches for ELA and approaches for math, and they’re kind of separate disciplines. And these poor elementary teachers have to learn all of them and be experts at all of them. And here you both come along and say, “Hey, what if they are the same kind of technique?” Can you just speak to how this came about?

Allison Hintz (02:38):

Definitely. Tony, do you wanna take a try? Do you want me to start us off?

Antony Smith (02:42):

I can start. We oftentimes present and talk together and so we kinda switch back and forth. So that’s just how we are. So probably about eight or nine years ago, Allison and I, our offices were next to each other on our small campus. We’re both professors and we just happened to have a few children’s books that we looked at together and we were just thumbing through the pages. We really liked children’s literature. And we noticed that I would stop at certain points wondering about character motive or plot or sequence of events or language use. And Allison would stop at very different points in the book and notice number and concepts or something about mathematics. And that’s when we started to wonder, what would it be like if we were sharing a children’s book with a group of children and we put our ideas together? Where would we stop? What would we talk about? What would we ask children about in terms of their thinking and what they notice?

Allison Hintz (03:42):

And so we started playing with these questions that we had and started approaching stories with multiple lenses to see what kinds of things would children notice and what kinds of things might they say. And we were also on our own journey in trying to understand how to plan for and facilitate lively discussions and classrooms that surface really complex mathematics. And it felt like stories were a place where that might be a fruitful context for hearing children’s thinking. We’ve worked with a lot of teachers and students in our region. We live in the Seattle area and we’ve applied for some funding over time that’s really helped us be in a lot of community-based organizations and educational contexts and libraries and pediatricians’ offices and classrooms, various classrooms, and see what’s interesting about this and what might teachers and children do with stories that would surface complex mathematics to think about together.

Antony Smith (04:41):

Over time, we came to the realization that if we wanted to hear children’s ideas, we had to stop bombarding them with questions. <laugh> Yeah. And at first it made it worse that we were asking them math and literacy questions at the same time. And so we realized that what we needed to do was to back off and to ask children what they noticed and wondered.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (05:01):

Can you say more about that and how that kind of evolved into mathematizing children’s literature?

Antony Smith (05:07):

We did work with a number of very thoughtful, talented classroom teachers and children’s librarians in public library systems who were just so masterful at asking open-ended prompts and questions, rather than kind of like the de facto reading quiz, that a read-aloud can become, which I’ve always disliked as a literacy educator. And we realized in our observing these read-alouds or interactive read-alouds or shared reading experiences that given the opportunity in the space and an adult who was actually listening, that children came up with all of the ideas we would have asked them about and more. So we didn’t have to be bombarding them with questions. They were already much more thoughtful than what would’ve been sufficient to answer our questions.

Allison Hintz (05:58):

And much like mathematics, it was really an iterative process. You know, we had some clunky read-aloud discussions where we were trying to accomplish so much and toggling multiple chart papers and different colored pens and all sorts of “how do we capture these ideas” and “do we separate ’em? do we keep ’em together?” And so it’s really been over time that with partners, we’ve learned these ways of having multiple reads of the same story that allow us to hear what children notice and wonder, and then to delve more deeply into their questions and their ideas through multiple reads where we might spotlight literary ideas that they notice; we might spotlight mathematical ideas that they notice. We might make purposeful integrations between those. But we found it to be most productive—and Kristin Gray really help us think about this—to have an open Notice and Wonder, get everything out much like an open-strategy share. We welcome here, record all the ideas, and it goes all over everywhere. You know, it can be a really not math-y noticing! And those are amazing! So there’s a lot of, um, yes, there is a ladybug on this page! The grandma is wearing green triangle earrings! Oh, your grandma wears green earrings! I mean, it all comes out.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (07:27):

Wait, have you been in my classroom? ‘Cause that’s exactly— <laugh>

Allison Hintz (07:29):

<laugh> And then, you know, we think of it a lot like if math teachers might use the 5 Practices for selecting and sequencing, or if you might move from an open-strategy share to a targeted share, how can we get out all the questions that children are asking and then step back from them, take some time to really think about what they’re telling us they’re curious about, and plan some purposeful, intentional subsequent discussions that can delve more deeply into their ideas.

Dan Meyer (08:02):

I’d love to go into that a little bit more if that’s all right. Um, I’m gonna speak from someone who doesn’t have an elementary background and I’m gonna voice some worries that I had, some anxiety. One anxiety I have like in a classroom or a curriculum is when there’s no room for student ideas. Right? When it’s like, oh, there’s just room for the curriculum author or the teacher here. That is a sadness. But I when I see an instructional environment like you’re describing here, where there is openness to all kinds of different student ideas, of different levels of formality, from different kinds of cultural fonts of knowledge or wherever, I also get a little bit nervous because that, like, increases the risk that a student might come to understand that “my ideas are not good enough,” whereas in the class with no room for their ideas from their home or their language or their hobbies, like, they’re not gonna internalize the message that, “that wasn’t good enough.” And so I’m really curious as you move from the open Notice and Wonder where kids share all of themselves with you, and then you move to a targeted focus on some sort of disciplinary objective, how do you navigate that tension and help students feel like their contributions are valuable, even though we aren’t taking them up per se?

Allison Hintz (09:18):

That’s such an important question. I mean, I think we’ve grappled with this broadly in math education. I think any time we’re thinking about which ideas we choose to take up to pursue to consider, we have a responsibility to think carefully about whose ideas are being taken up and heard and considered. And so one of the tensions I hear you naming, I think, Dan, is when we engage in lively discussion where children’s thinking’s at the center, how do we make sure to upend and interrupt kinda status norms that run the risk of being deepened? Um, and I think by paying attention to whose ideas are taken up as much as which ideas are taken up, and what’s the mathematics we wanna explore is one tension. Um, another tension I might hear you naming is, you know, the complications that teachers face with time and pressure and coverage, and which mathematics ends up getting worked on. And, um, you know, it’s something we’ve really had to struggle with in mathematics education, where we move to more discussion-oriented classrooms that are really centered in sense-making to know that it takes a lot of time to do this thoughtful, thoughtful work. Um, does that begin to get at some of the tensions you’re raising? Is there, is there more you’re thinking about?

Dan Meyer (10:53):

I think it’s really helpful that you kind of broadened the scope of the question beyond your book to “this is an issue that we are, you know, really challenged by and focused on broadly in math education.” And, um, I appreciate you bringing the element in of whose idea—not just which idea is taken up, but whose idea is taken up—is an opportunity where, let’s say, multiple people raise an idea that is towards an objective the teacher has, they have the opportunity to disrupt certain kinds of status, like ideas about status, in that moment. From your perspective, like, are there techniques to say, I don’t know, parking-lot certain kinds of questions and say like, “Hey, like these are awesome”? I don’t know. I just know that I see kids at like ninth grade. They are very reticent, often. They’ve internalized totally this sense of like, “I’m not gonna just, like, share about the pants the grandma’s wearing, you know; that will not be received well.” And so I’m just kinda wondering how that happens and like, what are the ways we can disrupt that? That process?

Antony Smith (11:54):

So thinking about that, Dan, from the teacher’s perspective, in those kinds of scenarios where you wanna honor each child’s contribution, a couple of things that come to mind: One is that by, you know, initially by modeling what I as a teacher, something that I notice or wonder about, helps kind of set the expectation for what kind of response would be encouraged. And it’s broad, but it gives an example. And then also we really try to record or to chart all of the ideas that are shared so that we can revisit and honor those together. And then either later or on another day, if we choose one or two of those to explore in some way within a more focused read, then another thing that we do is have the idea investigation afterward that continues that thought, but goes back to being as open-ended as possible, so that those students or children who maybe didn’t have their idea as the one that was focused on by the group could go back to that or explore some other idea of their own, so that the idea investigation isn’t a lockstep extension activity, which is why we don’t call it that. So they could again bring in their own perspective. But I have to say from the teacher’s point of view, there is that moment of potential panic <laugh> because there is that power transfer when you’re asking children to help steer where this is going. And if you really mean it, you have to let them steer a little bit. And that can be terrifying. And, um, I always think of one teacher, Ashley, we worked with who read an adorable book, Stack the Cats, by Susie Ghahremani. And in that book, there’s a point where there are eight cats and they’re kind of trying to be a tower of cats and they fall and they’re sort of in the air on that page. And she asked her first graders—she stopped, and she asked, “How, do you think, how will the cats land?” And for about a minute and a half, the entire <laugh> class, was silent. They had their little papers; they had chart paper; they had clipboards; they had everything they needed. But that unusual phenomenon of a group of six- and seven-year-olds actually just sitting and thinking and not being peppered with activities was really stressful, but amazing. And then, after about the 90 seconds, they started out into their exploration of how the eight cats might land. They just needed a minute to think. And it’s so rare that we’re able to let children have that.

