Building Mathematical Thinkers ℠

Bridges in Mathematics is a comprehensive PK–5 curriculum that equips teachers to fully implement the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics in a manner that is rigorous, coherent, engaging, and accessible to all learners.

The curriculum focuses on developing students’ deep understandings of mathematical concepts, proficiency with key skills, and ability to solve complex and novel problems. Bridges blends direct instruction, structured investigation, and open exploration. It taps into the intelligence and strengths of all students by presenting material that is as linguistically, visually, and kinesthetically rich as it is mathematically powerful.

As educators, you strive to make well-informed curriculum adoption decisions. We fully support this goal and invite you to read What you need to know about Bridges.

Visual Models

Seeing, touching, and sketching ideas create pictures in the mind’s eye, helping learners construct, understand, and apply mathematical ideas. Bridges incorporates increasingly complex visual models, including the Number Line and the Array models, in a coherent framework across the curriculum.
Example use of the Number Frames
Example use of the Number Rack app
Example use of the Number Line apps
Example use of the Number Pieces app

A Unique Set of Components

Bridges classroom packages feature a comprehensive set of materials for creating an engaging learning environment. View classroom package contents by grade level 

Teachers Guides

Printed Teacher's Guides

Bridges Units

Designed for classroom use, the flexible three-ring binder format allows teachers to add notes and other reference materials. (Color covers, black and white pages.)

All guides are also available in electronic form on the Bridges Educator Site, which includes additional support resources. 

Printed Bridges Assessment Guides

Assessment Guides

Includes a wide variety of age-appropriate assessments at each grade level, ranging from interviews, observation tips, and short performance tasks for the youngest students to unit pre- and post-assessments, mid-unit checkpoints, and more extensive performance tasks for Grades 2 and up.

Bridges Educator Site

Example page from the Bridges Educator site

New with the second edition, the Bridges Educator Site provides 24/7 online access and always up-to-date content. A free account is included with the purchase of every Bridges classroom package.

All teacher guides, teacher masters, game components, and student materials are available as PDF files for easy viewing and downloading. 

Spanish translations of student materials are included as PDF files at no extra charge. 

Additional Resources

The Bridges Educator Site also includes a curated collection of games, books, videos, and other resources mapped to  each Bridges unit. This collection makes use of the many excellent, often free, resources available to enhance student learning.

Implementation Support

Comprehensive support includes background articles, blog postings, and access to curriculum specialists.

K–5 Student Books

Student books include instructions, worksheets, and record sheets for independent practice, and homework. All books are included in PDF form as part of the Bridges Educators Site, allowing teachers to print pages as needed. While the content of student books is required, the purchase of pre-printed consumable copies is optional. (Color covers, black and white pages). Also available in Spanish.

Bridges Student Book

The Bridges Student Book supports participation in whole-group investigations and games.

Number Corner Student Book

The Number Corner Student Book presents opportunities for independent practice and engagement with the skills and concepts covered in the daily workouts.

Home Connections

Home Connections—family-friendly assignments that include games and activities as well as worksheets for students to complete independently—offer another source of practice and reinforcement.

Classroom Materials

Bridges classroom packages come complete with the materials teachers need to make math come alive. Custom game pieces and carefully selected manipulatives promote student engagement.

Games and Activities

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Bridges includes colorful pre-made components including card decks, spinners, and game boards that support over three dozen Work Places at each grade level.

Manipulatives

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Bridges includes a comprehensive manipulative kit that supports up to 30 students.

Bridges also incorporates a collection of free virtual manipulatives.

Word Resource Cards

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With over 200 definitions across grades K-5, word resource cards build essential math vocabulary. Each card features a word and multiple illustrations on the front and a working definition on the back.

Word resource cards are also available as a free app.

Children's Literature

Hottest Coldest Highest Deepest Literature examples Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

Bridges is rich with connections to other subject areas. All grade levels include children's literature recommendations and most include one or more titles.

Number Corner

Number Corner photo

Every K–5 Bridges classroom package includes Number Corner, a self-contained supplemental program that is also available separately.

Number Corner complements the Bridges units through 20-minute daily workouts that provide practice with a wide variety of skills.

Find out more about Number Corner.

Research & Data

Bridges has been reviewed and evaluated by independent, third-party organizations. Select an option below to learn more about the data and findings.

EdReports Review

Bridges is one of the few elementary math programs that achieved EdReport’s highest rating.

Find out more

Effectiveness Study

An independent study found that students who use Bridges perform better than their peers.

Read full report

Research Base

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

View research base

Comprehensive and Standards-Based

Built from the ground up to fully address Common Core State Standards, the second edition remains anchored in an inquiry-based approach to math education for preschool through fifth grade.

Select a grade level to learn more.

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K
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2
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5

Bridges in Mathematics Adoption Sites

Professional Development

Our professional development workshop leaders use firsthand knowledge and experience to present powerful methods for teaching mathematics and model these strategies in their instruction.

This two-day summer workshop brings our workshop leaders to your district. They work face-to-face with your classroom teachers, walking through unpacking of the curriculum components and exploring math practices in the contexts of the models and strategies. Each workshop is packed with information, pedagogy, and hands-on activities. Teachers explore resources, dive into Number Corner, and do math that resembles a Bridges classroom.

Bridges Getting Started workshops are scheduled either by grade-level bands, such as K–2 and 3–5, or are grade specific. A maximum of 30 participants is allowed in each session, but multiple sessions can be scheduled.

