What They're Saying
Bridges in Mathematics

See also What They're Saying about Number Corner, an essential component of Bridges.

Teachers

Bridges really helped me pull all of the pieces together in terms of content, delivery, and motivation. My students really excel in math and I owe much of that to this curriculum.
- Kindergarten Teacher and Presidential Award Winner, Roseburg, OR

Their learning is more internalized than in previous years. I will hear them count by 10’s while waiting in line or notice patterns in someone’s clothing.
- Kindergarten Teacher, Salem, OR

Bridges is a ‘brain friendly’ program that helps the students make connections from one subject to another by using developmentally appropriate activities.
- Kindergarten Teacher, Pittsburgh, PA

Oh, my gosh! We did the 'water temperature' activity today. I sent for my principal and snagged a few teachers from the hall to get an eye full. It was the best single lesson I've done this year.
- Grade 1 Teacher, Milwaukie, OR

Every year the kids have to choose the “Highlights of the Year.” Bridges got eight votes, followed by parties with five, and field trips with three. That tells it all!
- Grade 1 Teacher, West Linn, OR

We went from an unexciting, monotonous math text to the Bridges program. Teaching math has become exciting again.
- Grade 1 Teacher, Milton, WI

The third grade teacher who had my second grade students the following year couldn’t believe the vocabulary and conceptual development my kids had in math. She constantly needed to challenge them with replacement unit materials because they had the state adopted program concepts mastered already.
- Grade 1-2 Teacher, San Luis Obispo, CA

The children can visualize math and understand patterns in it. They are much more capable of exploring how they got an answer. All of the children enjoy math and are actively involved. No one is ‘afraid’ of it anymore!
- Grade 2 Teacher, Wickliffe, OH

I’ve worked for years to establish a learning climate in my classroom where students share ideas, really listen to one another, and work together to solve problems. This program has given me the steps to make that dream a reality.
- Grade 3 Teacher, Kodiak, AK

My class especially enjoyed Snowflake Bentley and it was the springboard for further literature, art, and science explorations.
- Grade 3 Teacher, Gresham, OR

In more than 20 years of teaching elementary math I have used a range of traditional and standards-based curricula in several states and two countries. I have never before had the level of success that I have experienced using Bridges. This success was reflected in both exceptional test scores as well as the growth I witnessed on a daily basis.
- Grade 3 Teacher, Madras, OR

Our state test (WASL) has been extremely difficult for students in past years because they didn’t understand how to prove their thinking. This year, many of my students said it was fun!
- Grade 3 Teacher, Wenatchee, WA

In all of my years as a teacher, I have never seen the caliber of student responses that I got from last Friday's assessment of Unit 4. I can look at the test results and know my students really do understand multiplication.
- Grade 3 Teacher, Ft. Bridger, WY

One student wanted to cancel spring break so we could keep doing math. I was astounded.
- Grade 3 Teacher, Ft. Bridger, WY

Students who have used the Bridges program in earlier years bring prior knowledge of many math concepts which makes a real difference in the pace that I can achieve.
- Grade 4 Teacher, Wenatchee, WA

I wanted to let you know how much my students and I enjoyed the "quick sketch" model for multiplying larger numbers. It is nice to be able to put a visual in student's hands to help them understand a normally complicated process.
- Grade 4 Teacher, Ft. Bridger, WY

Bridges met the needs of both my high and low students. The kids were challenged and really enjoyed math -- even those who started the year hating math. And, my students did well on the state math assessment.
- Grade 4/5 Teacher, Durham, NC

For the first time in my 11 years of teaching I feel my class truly has a good grasp of fractions. Great job getting my kids there!
- Grade 5 Teacher, Evansville, WY

Bridges has been so effective. My students are challenged and engaged, and parents and administrators are very impressed with the products created in math class. I am very confident that my students learned far more in math this year than in previous years.
- Grade 5 Teacher, Durham, NC

Our current fifth graders have been using Bridges since Kindergarten. Their teachers are extremely impressed with the math vocabulary and deep understanding these students bring forth in the classroom. I could share many examples but it boils down to this -- the kids are also teaching the teachers.
- Math Coach, Canyon City, OR

It seems everyday one of our teachers stops me in the hall to share what great things are happening in math.
- Math Coach, Sandy, UT

Students

I used to wish that math would go by fast because I didn't get it and I would also hope my teacher wouldn't call on me. But now I hope we do math all day long because I love math so much.  I also like to go up to the board and share and explain my thinking all the time!
- Grade 5 Student, Evansville, WY

Administrators

I can say without reservation that Bridges is one of the best decisions made in my 14 years here.
- Assistant Superintendent, Middlebury, VT

Our teaching staff examined and researched many different curricula before choosing Bridges. It is very comprehensive and keeps our students involved and excited about learning math.
- Principal, Durham, NC

I got pulled aside by one teacher who was so excited because the students in her class who had used Bridges the previous year were noticeably better math thinkers. She said they can think of more ways to solve problems and come up with math solutions rarely produced by first graders.
- Curriculum Coordinator, Kodiak, AK

Bridges is phenomenal for three reasons. First, it is student focused with everything from the activities that can impact a diverse range of learning modalities to theme choices for lessons.  Second, the program includes professional development for teachers that invested me in the concept of how and why I can change my approach to teaching mathematics.  Last, the program provides teaching strategies to gather more in-depth evidence of student understanding.
- Executive Director, Teach For America, South Louisiana

All of our students, including our special needs students, have grown significantly in algebraic relationships, geometry, and statistics and probability.
- Curriculum Coordinator, Roseburg, OR

Parents in our district have been totally supportive of this program. They have commented on the differences they have observed between older children, who had a traditional program, and their younger ones who have had Bridges.  The teachers who live in our district, including two math teachers, have been emphatic about their desire to see us continue to use the Bridges program and to expand it to the higher grades.
- Principal, Milton, WI

The Bridges program has been rewarding not only for students, but teachers. I've observed teachers develop their own understandings about math.
- Math Coach, Wentachee, WA

Parents

My daughter never liked math before this year. Now she will not miss school for anything because she'd miss Bridges. She has always wanted to be a vet and I used worry because I told her there was a lot of math, but now I'm not worried at all. That math program you're using is great!
- Grade 5 Parent, Evansville, WY