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Two Series. One Proven Approach.

Middle School Math Curriculum, Grades 6–8

CPM’s middle school math series prepare 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students with powerful mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills through collaboration, problem-based learning, and mixed spaced practice.

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Grades 6–8 · NewInspiring ConnectionsGrades 6–8 · Time-testedCore Connections
CPM Mathematician's Notebooks for middle school

Choose a series

Which one fits your school?

Inspiring Connections books and digital courseGrades 6 to 8 · NewInspiring ConnectionsMultimodal, meaningful mathematics with a digital and print blend.See the seriesCore Connections booksGrades 6 to 8 · Time-testedCore ConnectionsEnglish and Spanish, available in digital and print.See the seriesInspirations & Ideas book and digital courseGrade 8 · Support classInspirations & IdeasBuilds confidence and a love of math for students who sometimes struggle.See the course

Why CPM Works

The approach behind both series

Collaborative by Design

Students work in study teams of 2–4 to discuss, justify, and refine their mathematical thinking.

Problem-Based Lessons

Every lesson centers on engaging, non-routine problems that build conceptual understanding from the ground up.

Research-Grounded

Built on CPM's Three Pillars, validated by over 35 years of mathematics education research and practice.

Full Resource Ecosystem

eTools, embedded digital tools, family support resources, and access to CPM professional learning, all included.

Choose Your Series

Two Unique Middle School Series

Both series share CPM's research-grounded approach. The difference is in format, pacing technology, and materials. Choose the one that fits your district's needs.

Grades 6–8 · New Program

Inspiring Connections

  • Multimodal: intentional mix of digital, print, and manipulatives
  • Dynamic teacher-guided pacing technology
  • Available in English and Spanish through myCPM
  • Mathematician's Notebook student consumable for daily use
  • Variety of venues: vertical surfaces, devices, and hands-on activities
  • Structured team roles and embedded supports including Study Team & Teaching Strategies and Mathematical Language Routines
Take a closer look
Grades 6–8 · Time-Tested

Core Connections

  • Refined over decades of classroom use
  • Based on CPM's Three Pillars and an extensive research base
  • Available in English and Spanish
  • Choice of digital and/or print materials
  • Study teams, eTools, consumable Toolkit with daily independent practice, and access to CPM professional learning
Take a closer look
Not sure which series is right for your district?

Our team is happy to walk you through the differences and help you find the best fit.

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Inspiring Connections

What Educators Are Saying

MichelleMiddle school teacher0:41
SaraMiddle school teacher1:41

CPM takes a deeper look into when, where, and how to use basic skills and apply them to the world in which we live. As a 31-year veteran educator, I am now the facilitator of discussion while still guiding the students toward mathematical proficiency and knowledge.

Long-time educator, California

Inspiring Connections

A Closer Look at Inspiring Connections

Inspiring Connections is CPM's newest middle school program, a multimodal curriculum designed to use the right medium for each learning moment, whether digital, print, or hands-on.

Print & Digital Blend

Digital and print work in tandem, not as alternatives. eTools, eWorkspace, and pacing technology pair with the Mathematician's Notebook so each lesson uses the medium that serves learning best. Both are essential.

Mathematician's Notebook

A personal student companion for recording rough-draft thinking, key concepts, questions, mistakes, and inspirations. Contains diagrams, graphs, and printed Learning Targets so students can track their own progress throughout each chapter.

Variety of Venues

Lessons move students between vertical non-permanent surfaces (VNPSs), devices, manipulatives at a desk, and the Mathematician's Notebook, each venue chosen for how it best supports the learning intent of that activity.

Teacher Guides

Each lesson includes an Authors' Vision (how the lesson is intended to unfold), a Lesson at a Glance (overview, learning intent, materials, standards, additional resources), and brief reminder notes for returning to lessons.

Learning Targets

Concise goals for each lesson are presented to teachers and students in chapter introductions, referenced in Reflection & Practice problems, and revisited in Chapter Closures. Students track their progress in the Mathematician's Notebook.