“We thoroughly enjoyed having you set such a wonderful tone for our group. Thank you for sharing your expertise, bringing laughter to the room, and cultivating confidence for our teachers.”

Math coordinator — Avon, IN

Learn More

This three-day workshop is designed to equip instructional leaders to lead their own Bridges Getting Started Workshops in-district for new hires or new-to-grade-level teachers.

Participants will experience a condensed Bridges Getting Started Workshop covering both K–2 and 3–5 grade bands. They'll leave with the knowledge and materials necessary to offer these workshops in their own district.

This face-to-face workshop is appropriate for districts after their first year of implementing Bridges in Mathematics.

"I came away feeling so much more confident in the curriculum and ready to share what I learned with colleagues who will be new to Bridges next year!"

Lead teacher — Snohomish, WA

Learn More

This 12-week online course is offered in both fall and winter. It is designed to support math coaches and instructional leaders working towards increasing student achievement and teacher content knowledge during a Bridges in Mathematics implementation. Participants read, reflect, and respond to prompts every two weeks.

"I enjoyed connecting with math coaches from across the country and hearing about their schools. The readings were helpful because I could directly apply them to the work I have been doing."

Course attendee — fall 2015 session

Learn More

Support & Follow-up workshops are scheduled and tailored to address your specific needs. Prior to the workshop, we work with you to determine these needs.

Our workshop leaders come to your district and work face-to-face with your classroom teachers. These leaders offer guidance in specific areas where teachers struggle and model methods for successful implementation.

“Our site truly benefited from having an MLC curriculum specialist on-site for targeted and individualized support. We appreciated having an expert on-site to answer our questions, share resources, and share their experience.”

Kindergarten teacher — Napa, CA

Learn More

The annual Leadership Institute offers lead teachers, coaches, and curriculum specialists the tools for developing and sustaining a successful implementation of Bridges in Mathematics, Number Corner, and Bridges Intervention.

This institute is limited to districts after their first year of implementing Bridges in Mathematics 2nd Edition.

"I enjoyed and learned something from each presenter. I left feeling enthusiastic and excited as we head into our second year of using Bridges. It’s great to hear what people in other districts are doing and to learn from it."

Institute attendee — July 2015 session

Learn more

See Bridges in Action

  1. Engaging young learners
  2. Confidence is key
  3. Power of perseverence

Bridges has been so effective. My students are challenged and engaged, and parents and administrators are very impressed. I am very confident that my students learned far more in math this year than in previous years.

Grade 5 teacher — Durham, NC

I would recommend Bridges to every elementary school in the nation if I could. Every kid in America deserves access to this quality of a universal core resource.

Director of Teaching & Learning — Huxley, IA

One student wanted to cancel spring break so we could keep doing math. I was astounded.

Grade 3 teacher — Ft. Bridger, WY

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

My daughter never liked math before this year. Now she will not miss school for anything because she'd miss Bridges. That math program you're using is great!

Grade 5 parent — Evansville, WY

I can say without reservation that Bridges is one of the best decisions made in my 14 years here.

Assistant Superintendent — Middlebury, VT

Bridges is the best program I ever had the privilege of being a part of in my 30 year teaching career.

Grade 5 teacher — Evansville, 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

Many students, especially my ELL students, are developing a stronger sense of number using the visual ten-frames and finger models from Bridges. These strategies are providing successful concrete to representational forms for students.

Kindergarten teacher — Hood River, OR

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 promotes a deeper level of understanding and encourages higher order thinking.

Grade 3 teacher — Oklahoma City, OK

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

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

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.

Grade 1 & 2 teacher — San Luis Obispo, CA

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

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

The Bridges program has been rewarding not only for students, but also for teachers as I've observed them developing their own understandings about math. 


Math coach — Wentachee, WA

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 have a very challenging group of kids, and we are having an outstanding year in math. The kids are so engaged and interested.

Grade 1 teacher — Middlebury, VT

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

The addition of the Number Rack to Bridges provides a wonderful tool for engaging learners with the tens-frame model. I am so impressed with how my students are confidently constructing number combinations and modeling equations efficiently.

Grade 2 teacher — Cornwall, VT

The visual models in Bridges are one of its huge strengths! They help all children understand the math concepts— students who might otherwise struggle with the content, and those ready for the challenge of generalizing the math concepts to larger numbers and different situations.

Grade 1 teacher — Spokane, WA

In more than 20 years of teaching elementary math I have used a range of curricula in several states and two countries. I have never before had the level of success that I have experienced using Bridges as reflected in both exceptional test scores as well as the growth I witnessed on a daily basis.

Grade 3 teacher — Madras, OR

I am so grateful to finally have a curriculum that digs deep into the concepts!

Grade 5 teacher — Lakeland, WA

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

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.

Math Coach — Canyon City, OR

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

Grade 5 student — Evansville, WY

We went from an unexciting, monotonous math text to Bridges. Teaching math has become exciting again.

Grade 1 teacher — Milton, WI

I love watching students working with Bridges as they build knowledge, confidence, autonomy, and a sincere love for mathematics.

Grade 3 teacher — Oklahoma City, OK

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

Bridges is everything I have wanted in a program. I am seeing growth like never before, and most importantly I see students realizing that math is thinking and problem solving, not just factual data processing.

Grade 3 teacher — Deerfield, IL

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

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. I can look at the results and know my students really do understand multiplication.

Grade 3 teacher — Ft. Bridger, WY

All of our students, including our special needs students, have grown significantly in math. 


Curriculum Coordinator — Roseburg, OR

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