Allison Hintz (14:40):

In that same moment, Ashley, who’s a learning partner to us, she turned to us kind of quietly, like, “Should I pose a different question?” And <laugh>, we’re like, “No, let’s stick with it. Let’s see what happens.” So I think it creates this space too, this thinking culture, right? And this culture of “what does that mean to really pose a rich task?That’s open-ended, where there’s multiple access points?” Those eight cats could land in so many different ways. And there was broad access, there was a wide range of all the cats landing, and one’s on their feet, ’cause cats always land on their feet <laugh>, and there was every combination. And so, um, I think what’s really interesting—and to me, this brings back to your wonder, Dan—is, you know, “What’s the risk in openness?” And there’s always risk in openness. Um, it’s scary as a teacher, right? If I’m not the authority of knowledge and I don’t have control over where we’re gonna go, it might get into places that I didn’t anticipate. Or I don’t really feel as solid in the math as I want to. Or I don’t know what it sounds like to stick with silence and wait time, to know if my students are really in productive struggle or if that question was a flop. And so, um, I think this is some practice space for young mathematicians and teachers of mathematics, and just teachers, to explore with that openness and kind of the risk of the openness required for complex thinking to emerge.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (16:12):

You know, it feels like the way you’re both describing this, it really is a culture shift, right? I kept feeling like I was given permission to be a beginner as I read this book. Like I was really…I loved how you said, I believe it was you, Allison, when you were in the class, you had a couple index card that you kept on your clipboard and that as you walked around, you were like, “Hey, if I don’t know what to ask, I ask one of these questions.” You know? And just this idea that, that, like Dan was saying, there is that loss of control, but that’s also a way to create this culture where students ideas are valued and we are allowing students to really generate the questions, which I thought was such an important idea to explore.

Allison Hintz (17:00):

We started this work long ago, super-excited about math-y books. And we saw a lot of potential in them and we still do. But the limitation we saw is that math-y books, they, they put forth a certain mathematics to be curious about. In some ways they tell you what mathematics to think about. So we started asking ourselves what would happen if we considered any story a chance to engage as mathematical sense-makers. And we started playing with non-math-y books and we got to a place where we could consider every story an opportunity to engage in mathematical thinking. And so we started noticing things over times, oh, these books tend to be really math-y. We call those text-dependent. We’d have to pay attention to the mathematics to understand the story. Whereas this pile of stories, these, they’re not overtly math-y. You could really enjoy the story and not pay attention to mathematics and have an amazing conversation. But what would happen if we thought of about this story as mathematical sense-makers and how might it deepen our understanding of the story? And then this other teetering pile of books, these are books where, you know, children didn’t tend to engage as overtly as mathematicians in it, but there’s opportunities in this story to go back to something—to a moment, to an illustration, to a comment—and think as mathematicians. And those were more about illustration exploring. And so, as we notice these different kinds of books, we really broaden what we thought about. And I think one of the things we really wanna think about in community through this book is what happens if we approach any story, every story, as mathematical sense-makers, because stories are alive in children’s lives, in homes and communities and in schools. And it’s a broad opportunity that we wanna take up. I was thinking, as I stay in this strait for just a moment about book selection, before we move into that process, um, Bethany in a previous MTL, you talked about representation.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (19:12):

Mm, yeah.

Allison Hintz (19:14):

And do you remember when you shared the image of hair braiding?

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (19:19):

Yes. Vividly, yes. <laugh>.

Allison Hintz (19:22):

Yeah. And can you say just what that meant to you? What that….

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (19:27):

Yeah. Well, it was from a conference; Sunil Singh had used it and was talking about the artistry in mathematics and beauty in hair braiding. And, um, particularly, he was showing this particular image of this Black woman with her hair braided in profile and looking at the angles and the symmetry. And I shared that, you know, I spent so many hours in the beauty shop with my aunties and my mom and my grandma and continue to, to this day, that it just, it struck me immediately as familiar. And it struck me immediately as seeing an image that was reflective of my lived reality, projected as valuable and worthwhile for consideration in the world of mathematics. Which is not what I felt as a student of mathematics as a young adult or child. So it was this beautiful moment of, for me, the power of when we see images and we allow opportunities for re-envisioning what may be a common practice for that student, or may be something that they see every day.

Allison Hintz (20:44):

And in that same way, that image that was put up, we wanna think really carefully about representation in the stories that we select. And when we think of stories as mirrors or windows, we really wanna be mindful in story selection of whose stories are told and whose stories are heard. And when you said that you would sit down to listen to a story and you felt at ease or that you saw an image and you saw yourself that can be and should be something we really think carefully about when we select the stories that we select.

Dan Meyer (21:21):

It’s a wider path for representation of different kinds of people in literature, because people’s stories seem so much more present and towards the surface of their lives, versus, say, the abstractions and numbers and shapes in mathematics. It feels like more of a struggle to find ways to show people, hey, like you’re here, this, this place belongs to you. So in all these reasons, I think it’s really great you folks are using literature, which has this history of humanities, literally humanities, as a vehicle for mathematics. That seems pretty special here.

Antony Smith (21:56):

We both go to libraries and bookstores and look through books as often as we can, but also our partner, a children’s librarian, Mie-Mie Wu, helped us go through—when we would meet, she would bring three or four hundred books at a time.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (22:13):

When you described her wheeling in the cart, oh, I wish I been in that room! <Laugh>

Antony Smith (22:18):

And the cart was, you know, probably three or four times bigger than she was sometimes. And we would go through hundreds of books and look at them and listen to her thoughts as a skilled librarian sharing with families, diverse families, and what catches the attention of a three-year-old sitting with her grandfather. And that was really a valuable, helpful experience. And it’s a partnership that continues. So in Last Stop on Market Street—and this is in the book; we talk about this, this children’s book quite a bit—in this story, CJ with his Nana, his grandmother, are riding the bus to the last stop on Market Street in San Francisco, to go, as we will find out, to help serve in a soup kitchen to help the community. And the teacher, Susan Hadreas, had the children record their ideas. She charted them in an open Notice and Wonder read. And one of the ideas that a young boy noticed was that CJ on the bus…a man with a guitar starts playing the guitar on the bus and CJ closes his eyes and it says CJ’s chest grew full. And he was lost in the sound and the sound gave him the feeling of magic. So this boy said, “I wonder, what does that feel like if you’re feeling the magic? What’s that?” And that was one of many ideas in the open Notice and Wonder, and Allison will talk about the math lens read, but first Susan went back and read with them. She had that idea, she circled it on the chart paper, and another day that week, she said, let’s go back and visit this story we really liked. And remember, we wondered what feeling the magic was like. Let’s go back through and let’s keep track of all the feelings and emotions that CJ had across the journey to the soup kitchen in this book. And so they did another read of the story; they were very familiar with it, of course, but they noticed new things and they also, every few pages, stopped and she helped chart all of the emotions that CJ experienced from envy to excitement to sadness. There’s a huge range in this book. And it was fascinating.

Allison Hintz (24:36):

I think one of the things that the children noticed was that CJ’s feelings were shaped by community. And that he shaped and shaped…he was shaped by and helped shape his community. And so the ways that he felt across the story were impacted by the other characters that he comes across. The guitar man on the bus. The bus driver who can pull a coin out from behind someone’s ear. The lady with the butterflies in the jar. Nana helping him to see the rainbow. And the students started, you know, being curious about that. How do we shape and how are we shaped by community? What communities are we a part of? This class is one community. I’m in many communities across my life. And they started to quantify the number of people in the story. So Mrs. Hedreas went back for a math lens read, and she said, let’s just keep track of and pay attention to how many people are in CJ’s life in this day. Because I can hear you starting to think about quantity. This class at the same time in other areas of the day had been working on counting collections, how to keep track, so they got out their tools. Some people pulled out ten frames, some people pulled out clipboards. They had a wide range of things they could use to help them keep track. They developed their own strategy, keep track however you want. She did a quicker read through it, flipping the pages, and then they get into these debates: <laugh> “We already counted that person!” “But they took their hat off and put it down to collect money!

Antony Smith (26:10):

“What about the dog?”

Allison Hintz (26:11):

“That’s the same person!” “Yeah, there’s a dog pound in his community!” <laugh> “Do animals count in our community?”

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (26:17):

I love it!

Allison Hintz (26:17):

“Yes, they count!” Uh, and so we went through and quantified and there was really this understanding as you saw these people throughout the story that communities can be of different sizes, but community has impact. And you have responsibility in your community to show up and to lean in and to know that bringing your full, authentic, vulnerable self, you shape people and they shape you. And what communities are people a part of. And it turned into this really interesting discussion about quantity and helped us think more about quantity and community. I think a really important moment for us and for that class was the transition from being people who almost did mathematics to a story, like counted things on a page, um, count acorns on a page in an autumn book, to being mathematicians who thought within the story.

