The Investigations program embodies the vision of the rigorous national standards for mathematics developed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Investigations is based on an extensive body of research on how students learn mathematics. It is carefully designed around key ideas to invite all students into mathematics, providing opportunities and experiences organized to develop mathematical proficiency.

In each unit, students explore the central topics in depth through a series of investigations, encountering and using important mathematical ideas. Students actively engage in mathematical reasoning to solve complex mathematical problems. They represent, explain, and justify their thinking, using mathematical tools and appropriate technology. Investigations provides meaningful, repeated practice of basic facts and skills through activities and games. The investigations allow significant time for students to think about the problems and to model, draw, write, and talk with peers and the teacher about their mathematical thinking.                             

• students do as well or better than students using other curricula in straight calculation problems involving basic facts and the whole number operations.
• students have a better understanding of number and number relationships than students working with more traditional programs.
• this program works equally well with students at different achievement levels in mathematics.
• students who use Investigations achieve greater accuracy on word problems and on more complex calculations than students in comparison classrooms.
• students in schools fully implementing Investigations outperform students in schools not using Investigations (or other NSF-funded elementary mathematics curricula) on a high stakes standardized test administered in Massachusetts.