New Math and Science Education Resources to Elevate Instruction and Student Learning 

March 31, 2025

This month’s Spotlight highlights dynamic new resources designed to support teachers and school, district, and state administrators in math and science education. First, we explore a new series, WestEd Perspectives, which examines education policy and practice. Next, we present Math Pathways & Pitfalls, a math intervention curriculum designed to help teachers and students transform common math pitfalls into opportunities for deep learning. Finally, we review two new science resources that address (a) science and literacy and (b) a successful science learning story. 

WestEd Perspectives in Mathematics Education Policy and Practice 

Our new series of briefs offers research-based strategies to address today’s most pressing challenges in mathematics teaching and learning. Discover how we might support your state in tailoring best practices to address local needs for your schools and districts. 

Developed and written by WestEd’s expert math team, these seven briefs present the issues through a research-informed lens: 

• A Strong Early Math Foundation Helps Students’ Later Academic Achievement 
• Address the Math Teacher Shortage to Improve Math Outcomes 
• Catalyzing Generative AI’s Potential to Improve K–12 Math Education 
• Coherent Approaches to Early Algebra Advance Students’ High School Course-Taking Opportunities 
• Redesign High School Math to Prepare Students for a Fast-Changing World 
• Strengthen Dual Enrollment Math to Increase Postsecondary Access and Success 
• Using Evidence-Based Teaching Practices to Improve Math Learning 

Visit our WestEd Perspectives page to download these free resources and find out how WestEd can support state education agencies to improve math teaching and learning. 

Turn Math Challenges Into Opportunities With Math Pathways & Pitfalls 

WestEd is happy to announce the second edition of our award-winning Math Pathways & Pitfalls (MPP) curriculum! MPP has proven successful in increasing students’ achievement on standardized tests in national studies, including Multilingual Learners. Easy and inexpensive to use, the MPP curriculum was designed with built-in support for teachers and alignment with the Common Core State Standards and Mathematical Practices. The curriculum can be flexibly used as an intervention, as part of the core curriculum, or in after-school or small group settings. 

Check out the updated volumes below. 

• Early and Whole Number Concepts With Algebra Readiness: Lessons and Teaching Manual, Grades K–1   
• Place Value and Whole Number Operations With Algebra Readiness: Lessons and Teaching Manual, Grades 2–3  
• Fractions and Decimals With Algebra Readiness: Lessons and Teaching Manual, Grades 4–6 
• Percents, Ratios, and Proportions With Algebra Readiness: Lessons and Teaching Manual, Grades 6–8   

Centering Students in Science Learning: A Professional Learning Success Story 

New science standards outline an inspiring vision for rigorous science learning that builds on students’ natural curiosity and wonder. Realizing this vision will require that many educators receive sustained, practice-based professional learning that helps them shift their science instructional practice to place students at the center. But states and districts often cite lack of adequate time and resources to address this professional learning need. 

 An emerging approach, the Building Science Leaders model, developed by WestEd’s SCALE Science and K–12 Alliance teams, addressed these needs and constraints across New Mexico by creating a statewide community of practice made up of district teams, including school and district administrators, instructional coaches, and teacher leaders. 

This infographic describes the Building Science Leaders model, shares key data points that underscore the model’s impact, and offers insights for education leaders seeking to advance science education in their schools and districts. 

Download this resource. 

Supporting Science Learning and Literacy Development Together: Initial Results From a Curriculum Study in 1st Grade Classrooms 

This report describes initial findings from a study evaluating the efficacy of the Amplify Science K–5 curriculum designed by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The findings shed light on the effectiveness of early-grade science education and its potential to enrich students’ academic achievements. 

The randomized controlled trial, led by WestEd, was conducted in 1st grade classrooms across three California school districts during the 2021/22 school year. It is among the first randomized controlled trials of widely available curriculum materials for the NGSS in K–3 classrooms. 

The study assesses the effectiveness of integrated science and literacy strategies through student learning outcomes, vocabulary development, and reading growth. The study focused on studying the extent to which the curriculum supports young students’ three-dimensional learning, their literacy learning related to reading and the use of science-related language, and the nature of teachers’ implementation. 

Download this report. 

Learn More 

Visit our Mathematics Education and our Science and Engineering Education pages to learn how WestEd can support your work to improve math and science teaching and learning so that every child, youth, and adult can succeed.