Antony Smith (27:17):

And then two idea investigations that came from that —not at the same time, of course, but with the same group of children—one was they identified an emotion of their own and wrote and drew about that. And also, who helped them address or get out of or acknowledge that emotion. And then the other idea investigation was that all of the children drew or kind of mapped out a community that they were part of. Whether it was their neighborhood or their classroom or their soccer team or whatever it was. And so then those investigations strengthened the connections of those concepts to the lives of those children.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (28:05):

Well, I, actually wanted to ask you about idea investigations. Because I feel like that was such an important invitation in your book. And the way I understood the idea investigation is you’re really paying attention to what’s coming up in your other reads. Right? And then these are opportunities to extend the thinking, or like you said, to extend a particular aspect: What’s your community? Can we map your community? Or what’s a particular emotion? And it was in such contrast to what I think I have probably done in my classroom more than once, which was like, “Oh, we read this story about seals. So now my story problem is gonna be about seals, right? <laugh> Like in the story, you know, Jojo, the seal had five balls. <laugh> So if Jojo still had five balls and two of them bounced away…” You know, or whatever. Right? But that’s not what an idea investigation is. Right?

Allison Hintz (29:03):

Yeah. I think this is where we also had some stumbles and can totally relate to what you’re saying as previous classroom teachers as well. We have come to a place where we are pretty in favor of a super open-ended idea investigation that takes up the things that have surfaced in the multiple reads and making sure it’s a rich task with many, many ways children can engage with that. There’s many, many, many right answers or ways to engage. Less is more there. So we moved way away from, like, even a worksheet that might have an idea from it to blank paper and math tools and places to get into some productive struggle around some of the complex things that were raised.

Antony Smith (29:59):

A challenge with worksheets is that they put a frame around children’s ideas. So either there are only three lines to write on, or there’s only a small box to draw in. Whereas a blank page really opens up the possibility. Um, and so—is it Ann Jonas who wrote Splash!? sorry, I don’t have it in front of me—the book Splash!, about animals that end up in and out of the pond, including a cat that is not happy about ending up in the pond, an idea investigation after that for very young children was, with the list of the different creatures displayed at the front of the room: On blank paper, hey, draw your own pond and decide how many of which and each type of animal you want in your pond and then write about it. Just on blank paper. And so that allowed some children to draw, like, three giant goldfish. But other children drew 17 frogs and three cats. And, and just, it lets children follow—

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (31:02):

It was theirs, right? It was theirs.

Antony Smith (31:04):

Their idea. <laugh> And that comes partly from, I think, as Allison mentioned, we both were classroom teachers before moving into academia. And I remember giving children worksheets, particularly math worksheets, where they weren’t necessarily bad, but right at the bottom, it says like, explain your strategy. And it gives two lines.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (31:23):

Right! <laugh>

Antony Smith (31:25):

The only thing a seven-year-old can write there is “I thought.” Or “I solved it.” <laugh> And that’s not where we need to go.

Dan Meyer (31:34):

Yeah. If I could just ask the indulgence of the primary crowd here, like, I’m trying to make sense of all this. And I just wanna like, offer my perspective. My summary statement of what’s going on here. I’m trying to—I love how you both came here—

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (31:45):

<laughs> How ya doin’, Dan? How ya doin’?

Dan Meyer (31:47):

<laughs> I’m, ah, A, I’m loving this a lot. Um, B, I came in here loving how you folks are broadening the work of primary education to kind of find commonalities between these sometimes seemingly disparate kinds of teaching in ELA and math. Love that, I wanna say. But I think you folks are describing, with all these teachers you observed and your own work, is the work of attaching meaning to what students might not realize yet has meaning. Or they might think it only has one kind of meaning. But you, the teacher, with their knowledge, realizes that there are many more dimensions of meaning that can be attached to those thoughts. And I’m hearing that from you folks, when you describe A, what math is and the power of a teacher to name a thing as mathematical. Like, “Oh, you didn’t think math was that, but math is noticing; math is wondering; math is asking questions,” for one. But also this work you’re describing of how, like, first the task has to invite lots of student thoughts and then to say like, “Oh, I see that there’s a similarity to these two.” And to raise those up for a conversation or to ask a question like to extend one person’s, one student’s question a little bit more. But it’s always…I’m just hearing you folks attaching more meaning than the student might have originally thought. I appreciate the conversation. That’s really interesting.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (33:03):

Well, and now that the book is out, I think it’s gonna keep evolving, right? Now that it’s gonna be in the hands of teachers and librarians and educators and caregivers, it’s exciting to see kind of where it goes next. Which actually brings us to our MTL challenge. Dan Meyer, do you wanna share?

Dan Meyer (33:22):

Math Teacher Lounge, we have a challenge for the folks who listen and we’d love for them to hop into the Facebook group Math Teacher Lounge, or hit us up on Twitter at @MTLShow and just, like, kind of exercise beyond listening, exercise the ideas you folks are talking about, some kind of a challenge that can help us dive deeper into your ideas. So what would you folks suggest for our crowd, for our listeners?

Allison Hintz (33:42):

I would love to invite people to playfully experiment with a favorite story, with a story that’s new to you. I would love to invite listeners to sit with a story maybe on your own, and just ask yourself as a mathematician: What do you notice and wonder in this story? Don’t feel any pressure. Maybe sit with a child or some children and listen to what they notice and wonder. Like, really listen! Don’t ask questions! But hear their questions and place children at the center and consider multiple reads. Consider continuing to pursue their questions. And we have a planning template that might support people in kind of sketching out some ideas if you’re open to playing with that too.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (34:34):

And we will post—

Dan Meyer (34:36):

That’s awesome.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (34:36):

—a link for that planning template in our Facebook group and on Twitter as well. So thank you so much for that resource, because I think it’ll definitely help. It could help you, like you said, it could help you kind of organize your thoughts or help you think about this work in a new way. So thank you for that resource and thank you for the amazing resource that is Mathematizing Children’s Literature. I am so excited to continue to engage with you both and with listeners as they dive into this book. If folks want to engage with you more, where can they find you? How can they reach you?

Allison Hintz (35:12):

Well, we’re on Twitter.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (35:14):

Great.

Dan Meyer (35:15):

What’s your home address? <laugh>

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (35:24):

Wait, let me try that again. <laugh> ‘Cause it does sound like I’m like, <fake ominous voice> “Where can they find you?”

Allison Hintz (35:29):

4-2-5…. <laughs>

Antony Smith (35:32):

At the bookstore!

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (35:34):

Y’all, if folks want to continue this conversation or share these ideas or the math challenge, how can they tag you? How can they, they reach you on the World Wide Web, besides the Math Teacher Lounge Facebook group?

Antony Smith (35:50):

Yeah. Well, we are both on Twitter, and we’ve been trying to promote the hashtag #MathematizingChildrensLiterature. It’s very long, but once you type it once, your phone or computer…

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (36:01):

Easy. Yeah, those click, right? Is that what it is now?

Antony Smith (36:03):

<laugh> The other is that we do for our project, we have an Instagram account that is @MathematizeChildren’sLiterature.

Allison Hintz (36:11):

We care really deeply about hearing from people. You know, we think our ideas are constantly evolving and that there’s such exciting room to grow. And we just felt compelled to share what we were learning now so that together we could learn and build vibrant experiences for young children and teachers and families through stories. So we want to hear from people! We wanna learn about stories that are important in your lives and what children say, and grow these ideas together.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (36:42):

And credit to Dan, you told me you went and ordered a bunch of the books they have on the suggested read list.

Dan Meyer (36:48):

Oh my gosh.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (36:49):

You read ’em to your son.

Dan Meyer (36:50):

I got such a side-eye from my significant others around here for what I dropped on Amazon in one night! <laugh> Uh, all these books I didn’t have. Some of them I did. We are not fully illiterate around here! We do love the written word at the Meyer household! But there were a bunch that that I grabbed. I’m morseling them out day by day.

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (37:09):

Wait, at bedtime I read my one-year-old One Is a Snail, Ten Is a Crab. <laugh> And let me tell you, he had vigorous pointing and “Da? Da da da da?”

Allison Hintz (37:22):

<laugh> Aww, da da!

Bethany Lockhart Johnson (37:22):

So hey, we’re on the road. <laugh> <music> Deeply grateful, not only for your work and your beautiful book and your work, but also for the invitation to dive into the world of children’s literature in a way that many of us have not before. And it’s fun! Thank you, Tony. And thank you, Allison. And thanks for hanging out in the lounge.

Allison Hintz (37:48):

Thanks for having the lounge!

Antony Smith (37:49):

It’s been fun!

Allison Hintz (37:52):

Thank you both.

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What Allison Hintz says about math

“We started asking ourselves, “what would happen if we considered any story a chance to engage as mathematical sensemakers”.”

– Allison Hintz

Author and Associate Professor, University of Washington Bothell

Meet the guest

Allison B. Hintz: Dr. Hintz’s research and teaching are in the area of mathematics education. Her focus on mathematics came about during her years as a fifth grade teacher – it was alongside her students that she developed her own positive identity as a mathematician! Today she studies teaching and learning, specifically facilitating engaging discussion. Her research and teaching happen in partnership with educators and children in formal and informal settings and focuses on beliefs and practices that support all children in lively mathematics learning. She is a co-author, with Elham Kazemi, of Intentional Talk: How to Structure and Lead Productive Mathematical Discussions.

