Elementary School Mathematics

SFUSD Math Vision

Engage all students equitably in a standards-aligned, high quality mathematics curriculum so that students develop mathematical ‘habits of mind’ as critical thinkers, adept problem solvers, and mathematical communicators, and therefore engage productively in college, career and the ever-changing, interdisciplinary world.

Newly Adopted Core Curriculum in K-5 Classrooms

Imagine Learning Illustrative Math (Imagine Learning IM)

Elementary school students will now use Imagine Learning IM curriculum, which combines digital and print materials to engage students in learning within a vibrant and productive math learning community. The program is based in problem-based learning where students discuss math ideas and build on each other's thinking to understand and apply math concepts. The “Warm Up - Activity - Synthesis” lesson structure allows teachers to foster student-centered discourse and curiosity, engage students in problem solving, and synthesize learning at the end of each lesson.
  • classroom of students facing the teacher with hands raised in a learning group

    Students Learn in a Math Learning Community

    Essential to problem-based learning, students collaborate, learn together, and grow in community to deepen their mathematical understanding as a classroom learning community.

  • a list of eight math routines is displayed to illustrate the structure for math discussion

    Students Utilize Mathematical Language Routines

    Mathematical discussion is a key structure in the Imagine Learning IM classroom, and students learn language routines from Kindergarten through 5th grade that allow for rich math dialogue between students in the math learning community.

  • two students write in their math journal

    Students Use Math Journals to Reflect and Learn

    Teachers engage students in reflective writing about their math learning throughout the math unit so students may synthesize and make sense of their mathematical ideas as they develop.

    Grade Levels

    Learn more about the main ideas and curriculum for each grade.
    Student pointing at fruit on a yellow mat.

    Pre-Kindergarten

    Student touching a die next to mats with die faces.

    Transitional Kindergarten

    Students using objects like cereal and gummy bears to make groups of 10

    Kindergarten

    Girl using crayons to measure the length of a desk

    Grade 1

    Students using cubes and base-10 blocks to model subtraction

    Grade 2

    Students using tiles to find the perimeter of a rectangle

    Grade 3

    Students using a Venn diagram to categorize quadrilaterals based on parallel and perpendicular sides

    Grade 4

    Students discussing where to place fractions on a number line

    Grade 5

    Mathematics Department Homepage

    This page was last updated on July 29, 2025