Team Roles & Strategies

Four structured roles (Representative, Coordinator, Organizer, and Investigator) give every student a voice. Study Team and Teaching Strategies (STTS) are woven throughout the Authors' Vision to structure team interactions.

Lesson Sequence

Every IC lesson is designed for a 45-minute period and follows a deliberate arc from community-building through closure and independent practice.

1

Door Question

Students share a little about themselves. This daily practice builds community and helps the teacher get to know each student.

2

Launch

Engages students and awakens curiosity. May introduce the day's math content or connect to one of the course's larger threads (number sense, data science, community building).

3

Explore

Students work in teams on a variety of engaging activities across multiple venues, solving problems collaboratively with teacher facilitation.

4

Closure

Summarizes critical concepts from the lesson. Students reflect on key mathematical learning or a social-emotional learning thread woven through the course.

5

Reflection & Practice

Mixed, spaced problems designed for independent practice, reinforcing past learning and laying groundwork for future concepts.

CPM's Three-Part Lesson structureRead more about how every lesson is built · PDFDownload

Team Roles

Students collaborate in teams for the large majority of class time. Four roles give every student a voice and make them an integral part of their team.

A variety of Study Team and Teaching Strategies (STTS) are suggested in the Authors' Vision throughout Inspiring Connections. These strategies help structure team interactions and facilitate engagement. As teachers gain experience with the curriculum and get to know their students, they develop their own go-to strategies.

Table of Contents: Inspiring Connections Courses 1–3

Pick a course to see every chapter.

Inspiring Connections Course 1

Grade 6 · 12 parts
  1. PPrelude
  2. 1Numbers, Data & Expressions
  3. 2Ratio Language & Measurement
  4. 3Measures of Center, Integers & Coordinate Plane
  5. 4Fractions, Decimals, Percents & Unit Rates
  6. 5Variation in Data & Area
  7. 6Rules of Operations, Multiples & Factors
  8. 7Whole Number, Decimal & Fraction Division
  9. 8Algebra Tiles, Expressions & Equations
  10. 9Equations, Inequalities & Rate Problems
  11. 10Two & Three Dimensions
  12. 11Ratios, Proportions & The Number System

Inspiring Connections Course 2

Grade 7 · 11 parts
  1. PPrelude
  2. 1Proportions & Integer Operations
  3. 2Fractions, Probability, Scale & Cross Sections
  4. 3Proportional Relationships & Data Statistics
  5. 4Multiple Representations & Circle Geometry
  6. 5Probability & Integer Operations
  7. 6Data Distributions & Algebraic Expressions
  8. 7Rational Numbers, Percent Change & Real-World Percents
  9. 8Multiplication/Division of Rationals & Equations/Inequalities
  10. 9Angle Relationships, Triangle Creation & Volume
  11. 10Explorations & Restaurant Math

Inspiring Connections Course 3

Grade 8 · 11 parts
  1. PPrelude
  2. 1Data, Graphs, Transformations & Linear Relationships
  3. 2Rigid Transformations, Similarity & Systems
  4. 3Trend Lines, Algebra Tiles & Graphing Linear Equations
  5. 4Exponents & Solving Equations
  6. 5Representations of a Line & Systems
  7. 6Solving Systems Algebraically, Slope & Associations
  8. 7Angles & Right Triangle Theorem
  9. 8Introduction to Functions & Linear/Nonlinear Functions
  10. 9Volume, Scientific Notation & Applications
  11. 10Explorations & Investigations

Core Connections

A Closer Look at Core Connections

Core Connections is CPM's time-tested program, refined over decades of classroom use. It delivers CPM's full research-based approach in a flexible format available in English and Spanish, digital and print.

Study Teams

Students work in teams of 2–4. Teamwork creates an environment for discussion, idea sharing, and risk-taking, a safe space for productive struggle on challenging problems.

eTools for Exploration

Virtual, interactive activities (algebra tiles, integer tiles, and other integrated digital tools) engage students and build conceptual understanding.