Twitter: @allisonhintz124

Antony T. Smith: Antony T. Smith is an associate professor of literacy education at the University of Washington, Bothell. He works alongside teachers to create engaging literacy-mathematics learning experiences through exploring and discussing children’s literature. He is committed to the concepts of motivation, engagement, challenge, and creativity in literacy teaching and learning.

 Twitter: @smithant  Instagram: mathematizechildrensliterature

Two people appear in separate circular frames; the woman is smiling and wearing headphones, while the man stands in front of bookshelves, perhaps discussing Mathematizing Children’s Literature.
Podcast cover for "Math Teacher Lounge" with Bethany Lockhart Johnson and Dan Meyer; bold text on orange and teal semicircle background.

About Math Teacher Lounge: The podcast

Math Teacher Lounge is a biweekly podcast created specifically for K–12 math educators. In each episode co-hosts Bethany Lockhart Johnson (@lockhartedu) and Dan Meyer (@ddmeyer) chat with guests, taking a deep dive into the math and educational topics you care about.

Join the Math Teacher Lounge Facebook group to continue the conversation, view exclusive content, interact with fellow educators, participate in giveaways, and more!

Welcome, Central Kitsap, to Amplify Desmos Math!

Amplify Desmos Math K-5 thoughtfully combines conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application. Each lesson is designed to tell a story by posing problems that invite a variety of approaches before guiding students to synthesize their understanding of the learning goals.

Scroll to learn more about the program and explore sample materials.

About the program

We believe in math that motivates. Our structured approach to problem-based learning builds on students’ curiosity to develop lasting grade-level understandings for all students. 

The program motivates students with interesting problems they are eager to solve. Teachers can spend more time where it’s most impactful: creating a collaborative classroom of learners.

A powerful suite of math resources

Amplify Desmos Math combines the best of problem-based lessons, intervention, personalized practice, and assessments into a coherent and engaging experience for both students and teachers.  Feel free to explore our grade-level ancillary samplers to learn more about assessment and reporting, intervention, and differentiation:

Grade K Ancillary Sampler

Grade 1 Ancillary Sampler

Grade 2 Ancillary Sampler

Grade 3 Ancillary Sampler

Grade 4 Ancillary Sampler

Grade 5 Ancillary Sampler

A digital interface displays a math screener report on the left and a math problem involving division, alongside a visual representation of students lined up on the right, integrating rich math resources from Amplify Desmos Math.

Assessment

mCLASS® Assessments, along with daily formative checks, measure not only what students know, but how they think. The asset-based assessment system provides teachers with targeted, actionable insights, linked to core and intervention resources. Visit our mClass Math site to learn more.

Two side-by-side math activities for children: on the left, a caterpillar-themed block challenge, and on the right, a worksheet for finding pairs that sum to 10. These exercises are fantastic ways to amplify children's engagement with math concepts.

Core instruction

Amplify Desmos Math lessons pair problems students are eager to solve with clear instructional moves for teachers. With low-floor, high-ceiling tasks every student can actively participate and be a part of the math community. Unit- and lesson-level core assessments give teachers data at their fingertips to guide and differentiate instruction.

A math lesson screen shows a toy sinking 5 meters into a pool. A textbox asks how many centimeters that is, with space for an answer and a "Try again" button. An avatar explains the question, using Desmos math tools to amplify understanding.

Differentiation

Boost Personalized Learning activities help students access grade-level math through engaging, independent digital practice. Responsive Feedback adjusts to students’ work, providing item-level adaptivity to further support their learning and offer personalized differentiation. Visit our Boost Math site to learn more. 

Two pages from a New York math textbook on determining coordinates after a rotation. Includes sections on modeled review, guided practice, and teacher's notes, with diagrams and examples that amplify the learning experience.

Embedded intervention

Integrated resources like Mini-Lessons, Fluency Practice, and Math Adventures provide targeted intervention on a specific concept or skill connected to the daily lesson. Extensions are also available to stretch students’ understanding.

Multilingual Learners

To support multilingual/English learners, Amplify Desmos Math incorporates research-based Math Language Routines (MLRs) by providing language modality strategies like sentence frames where appropriate, both in the teacher language provided for each task and in the differentiation support section found throughout the program. For further information on math language development, please see pg. 82 of the Amplify Desmos Math Program Guide.

A male teacher in a red shirt explaining a lesson to a focused young female student in a classroom. other students are in the background.

Review Resources

To support your review of Amplify Desmos Math here are links to important K-5 review resources:

Two women in an office setting are smiling while looking at a tablet. Various educational icons surround the image.

K-5 sample materials

Click the links in the drop-down sections below to explore sample materials from each grade.  To see sample student responses, please click on the Teacher Edition pages and scroll to “Sample Student Work” (first one is about 30 pages in) or click on Intervention and Extension resources.   

For helpful navigation tips and more program information, download the Amplify Desmos Math Program Guide.

You can also watch a product expert walk through a lesson and the available program components.

Digital educational material showing an activity named "Hamster Homes" involving tube length and platform heights for a hamster cage. Includes a diagram with platforms measuring 9 inches.
Screenshot of a kindergarten curriculum outline featuring units like Math in Our World, Numbers 1-10, Positions and Shapes, Understanding Addition, Making 10, and Shapes All Around Us. This comprehensive program utilizes New York Math standards to build foundational skills.
Program structure

Get to know the content and structure of Kindergarten Amplify Desmos Math.

Cover of Amplify Desmos Math Grade K Teacher Edition featuring three children playing with math-related objects and a group of rabbits sitting nearby, aligning with the engaging curriculum seen in New York math classrooms.
Teacher Edition pages

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you review the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 2, Sub-Unit 1: Counting and Comparing Objects.

Educational activity screen displaying a blue backpack with icons, dot groups on the left, and a grid background. Prompt reads, "Look inside the backpack. Then choose the group with the same number of dots." A great tool to amplify Desmos math learning in line with New York math standards.
Digital experience

Explore our digital experience! Every lesson in Amplify Desmos Math has student print materials and digital recommendations.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math: Student Edition Kindergarten," featuring an illustration of three children playing with math-related toys. A group of small white animals, possibly hamsters, play nearby. The scene brilliantly captures the joy of New York math exploration for young learners.
Student Edition pages

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math Grade K Centers Resources" featuring a large, stylized red and pink "C" on a light pink background with simple geometric designs. This distinctive cover complements New York math curriculums with its engaging visual elements.
Centers Resources

Engaging, hands-on games for students to play collaboratively to strengthen their understanding of key skills and concepts.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math: Grade K." The title is displayed with a geometric "I" illustration in the center. Subtitle reads "Intervention and Extension Resources" on a pink and white background, ideal for New York math standards.
Intervention and Extension Resources

Additional resources to reinforce and extend key concepts, including Mini-Lessons and Extensions.

A digital activity screen, crafted in the style of Amplify Desmos Math, shows two paths with different quantities of mushrooms. The user is prompted to choose the path with more mushrooms. A bear is on the left side of the screen.

In this lesson, students apply their understanding of how to compare groups of images as they determine which group has more or fewer and then compare their strategies by guiding a bear through a path that has more mushrooms than the other.

Grade 1 math curriculum overview displaying six units with instructional and assessment days: counting, addition, subtraction, numbers to 10, comparing numbers, measuring length, and geometry—aligned with the New York Math standards.
Program structure

Get to know the content and structure of Grade 1 Amplify Desmos Math.

Children interact with math activities on a large tablet while observing fish illustrations. The text reads "Amplify Desmos Math Grade 1 Teacher Edition, aligned with New York Math standards.
Teacher Edition pages

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you review the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 2, Sub-Unit 1: Story Problems in Maui.

A digital math exercise, amplified by Desmos Math, showcases a story problem about adding kalo plants with three illustrations and a filled-out number sentence 3 + 4 = 7. A "Check" button is present. This tool aligns perfectly with New York math standards.
Digital experience

Explore our digital experience! Every lesson in Amplify Desmos Math has student print materials and digital recommendations.

Illustration of three children engaged in math activities from the "Amplify Desmos Math: Student Edition 1" textbook. One child holds a number card, while the others manipulate counters and images, experiencing an exciting approach inspired by New York math techniques.
Student Edition pages

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math Centers Resources" for Grade 1, featuring a yellow and white 3D letter "C" on a light background.
Centers Resources

Engaging, hands-on games for students to play collaboratively to strengthen their understanding of key skills and concepts.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math, Grade 1: Intervention and Extension Resources" depicting a large, blocky number one and a yellow-themed design. Ideal for enhancing New York math curriculum.
Intervention and Extension Resources

Additional resources to reinforce and extend key concepts, including Mini-Lessons and Extensions.

An educational game screen, inspired by New York math standards, shows a subtraction problem, "4 - 1," with a frog moving along numbered lily pads to reveal the answer "3.

