As administrators and math coaches, you understand that adopting a high-quality curriculum is only the first step. The real challenge lies in implementation—and research consistently shows that one of the most significant barriers to successful implementation is time.
The Research-Based Reality of Curriculum Implementation
When districts adopt new mathematics curricula, teachers face multiple implementation challenges. Research on curriculum implementation reveals that teachers encounter barriers including inadequate resourcing, time constraints, limited materials, and the cognitive load of learning new content and pedagogy simultaneously. Studies specifically highlight that lack of resources, particularly curriculum materials, frequently exacerbates inequities and hinders school improvement efforts.
One of the most overlooked barriers? The hundreds of hours teachers spend on material preparation rather than on what truly matters: understanding the curriculum’s coherence, analyzing student work, and refining instruction.
The Hidden Cost of Preparation Time
When implementing problem-based curricula, card decks, lesson materials, and center activities are essential components—not optional add-ons. These manipulatives and hands-on materials are what bring the problem-based learning approach to life. Without them readily available, teachers face a choice: spend countless hours printing, copying, and cutting blackline masters, or skip the activities altogether.
Research on effective professional development emphasizes that teachers need adequate resourcing, including curriculum materials, to successfully implement new programs. When teachers lack these materials, they either modify the curriculum in ways that compromise its integrity or become overwhelmed by preparation demands, leading to decreased implementation fidelity.
As one district leader shared: “I will say that if we did not provide our teachers with the materials Math Modernist made, we would have had less participation this year simply because of lack of time to prepare.”
How The Math Modernist Kits Support Implementation
The Math Modernist was created by educators who understand this challenge intimately. Their mission is clear: handle the time-consuming tasks of printing, copying, and cutting so teachers can focus on what really matters—teaching.
Publisher-Aligned, Ready-to-Use Materials
The Math Modernist offers kits based on IM® K-5 Math and IM® K-5 Math v.360, providing:
- Centers and Lesson Bundles – Complete materials for both center activities and daily lessons
- Centers and Lesson Card Decks – Pre-cut card decks that are essential curriculum components
- Lesson Only Card Decks – Focused materials for core instruction (available K-8)
These aren’t supplemental materials—they’re the actual components specified in the curriculum, prepared and ready for immediate classroom use.
Strategic Support for Your Implementation Plan
As educational leaders, you know that successful curriculum implementation requires more than just adoption; it requires creating the conditions for teachers to implement with fidelity. Research on the adaptive challenges of curriculum implementation emphasizes that leaders must proactively address resource constraints and provide ongoing, contextualized support.
Removing Barriers to Success
By providing The Math Modernist kits, you:
- Preserve teacher capacity – Teachers can dedicate their limited time to intellectual preparation: understanding learning progressions, anticipating misconceptions, and planning responsive instruction
- Support implementation fidelity – When materials are readily available, teachers are more likely to implement activities as designed rather than skipping or modifying them
- Promote equity – All students receive the full, intended curriculum experience regardless of their teacher’s access to copying resources or preparation time
- Reduce teacher burnout – Eliminating hours of weekly prep work helps retain teachers during challenging implementation years
Enabling What Research Says Matters Most
Studies on effective professional development consistently show that teachers need time for:
- Collaborative planning and curriculum study
- Analyzing student work to understand mathematical thinking
- Engaging with the curriculum deeply to understand its coherence
- Reflecting on and refining instructional practices
When teachers aren’t burdened with material preparation, they can engage in these high-leverage activities that actually improve instruction and student outcomes.
The Bottom Line for Decision-Makers
Curriculum adoption represents a significant investment in teacher learning and student achievement. Research demonstrates that the choice of instructional materials has measurable effects on student outcomes—but only when implemented with fidelity and supported adequately.
As you plan your implementation support, consider: Are you setting teachers up for success, or are you inadvertently creating barriers through insufficient resourcing?
The Math Modernist kits aren’t an expense—they’re an essential implementation support that protects your curriculum investment by ensuring teachers can actually teach the program as designed.
Ready to Support Your Teachers?
Whether you’re new to problem-based math curriculum or seeking to strengthen your current implementation, The Math Modernist provides the practical support that makes a difference in classrooms every day.
We print, copy, and cut, so teachers can teach.
Contact The Math Modernist at sales@themathmodernist.com to learn how their publisher-aligned kits can support your teachers and strengthen your curriculum implementation.
Kits based in part on IM® K-12 Math, authored by Illustrative Mathematics®. Used under CC BY 4.0 International Attribution license.
Kits based in part on IM® K-12 Math v.360 ©2024 Illustrative Mathematics®. Used under a restricted use license.
Explore all kit options at TheMathModernist.com and discover how removing preparation barriers can transform your implementation outcomes.