The Proficiency Project Resources

Ready to plan your lessons using the Proficiency Project framework? If you’re teaching with Illustrative Mathematics® or another problem-based curriculum, this page gives you everything you need to make you grade-level instruction accessible.

If you’re new to The Proficiency Project, we recommend planning your lessons by starting with the Learning Goal, Common Core Standard, and Cool Down.

This material is based on and adapted from ©Illustrative Mathematics, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Identify the standard & learning goal.

Strong lessons begin with a clear standard and learning goal.

Before planning a lesson, identify:

  • The exact standard

  • The learning goal

  • What students must understand and do to complete the Cool Down

Standards & Curriculum

Determine the skill students will learn.

Once the standard is clear, now it’s time to break it down.

What concept or procedure are you “pulling out” of the standard to help students reach the learning goal?

Complete the lesson Cool Down to determine the skill students must learn in the lesson.

Skill Focus Planning Guide & Graphic Organizer

Break new learning into definition, procedure, examples, and non-examples.

Download the Skill Focus Planning Guide

Download the Skill Focus Organizer

Learn more: How to Use a Graphic Organizer to Strengthen Math Instruction

Select the Activity that most aligns with the learning target.

Illustrative Mathematics lessons contain 2-3 activities. Select the Activity that most aligns with the standard, learning target, and Cool Down.

Learn more: The Activity Block: Guided Practice That Builds Independence

Strengthen your instructional routine.

Teacher-led instruction doesn’t mean boring or that teachers do all of the thinking. Use these guides to refine implementation:

Plan daily fluency activities.

Automaticity reduces cognitive load and supports deeper thinking.

Use our fluency practice sheets to implement daily 5-minute fact routines aligned to grade-level expectations.

Learn the Routines:

Access Fluency Practice Sheets

Tools for School Leaders

Classroom Visit Checklist

The checklist helps administrators/coaches quickly document key instructional practices and gather specific evidence aligned with the Proficiency Project and Danielson Frameworks.

Classroom Observation Follow-Up

A structured feedback form designed to support coaching conversations by highlighting observed strengths and opportunities for growth through the lens of the Proficiency Project Framework.

Additional Links and Resources

Additional Practice & Homework Worksheets