In this lesson, students find differences when subtracting 1 and 2 from the same number by helping a frog reach a lily pad where it can eat a bug.

A curriculum overview for Grade 2 in New York Math displaying 8 units, including topics like comparisons, addition, subtraction, and geometric shapes, with details on the number of instructional and assessment days. This plan integrates resources from Amplify Desmos Math to enrich learning experiences.
Program structure

Get to know the content and structure of Grade 2 Amplify Desmos Math.

Cover of the "Amplify Desmos Math" Grade 2 Teacher Edition, showcasing children measuring with rulers and a poster displaying a mathematical equation, set against whimsical scenery with a colorful dragon. Perfect for New York math classrooms.
Teacher Edition pages

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you review the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 2, Sub-Unit 1: Adding and Subtracting.

Activity screen displaying a task to estimate the number of animals in an aquarium, featuring a bar chart for goldfish, frogs, and shrimp. Utilizing Desmos math tools, an illustration of an aquarium with various animals is also included to amplify learning.
Digital experience

Explore our digital experience! Every lesson in Amplify Desmos Math has student print materials and digital recommendations.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math Student Edition 2" showing three children performing a New York math activity with blocks and measurements.
Student Edition pages

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful.

Cover of an educational book titled "Amplify Desmos Math Grade 2 Centers Resources" featuring a green "C" on a light green background, perfect for enhancing New York math education.
Centers Resources

Engaging, hands-on games for students to play collaboratively to strengthen their understanding of key skills and concepts.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math Grade 2: Intervention and Extension Resources" featuring a green numeral 1 on a light green background, aligning with the New York math standards.
Intervention and Extension Resources

Additional resources to reinforce and extend key concepts, including Mini-Lessons and Extensions.

An educational activity where users must select the block with the correct number to make a total of 10 using the given block numbers. The UI, inspired by New York math standards, features a caterpillar and two tree stumps to amplify engagement with Desmos Math tools.

Students continue to develop fluency by finding the number that makes 10 by helping a millipede reach its favorite food – a clump of leaves!

An educational curriculum outline for Grade 3 with seven units covering various mathematics topics, including multiplication, shapes, fractions, and measurement. Suggested instructional days are provided. The New York Math approach ensures a thorough understanding of each concept.
Program structure

Get to know the content and structure of Grade 3 Amplify Desmos Math.

Cover of a "Grade 3 Amplify Desmos Math Teacher Edition" book, featuring a cutaway building with diverse students and a teacher working on New York math problems and organizing materials.
Teacher Edition pages

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you review the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 2, Sub-Unit 1: Concepts of Area Measurement.

Educational software displays a challenge to determine the area of an unpainted wall. The wall features a door and window with given dimensions, and a mouse pointer hovers near the question, amplifying the student's engagement.
Digital experience

Explore our digital experience! Every lesson in Amplify Desmos Math has student print materials and digital recommendations.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math Student Edition 3" showcasing illustrated children engaged in various mathematical activities inside a glass house structure, reflecting the dynamic energy of New York math.
Student Edition pages

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful.

Cover of the Amplify Desmos Math Grade 3 Centers Resources book, featuring a 3D letter "C" in blue and white on a minimalistic background, perfect for aligning with New York math standards.
Centers Resources

Engaging, hands-on games for students to play collaboratively to strengthen their understanding of key skills and concepts.

Cover of an "Amplify Cover of the "Amplify Desmos Math" Grade 3 book featuring intervention and extension resources, with a blue geometric "I" on a light blue background, aligning with New York Math standards.
Intervention and Extension Resources

Additional resources to reinforce and extend key concepts, including Mini-Lessons and Extensions.

A page titled "Activity 2" features a table showing counts of rabbits, raccoons, and foxes, an image of animal stickers, and a bar graph representing the number of each animal, designed to amplify your New York math lesson with engaging visual data.

Students compare data represented on bar graphs with different scales by using animal stickers to create scaled bar graphs.

A course outline for Algebra 1 with 8 units, each detailing the number of instructional and optional days. The total suggested instructional days are 144 and 28 optional days, aligning with New York Math standards.
Program structure

Get to know the content and structure of Grade 4 Amplify Desmos Math.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math: Teacher Edition Grade 4" showing children learning New York Math outdoors, using large mathematical tools and numbers, with one child in a wheelchair.
Teacher Edition pages

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you review the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 2, Sub-Unit 1: Size and Location of Fractions.

Educational screen showing an interactive activity from Amplify Desmos Math where a user drags a point to cut a log into quarters. The progress is 2 out of 10.
Digital experience

Explore our digital experience! Every lesson in Amplify Desmos Math has student print materials and digital recommendations.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math, Student Edition, Grade 4," showcasing students collaborating on math problems involving shapes and numbers against a vibrant backdrop that blends cityscapes and natural scenery, capturing the essence of New York math learning.
Student Edition pages

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful.

Cover of the "Amplify Desmos Math" Grade 4 Centers Resources book, featuring a large, stylized blue letter "C" on a light blue background. This essential resource for New York math educators ensures engaging and effective instruction.
Centers Resources

Engaging, hands-on games for students to play collaboratively to strengthen their understanding of key skills and concepts.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math, Grade 4: Intervention and Extension Resources," featuring a geometric illustration and a blue and orange color scheme inspired by New York math standards.
Intervention and Extension Resources

Additional resources to reinforce and extend key concepts, including Mini-Lessons and Extensions.

Interactive educational activity asking users to determine platform heights using a 3-inch tube. The interface, inspired by Desmos math tools, features a dragging function and feedback system with a checkbox and "Try another" option, amplifying the learning experience.

Students choose tube lengths to connect to platform heights for hamster homes, identifying possible heights using what they know about multiples.

A Grade 5 curriculum scope and sequence chart with units covering volume, fractions, multiplication, shapes, place value, and measurement. Each unit lists instructional and assessment days to amplify Desmos Math activities.
Program structure

Get to know the content and structure of Grade 5 Amplify Desmos Math.

Illustration of three students engaging with various math activities outdoors and around large blocks. Text at the top reads "Amplify Desmos Math, Grade 5, Teacher Edition" - a perfect resource for New York math educators.
Teacher Edition pages

Planning and instructional guidance is visual, organized, and easy-to-follow. To help you review the program, we have included samples from a complete sub-unit on this site: Unit 2, Sub-Unit 1: Fractions as Quotients.

A digital activity prompt showing a scenic landscape with bamboo shoots and a panda. Using Desmos math tools, the task is to estimate the length where the third bamboo shoot should be placed for the panda to reach a leaf. This exercise is designed to amplify your understanding of spatial reasoning.
Digital experience

Explore our digital experience! Every lesson in Amplify Desmos Math has student print materials and digital recommendations.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math: Student Edition, Grade 5" featuring students engaged in various mathematical activities outside, such as block building, measuring, and gardening—a perfect resource aligning with New York math standards.
Student Edition pages

Motivate students with mathematics that is both rigorous and delightful.

Cover image of "Amplify Desmos Math Grade 5 Centers Resources" featuring a large purple letter C on a light purple background, showcasing the innovative approach of Amplify Desmos Math that's making waves in New York math education.
Centers Resources

Engaging, hands-on games for students to play collaboratively to strengthen their understanding of key skills and concepts.

Cover of "Amplify Desmos Math Grade 5: Intervention and Extension Resources," featuring a large, stylized number five in purple against a light purple background with minimal geometric patterns, ideal for New York math curriculum support.
Intervention and Extension Resources

Additional resources to reinforce and extend key concepts, including Mini-Lessons and Extensions.

An interactive screen showing an activity about decomposing a figure into prisms, with a touch of Desmos Math integration. The user is asked to drag points to demonstrate the decomposition. Two prism illustrations are displayed, offering a glimpse of New York Math's approach.

Students decompose a figure into rectangular prisms and determine the volume of the figure by adding the volumes of the individual prisms.

Contact Us

If you have any questions throughout your review process or need additional samples, please don’t hesitate to contact:

Alicia O’Neil

Account Executive

425-890-6103

aoneil@amplify.com

Request additional samples

Ready to learn more? Connect with an Amplify Desmos Math expert to request additional program samples.

STEM Forum on Equity and Inclusion – Science

Once you submit this form, it will take a few days to generate and send your personalized certificate. That email will come directly from support@credential.net.

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Get your certificate

  • In order to receive your certificate, please answer the following questions. Please do not submit this form more than once. If you have not received your certificate within 48 hours of submitting, please reach out to events@amplify.com.
  • Please include your personal, professional, or academic titles and suffixes you want on the certificate.

STEM Forum on Equity and Inclusion – Math

Once you submit this form, it will take a few days to generate and send your personalized certificate. That email will come directly from support@credential.net

Four diverse students engrossed in studying; a boy in an orange hoodie writes notes, a girl by a window reads a book, a young girl uses a tablet, and another boy writes in a notebook.

Get your certificate

  • In order to receive your certificate, please answer the following questions. Please do not submit this form more than once. If you have not received your certificate within 48 hours of submitting, please reach out to events@amplify.com.
  • Please include your personal, professional, or academic titles and suffixes you want on the certificate.

