Big Ideas Have Come to Next Gen Math
We are excited to share our most recent enhancement: Big Ideas are now in the Next Gen Math Standards Builder.
❓What do you mean, big ideas? Hasn’t Next Gen always been full of big ideas?
We like to think so! But think of this as capital B capital I Big Ideas.
In July 2023, the California Mathematics Framework was updated to include guidance on how the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics can be organized and implemented around instructional themes called Big Ideas. The standards themselves didn’t change — but the framework introduced an additional way of grouping them, centered on mathematical themes rather than on individual domains.
This approach highlights connections across standards and domains, offering another lens for thinking about instruction and planning.
❓What’s different on the platform?
Next Gen Math now includes a Big Ideas view alongside the original Domains view in the Standards Builder.
You can easily toggle between the two, depending on what works best for your context.
When Big Ideas is selected, the Standards Builder organizes standards by overarching concepts, with related domains and standards grouped together. This allows you to see how content connects across domains — while still keeping the original structure fully intact and accessible.
❓What if my school or district isn’t implementing Big Ideas yet?
No problem at all.
We know districts across California are at different points in their planning and implementation, and many continue to organize instruction by domain. This enhancement is designed to add flexibility, not replace what already works.
Whether you’re exploring Big Ideas now, later, or not at all, Next Gen Math continues to support multiple ways of organizing and working with the standards — aligned to your district’s goals, priorities, and timeline.
Learn more: Big Ideas Tutorial
Note: The “Big Ideas” view can be turned off until a district is ready to use it. To discuss the feature further, please contact Dr. Michael Williams at michael@nextgenmath.com or Emilee Powell at emilee@nextgenmath.com.