Fundamentals of CGI: Building Mathematical Understanding PD (Grades K-5)

Explore how young mathematicians think with this interactive Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) professional development session from UCLA Center X, one of the most influential mathematics education programs in the country. CGI is a research-backed approach to mathematics teaching built on 35 years of study into how children's mathematical ideas develop naturally. Rather than imposing adult algorithms on young learners, CGI helps teachers understand the intuitive mathematical knowledge children bring to school and build formal instruction on that foundation. The result is mathematics teaching that is more responsive, more engaging, and more effective at developing deep mathematical understanding. In this Fundamentals of CGI session for grades K-5, participants will study the problem types that form the backbone of CGI instruction, examine the strategies students naturally develop to solve problems, and learn the instructional moves that make CGI such a powerful approach to mathematics teaching and learning. The interactive format ensures you'll experience CGI as a learner before exploring how to implement it as a teacher. The UCLA Mathematics Project at UCLA Center X has been a leader in CGI professional development for over 25 years, growing from a partnership with the Lennox School District into an extensive collaborative program led by Professor Megan L. Franke that now serves educators across Los Angeles County through school partnerships, weekend workshops, and summer institutes. This face-to-face session is held on June 29, 2026 in California and is ideal for K-5 classroom teachers, maths coaches, and curriculum leaders who want to understand how children think mathematically and transform that understanding into powerful instruction.