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CKLA – Knowledge Research Units for K–5

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Introducing new units for Amplify CKLA and Amplify Caminos K–5

As part of our commitment to creating even richer and more wide-ranging curricula, we are excited to release six new units for both Amplify CKLA and Amplify Caminos!

Click here to learn more about Amplify CKLA.

Click here to learn more about Amplify Caminos.

About these units

Our brand-new Knowledge Research units carry forward the powerful and proven instructional approach of both Amplify CKLA and Amplify Caminos while also:

  • Adding more variety to engage students from many walks of life. The rich topics and highly visual components featured in these units provide students with even more “windows and mirrors” and perspectives as they work to build knowledge.
  • Adding more authentic literature. Each new research unit revolves around a collection of high-interest authentic trade books that will spark more curiosity and inspire more inquiry.
  • Adding more flexibility. Units can be implemented for extended core instruction during flex periods, district-designated Pausing Points, or enrichment periods.

Units cover a variety of rich and relevant topics:

Three illustrations: one shows people at a gaming session, the middle depicts a diverse group standing together, and the third portrays a group gardening outdoors.

With these new units, students will soar to new heights with Dr. Ellen Ochoa, Amelia Earhart, and the Tuskegee Airmen. They’ll feel the rhythm as they learn about Jazz legends Miles Davis, Tito Puente, and Duke Ellington. And they’ll explore the far reaches of the world with Jacques Cousteau, Matthew Henson, and Eugenie Clark.

  • Grade K: Art and the World Around Us/El arte y el mundo que nos rodea
  • Grade 1: Adventure Stories: Tales from the Edge of the World/Cuentos de aventuras: relatos desde los confines de la Tierra
  • Grade 2: Up, Up, and Away: The Age of Aviation/¡A volar! La era de la aviación
  • Grade 3: All That Jazz/Jazz y más
  • Grade 4: Energy: Past, Present, and Future/Energía: pasado, presente y futuro
  • Grade 5: Beyond Juneteenth: 1865 to present/Más allá de Juneteenth: de 1865 al presente

Units are available in English and Spanish, and will include the following components:

  • Teacher Guide
  • Student Activity Books
  • Image Cards
  • Trade Book Collection
  • Digital Components (grades K–3 and 5)

Grade K: Art and the World Around Us/El arte y el mundo que nos rodea

“Every child is an artist,” said Picasso, meaning that every child uses art to explore and understand the world around them. Art and the World Around Us honors that truth by introducing Kindergarten students to some of the ways in which artists have explored and understood the worlds around them, too.

This domain introduces students to artists from different time periods, countries, and cultures. Throughout the unit, students learn about different kinds of art and how artists use the world around them as they make art. They also connect this to what they have already learned about the earth, plants, and animals in other Amplify CKLA and Amplify Caminos domains: Farms/Granjas, Plants/Plantas, and Taking Care of the Earth/Cuidar el planeta Tierra. In addition, students connect this to what they have learned about sculptors in the Presidents and American Symbols/Presidentes y símbolos de los Estados Unidos domain. As they explore different artists and artistic traditions, they develop their ideas about how humans are connected to each other and to the world around them.

As you read the texts in this unit, students may observe ways in which the characters or subjects are both similar to and different from students. This is a good opportunity to teach students awareness and sensitivity, building on the idea that all people share some things in common, and have other things that make them unique. This unit also offers an excellent opportunity to collaborate with your school’s art teacher, as many lessons have suggested activities to help students understand the kind of art they are studying.

Within this unit, students have opportunities to:

  • Use details to describe art.
  • Identify three ways to create art.
  • Identify characteristics of cave art.
  • Sequence the steps of making pottery.
  • Describe how artists can create work connected to the world around them.
  • Describe what makes Kehinde Wiley’s portraits unique.
  • Explain how the texture of a surface can affect artwork created on it.
  • Explain what a sculpture is.
  • Describe what makes James Turrell’s artwork about the sky unique.
  • Explain what a museum is and what kinds of things you can see or do there.

Instruction in this unit revolves around the following collection of high-interest authentic trade books. One copy of each trade book is included with the unit materials.

  • The First Drawing by Mordicai Gerstein
  • Van Gogh and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt
  • My Name is Georgia by Jeanette Winter
  • A Life Made by Hand by Andrea D’Aquino
  • Rainbow Weaver by Linda Elovitz Marshall
  • Luna Loves Art by Joseph Coelho

Grade 1: Adventure Stories: Tales from the Edge of the World/Cuentos de aventuras: relatos desde los confines de la Tierra

This domain introduces students to adventure stories set around the world and challenges students to dig into the adventures through research. By listening to the Read-Alouds and trade books, students increase their vocabulary and reading comprehension skills, learn valuable lessons about perseverance and teamwork, and become familiar with gathering information for research.

In this unit, students study the careers of real-world explorers Dr. Eugenie Clark and Sophia Danenberg, marvel at the inventions of Jacques Cousteau, think critically about how teamwork and collaboration can make greater adventures possible, learn about the science and technology that enable adventures, and research some of the ways humans have confronted challenges at the edges of the world, from the oceans below to space above.

Each lesson in the domain builds students’ research skills as they ask questions, gather information, and write a paragraph about their findings. Students share what they have learned about adventures in an Adventure Gallery Walkthrough. By taking on the persona of one of the adventurers they meet in the Read-Alouds and trade books, students deliver their final paragraphs as if they are a “speaking portrait” of that person. Students are invited to dress up as that adventurer if they desire.

In addition, teachers can set aside time outside of the instructional block to create the picture frames students will hold as they present to the Adventure Gallery Walk guests. Frames can be made from shirt boxes, cardboard, construction paper, or any art supplies that are on hand. This might be an opportunity to collaborate with the school’s art department if resources are available. Another option is to ask students to make their frames at home with their caregivers. On the day of the Adventure Gallery Walk, students will be the hosts and take on specific jobs, such as welcoming the guests, describing their work throughout the unit, and pointing out the areas of study on the domain bulletin board. You can find a complete list of student jobs in Lesson 13.

This unit builds upon the following Amplify CKLA and Amplify Caminos units that students will have encountered in the previous grade.

  • Nursery Rhymes and Fables/Rimas y fábulas infantiles (Kindergarten)
  • Stories/Cuentos (Kindergarten)

The specific core content targeted in these domains is particularly relevant to the Read-Alouds students will hear in Adventure Stories: Tales from the Edge of the World. The background knowledge students bring to this unit will greatly enhance their understanding of the trade books used in this unit.

Instruction in this unit revolves around the following collection of high-interest authentic trade books. One copy of each trade book is included with the unit materials.

  • My Name is Gabito/Me llamo Gabito by Monica Brown
  • Tomas and the Galápagos Adventure by Carolyn Lunn
  • The Astronaut with a Song for the Stars: The Story of Dr. Ellen Ochoa by Julia Finley Mosca
  • Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
  • Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating
  • Manfish by Jennifer Berne
  • Keep On! The Story of Matthew Henson, Co-Discoverer of the North Pole by Deborah Hopkinson
  • The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest by Steve Jenkins

Grade 2: Up, Up, and Away: The Age of Aviation/¡A volar! La era de la aviación

With this domain, students head up, up, and away with an introduction to the soaring history of aviation. Students learn the stories of early aviators, such as the Montgolfier brothers, the Wright brothers, Aída de Acosta, and Amelia Earhart.

During the unit, students study the science of flight, including the physics concept of lift, and research the social impacts of the world of flight. Finally, students let their research skills take flight as they explore key figures from the world of aviation.

The lessons in this domain build on earlier Grade 2 CKLA and Amplify Caminos domains about the westward expansion, early Greek civilizations, and Greek myths, and lay the foundation for learning about other periods of world history in future grades.

This unit builds upon the following Amplify CKLA and Amplify Caminos units that students will have encountered earlier in the year.

  • The Ancient Greek Civilization/La civilización griega antigua (Grade 2)
  • Greek Myths/Mitos griegos (Grade 2)
  • Westward Expansion/La expansión hacia el oeste (Grade 2)

The specific core content targeted in these domains is particularly relevant to the Read-Alouds students will hear in Up, Up, and Away: The Age of Aviation. The background knowledge students bring to this unit will greatly enhance their understanding of the trade books used in this unit.

Instruction in this unit revolves around the following collection of high-interest authentic trade books. One copy of each trade book is included with the unit materials.