Learning Logs & Toolkits

Students reflect on their learning in their own words through Learning Logs. Toolkits serve as consumable personal reference documents including Math Notes and key lesson images.

Mixed Spaced Practice & Homework Help

Students re-engage with past material throughout the year. The Homework Help system (linked from the eBook) provides solved examples, hints, and references to build independence.

Puzzle Investigator

Students focus on the process of solving interesting, complex problems, developing skills to show, explain, and justify their thinking beyond just getting an answer.

Parent Guide & Mathcasts

Parent Guides (2nd Edition) and Guided Skill Supports (3rd Edition) help families support students at home. Lesson Mathcasts give teachers video walkthroughs of each lesson, ideal for planning, subs, or unfamiliar content.

Table of Contents: Core Connections Courses 1–3

Pick a course to see every chapter.

Core Connections Course 1

Grade 6 · 9 parts
  1. 1Introduction & Representation
  2. 2Arithmetic Strategies & Area
  3. 3Portions & Integers
  4. 4Variables & Ratios
  5. 5Multiplying Fractions & Area
  6. 6Dividing & Building Expressions
  7. 7Rates & Operations
  8. 8Statistics & Multiplication Equations
  9. 9Volume & Percents

Core Connections Course 2

Grade 7 · 9 parts
  1. 1Introduction & Probability
  2. 2Fractions & Integer Addition
  3. 3Arithmetic Properties
  4. 4Proportions & Expressions
  5. 5Probability & Solving Word Problems
  6. 6Solving Inequalities & Equations
  7. 7Proportions & Percents
  8. 8Statistics & Angle Relationships
  9. 9Circles & Volume

Core Connections Course 3

Grade 8 · 10 parts
  1. 1Problem Solving & Proportional Relationships
  2. 2Simplifying with Variables
  3. 3Graphs & Equations
  4. 4Multiple Representations
  5. 5Systems of Equations
  6. 6Transformations & Similarity
  7. 7Slope & Association
  8. 8Exponents & Functions
  9. 9Angles & Pythagorean Theorem
  10. 10Surface Area & Volume

CCSS Correlations

Standards correlations for each Core Connections course, as PDFs.

Core Connections Course 1

Core ConnectionsCourse 1

Grade 6 · 3 PDFs

Core Connections Course 2

Core ConnectionsCourse 2

Grade 7 · 3 PDFs

Core Connections Course 3

Core ConnectionsCourse 3

Grade 8 · 3 PDFs

Support Class · Grade 8

Inspirations & Ideas

  • Non-graded
  • No homework
  • No summative assessments

A concurrent support class for 8th graders enrolled in Core Connections Course 3 who sometimes struggle with mathematics. Rather than remediation, I&I uses math as a vehicle to change students' beliefs and attitudes: building confidence, number sense, and a genuine interest in mathematical thinking.

Inspirations and Ideas course themes and focus areas

Course Structure

Inspirations & Ideas is a compilation of lessons arranged in units that convey multiple objectives. The course does not attempt to address every 8th grade content standard. Instead, math content is used as a vehicle to change students' beliefs and attitudes about math. Each unit may not fully address a single objective in isolation, but as a compilation the objectives are met.

This Course Focuses On

  • Cognitively demanding grade-level content
  • Rich mathematics tasks
  • Student-teacher relationships
  • Students' problem-solving abilities
  • Fostering number sense
  • Productive struggle
  • Mathematical justifications
  • Building an interest in math
  • Establishing & monitoring challenging goals
  • Supporting teachers in course implementation

Sample Lessons

Lesson 3.1PDFLesson 3.1 Stoughton Water Fountain Slideshow VideoVideo downloadLesson 3.1A Resource PagePDFLesson 3.1B Resource PagePDF
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Grades 6–12 · Free samples available