An important element to doing mathematics and developing conceptual understanding in mathematics is creating and making sense of visual representations. Developing mathematical understanding happens when students invent (or reinvent) strategies and think deeply about why a strategy works. Although societal and political pressures may say otherwise (e.g., standardized tests), at the heart of mathematical understanding is conceptual knowledge of mathematics (Willingham, 2009-2010). Imagination and imaginative instructional experiences are the keys to doing mathematics authentically and developing mathematical understanding. And, specifically, by integrating important tenets of English language arts (ELA), imagination becomes the bridge for unlocking mathematical understanding. In this article, Nicole M. Weissman-Enzinger examines why integrating ELA in mathematics, teachers are able to support students' imaginations, which unlocks their students' mathematical understandings. She also summarizes three recommendations she has for using ELA in supporting imagination in mathematics.