  • Up and Away!: How Two Brothers Invented the Hot-Air Balloon by Jason Henry
  • The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Blériot by Alice and Martin Provensen
  • The Flying Girl: How Aída de Acosta Learned to Soar by Margarita Engle
  • Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane by Kirsten Larson
  • Helicopter Man: Igor Sikorsky and His Amazing Invention by Edwin Brit Wyckoff
  • The Tuskegee Airmen Story by Lynn Homan and Thomas Reilly
  • Skyward: The Story of Female Pilots in WWII by Sally Deng
  • Aim for the Skies: Jerrie Mock and Joan Merriam Smith’s Race to Complete Amelia Earhart’s Quest by Aimee Bissonette

Grade 3: All That Jazz/Jazz y más

This domain teaches students about the vibrant music, poetry, and culture of the Jazz Age in the United States. Students learn about famous writers and musicians like Langston Hughes, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Melba Liston, Tito Puente, and Miles Davis. They study how the jazz art form took root in the South, then spread to the North to become the sound of the Harlem Renaissance, eventually connecting people around the world in musical expression.

During this unit, students perform guided research to further explore both the history of jazz and what jazz is today. They develop research skills and then use those skills to find deeper connections between the stories and music of the Jazz Age and music today. As students learn about the world of jazz, they collaborate and share ideas with their classmates. They also practice sharing feedback focused on their written work, and, at the end of the unit, students present their research to the group.

The lessons give students opportunities to dive into the rhythms and stories of jazz, utilizing the knowledge sequence in this unit to:

  • Collaboratively generate research questions about jazz, jazz musicians, contemporary musicians from the state where they live or have lived, and the evolution of jazz music.
  • Utilize Read-Alouds, independent reading, and partner reading to learn about the Jazz Age, the Harlem Renaissance, jazz music, and biographies of celebrated jazz musicians and writers.
  • Research the answers to their generated questions, gather information, write a short research essay about a famous jazz musician, write a short essay about a contemporary musician from the state where they live or have lived, and give a presentation about their research.

Within this unit, students have opportunities to:

  • Ask relevant questions and make pertinent comments
  • Identify details in texts
  • Determine key ideas of texts by evaluating details
  • Make text-based inferences
  • Generate questions based on prior knowledge and gathered information
  • Synthesize details across texts to demonstrate comprehension
  • Discuss and explain an author’s purpose
  • Identify and cite reliable primary and secondary sources of information
  • Compose a well-organized and focused informative essay
  • Make connections between topics
  • Present information using appropriate media

Instruction in this unit revolves around the following collection of high-interest authentic trade books. One copy of each trade book is included with the unit materials.

  • Birth of the Cool: How Jazz Great Miles Davis Found His Sound by Kathleen Cornell Berman
  • Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Kathryn Russell-Brown
  • Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson: Taking the Stage as the First Black and White Jazz Band in History by Lesa Cline-Ransome
  • Tito Puente, Mambo King by Monica Brown
  • Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle
  • Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra by Andrea Pinkney

In this unit, students also read the poem “Harlem” by Langston Hughes. (Available for free through the Academy of American Poets website and the Poetry Foundation website, with recorded audio available through the website for John Hancock College Preparatory High School.)

Grade 4: Energy: Past, Present, and Future/Energía: pasado, presente y futuro

With this domain, students become tomorrow’s problem solvers in this study of energy in the United States. Analytical reading skills are developed by examining the challenges of early energy innovators. Students then read about current energy practices and young energy change-makers across the world.

Throughout the unit, students conduct research into different sources of energy and present a proposal, putting them in the shoes of future energy innovators. They also use the knowledge sequence in this unit to:

  • Collaboratively analyze texts to identify cause-effect and problem-solution relationships.
  • Generate questions and conduct research about energy.
  • Write an opinion essay making their case for a fuel of the future.
  • Create energy proposals using primary and secondary resources.

This unit builds upon the following Amplify CKLA units that students will have encountered in previous grades as well as earlier in the year.

  • Plants/Plantas (Grade K)
  • The History of the Earth/La historia de la Tierra (Grade 1)
  • Eureka! Student Inventor/¡Eureka! El arte de la invención (Grade 4)

The specific core content targeted in these domains is particularly relevant to the Read-Alouds students will hear in Energy: Past, Present, and Future. The background knowledge students bring to this unit will greatly enhance their understanding of the trade books used in this unit.

Instruction in this unit revolves around the following collection of high-interest authentic trade books. One copy of each trade book is included with the unit materials.

  • Buried Sunlight: How Fossil Fuels Have Changed the Earth by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm
  • Energy Island: How One Community Harnessed the Wind and Changed their World by Allan Drummond
  • The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Picture Book Edition by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

Grade 5: Beyond Juneteenth: 1865 to present/Más allá de Juneteenth: de 1865 al presente

Within this domain, Students learn about General Granger’s announcement in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, a day marked in history as Juneteenth. Texts and multimedia sources will support foundational knowledge-building about the end of slavery in the United States. A review of the first freedom announcement, President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, provides students with background knowledge to further emphasize the significance of Juneteenth in American history.

This unit also takes students on a journey beyond Juneteenth, as they study specific contributions of African Americans from 1865 to the present day. Students participate in a virtual field trip to Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas and use the knowledge sequence in this unit to:

  • Collaboratively generate research questions about Juneteenth, The Great Migration, innovators and inventors, education, the humanities, activists, and allies.
  • Use Read-Alouds, independent, and partner reading to learn about African American contributions from 1865 to the present.
  • Research to find answers to their generated questions, gather information, and write a four-chapter Beyond Juneteenth book.

This unit builds upon the following Amplify CKLA units that students will have encountered in previous grades.

  • Native Americans/Los nativos americanos (Grade K)
  • A New Nation: American Independence/Una nueva nación: la independencia de los Estados Unidos
    (Grade 1)
  • The U.S. Civil War/La Guerra Civil de los Estados Unidos (Grade 2)
  • Immigration/La inmigración (Grade 2)
  • Native Americans/Los nativos americanos (Grade 5)

The specific core content targeted in these domains is particularly relevant to the Read-Alouds students will hear in Beyond Juneteenth: 1865 to present. The background knowledge students bring to this unit will greatly enhance their understanding of the trade books used in this unit.

Instruction in this unit revolves around the following collection of high-interest authentic trade books. One copy of each trade book is included with the unit materials.

  • All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson
  • The Great Migration: An American Story by Jacob Lawrence
  • Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Inspired Generations by Kelly Starling Lyons
  • Side by Side/ Lado a lado: The Story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez/ La Historia de Dolores Huerta y Cesar Chavez by Monica Brown
  • Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama

Iowa CKLA review for Grades K–5

Thank you for taking the time to review Amplify’s CKLA resources for K–5.

Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts® (CKLA) is an effective core literacy resource for students in grades K–5 and is aligned to the Iowa Core Literacy Standards. CKLA was developed in partnership with the Core Knowledge Foundation and was specifically designed to help teachers implement proven evidence-based instructional practices.

Recognized Quality

Amplify CKLA is one of only a few high-quality, knowledge-building literacy curricula recognized by the Knowledge Matters campaign. Our shared message: Background knowledge is essential to literacy and learning.

Independently and rigorously reviewed

Amplify CKLA not only received an all-green rating from the rigorous evaluators at EdReports, but it was also recently recognized by the Knowledge Matters Campaign as a literacy program that excels in building knowledge.

Intentional knowledge-building

The Science of Reading reveals knowledge as an essential pillar of reading comprehension and lifelong literacy. Hear from author Natalie Wexler and CKLA customers on edWebinar about the importance of knowledge-building in reading instruction.

Program Overview

Amplify CKLA is a core ELA program for grades K–5 that delivers:

  • A unique research-based approach truly built on the Science of Reading.
  • A combination of explicit foundational skills with meaningful knowledge building.
  • Embedded support and differentiation that gets all students reading grade-level texts together.
  • Opportunities for students to see the strengths and experiences that all people share while also celebrating each others’ unique identities and experiences.
  • Equitable and authentic Spanish language arts instruction with Amplify Caminos.

Amplify CKLA for Grades K–2

After watching the K–2 video below, scroll down to learn even more, download resources, and access a demo.

Amplify CKLA for Grades 3–5

After watching the 3–5 video below, scroll down to learn even more, download resources, and access a demo.

How it works

Amplify CKLA teaches both foundational skills and background knowledge in K–2 and combines them in 3–5, as required by the science of reading.

  • In grades K–2, students complete one full lesson that builds foundational reading skills, as well as one full lesson that builds background knowledge.
  • In grades 3–5, student complete one integrated lesson that combines skills and knowledge with increasingly complex texts, close reading, and a greater writing emphasis.

Rich topics

Amplify CKLA builds knowledge coherently across subjects and grades.

Students make connections from year-to-year by exploring grade-appropriate subject-area knowledge and vocabulary in history, science, literature, and the arts while learning to read, write, and think creatively and for themselves.

Diverse text

Amplify CKLA puts a variety of texts in the hands of students every day to build and strengthen background knowledge and vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension, and decoding and fluency skills.

More than that, we ensure the texts students read represent the world around them. With a diverse range of authors, topics, and characters, all students have ample access to both windows and mirrors. Our texts include:

  • authentic books.
  • authentic text passages.
  • student readers.
  • novel guides (grades 3–5).

Universal access

We believe we have a responsibility to provide literacy instruction that gives every student the same opportunity to succeed and excel.

We know that early reading affects achievement throughout school and beyond—well into college and career. Yet most literacy programs continue to fall short of supporting early literacy success. That’s why we’re so proud that CKLA is helping close the reading gap between students within diverse communities.

Complete curriculum

A strong literacy program is not just about a reading program or an assessment tool: it brings together curriculum, instruction, regular practice, intervention, and assessments.

Amplify has brought these components together in our early literacy suite of curriculum, ensure that you have what you need for multi-tiered support.

Science of Reading Resources

Watching students learn to read: magic. Knowing how they get there: science.

As you consider your next core ELA program, it’s critically important to understand what the Science of Reading really means and what it tells us about how to teach more effectively. Unlike other programs, Amplify CKLA was built upon these insights and practices, making it easier for teachers to implement this proven approach.

Access demo

Ready to explore on your own? Follow the instructions below to access your demo account.

Explore the CKLA Teacher Digital Site

First, watch the quick navigation video to the right. Then follow the directions below:

  • Click the CKLA Teacher Digital Site button
  • Select Log in with Amplify.
  • Enter this username: t1.iowa-literacy@demo.tryamplify.net
  • Enter this password: Amplify1-iowa-literacy
  • Select the desired grade level

Explore the CKLA Student Digital Site

To access the student digital site follow the directions below:

  • Click the CKLA Student Digital Site button
  • Select Log in with Amplify.
  • Enter this username: s1.iowa-literacy@demo.tryamplify.net
  • Enter this password: Amplify1-iowa-literacy
  • From the Home page, scroll down to the robot and “Click to go to the Hub
  • From the Hub, click the Grade button to select the grade.

Program introduction

Professional learning

What will you find in the Professional Learning section?

Whether you’re launching into a new program or looking to strengthen your skills, Amplify’s professional learning sessions will support your needs.

  • Register now to join new and upcoming learning sessions.
  • On-demand sessions offer timely insights to support your mCLASS implementation.
  • Webinar recordings from 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 ensure you don’t miss a thing.

Amplify is working in partnership with the Kindergarten Assessment Support (KAS) Initiative to provide virtual professional development trainings to teacher, specialists, and campus/district leader users of mCLASS Texas Kindergarten across the state of Texas. These trainings are funded by the KAS Grant and will be provided at no charge to participants. Please note that all content will be focused on kindergarten only.

You will find a list of sessions below that you can register for. Sessions will be updated on an ongoing basis. To register, educators can enter the Session ID number into the Region 4 ESC search bar (https://www.escweb.net/tx_esc_04/) to sign up for the session(s) and to secure a spot or type ‘mclass’ into the search bar; all virtual sessions are capped at 30 participants.

For more information about the KAS Initiative, please visit https://tea.texas.gov/academics/early-childhood-education/data-driven-instruction-best-practices.

All mCLASS Texas Edition users will have access to free online modules. Contact your district for details about accessing these modules.

For those districts that want to support teachers in a more comprehensive approach we will work to ensure that the professional learning section supporting each mCLASS Texas Edition rollout meets each district’s unique needs. Here is a professional learning catalog to show the breadth and depth of what we offer.

Remote assessment

mCLASS Texas Edition can be administered in many ways, including remotely. This site will give guidance on the various ways to administer mCLASS Texas Edition to best support your students in any learning environment.

Watch the Remote Assessment Guidance Office Hours recording here.
Documents referenced during Office Hours are linked below.

Administrators, welcome to mCLASS Texas Edition!

Here you’ll find information about enrollment and licensing, technical requirements, professional learning resources, and more.

Onboarding: What to expect

Welcome to mCLASS Texas Edition! To help you know what’s coming next, we created the following visual that outlines the steps of the onboarding process. You can use it as a reference.

Illustration depicting a step-by-step process for professional learning and enrollment, featuring icons for requests, calls, enrollment, emails, online modules, and classroom applications.

Enrollment and licensing

Amplify provides services to fit the different types of enrollment needs for various times of year:

  •  Self-Service Enrollment (SSE) is a batch enrollment tool that you can use to import large amounts of student, staff, and class information into the Amplify system at the beginning of the school year or any time you need to update your enrollment data.
  • Auto Self-Service Enrollment (Auto SSE) is a service for automatically sending enrollment data from your computer to Amplify, which does not require intervention after you initiate the process, and which can be run at any time of year. You must have the ability to run scripts in order to use Auto SSE.
  • Amplify also offers the Manual Enrollment tools on the Amplify Administration page, which you can use at any time of year to add or update enrollment information by entering the information directly into Amplify, rather than uploading spreadsheets.

Preparing your materials

Click here to access a list of the print materials included in each mCLASS Texas Edition kit.

Image of a promotional flyer for mclass® texas, detailing educational materials for teaching literacy to students from kindergarten through 6th grade, with various text sections and an image of a child studying.

Technology requirements and guidelines

To ensure that your hardware and network meet the minimum technical requirements for optimal performance and support of your digital curriculum products, please see Amplify’s customer requirements page.

To ensure access to mCLASS, add the URLs on this page to your corresponding district or school-level filters.

Teachers, welcome to mCLASS Texas Edition!

Here you’ll learn about the program, how to set up your device, and how to get help when using mCLASS Texas Edition.

Onboarding: What to expect

A step-by-step guide for mCLASS preparation: review launch email, watch training module, log in to mCLASS, set up assessment device, prepare to teach mCLASS in the classroom.

Logging in to mCLASS Home

mCLASS Home is where you access mCLASS reporting, instruction, and other helpful resources. Follow these steps to log in:
1. Navigate to mclass.amplify.com.
2. You will need your Amplify user name and password to log in. If you forget your password, you can follow the instructions below to generate a new one.

  • Click “Forgot Password”
  • Enter your Amplify username and your district or school email address. Click Send. Then follow the instructions in the email you receive to reset your password.

If you have not received an Amplify username and password, please contact your
school or district administrator.

Setting up your assessment device

Assessments are administered using the mCLASS app. The mCLASS app is installed by creating a shortcut from Chrome™ (Safari for iPads) on your device’s desktop or home screen. Click the link for your device for installation instructions:
iPad
Chromebook
Windows device

Note that you need your Amplify username and password to install the mCLASS app. If you have not received it, please contact your school or district administrator.

Dyslexia screening

mCLASS® Texas DIBELS® 8 and IDEL assess the updated skills required for dyslexia screening. We’ve got you covered!

Click here to learn more about the Texas Dyslexia handbook updates.

Looking for help?

Our technical and pedagogical support teams are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

For your most urgent questions

  • Use our live chat within your program
  • Call our toll-free number: (800) 823-1969

For less urgent questions, send us an email!

Welcome, Denver, to Amplify ELA 6-8!

Amplify ELA is the only ELA curriculum that takes the Science of Reading to the next level.

Truly designed for students entering the middle grades, Amplify ELA engages and empowers learners, and addresses the very specific and unique needs of students in grades 6–8.

Rated all-green on EdReports, Amplify ELA earned perfect scores across all gateways.

Scroll down to learn how ELA is uniquely designed to help all your Denver middle schoolers make learning leaps in literacy.

Meet Amplify ELA

Developed specifically for the needs of students entering the middle grades, Amplify ELA is a blended curriculum that promises:

  • A structured, yet flexible approach.
  • Carefully crafted, age-appropriate materials and activities that aren’t too “babyish” or too mature.
  • Complex, content-rich literature and informational texts that ensure ample opportunities for students to encounter both “windows and mirrors”.
  • Highly engaging lessons that keep adolescents plugged in and motivated to learn.
  • An instructional design that levels the playing field for every student.
  • Superior results.

Access, engagement, and equity

In Amplify ELA, all students read the same text with the help of differentiated supports. In other words, we don’t dumb things down; we bring students up. Our robust collection of diverse texts and research-based approach to instruction not only engage students, but build confidence.

A young boy with glasses reading a book, surrounded by illustrations of a telescope, a grasshopper, and a pirate flag on a pear.

ELLs

With Amplify ELA’s integrated and designated ELD support, English language learners are given a chance to shine.

Embedded supports enable students to engage with and participate in discussion of grade-level texts with their grade-level peers.

Diagram showing "amplify ela" with two branches: "integrated eld support" and "designated eld support," each detailing different educational program features.

Access Demo

Ready to explore on your own? Follow the instructions below to access your demo account.

Access the ELA Teacher Digital Platform

First, watch the quick navigation video to the right. Then login using the directions below.

  • Click the ELA Teacher Platform button below.
  • Select Log in with Amplify.
  • Enter this username: t1.dps-ms-ela@demo.tryamplify.net
  • Enter this password: Amplify1-dps-ms-ela

Access the ELA Student Digital Platform

To access the student digital platform, follow the login directions below.

  • Click the ELA Student Platform button below.
  • Select Log in with Amplify.
  • Enter this username: s1.dps-ms-ela@demo.tryamplify.net
  • Enter this password: Amplify1-dps-ms-ela

Amplify CKLA Review for Alabama

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