Student Engagement in Mathematics, Part 2: Open/Parallel Tasks and Choice Boards

Boost math engagement with open and parallel tasks plus choice boards that increase access, rigor, and ownership.

This workshop focuses on increasing student engagement in mathematics through the use of open tasks, parallel tasks, and choice boards. Participants will learn how these strategies can provide multiple entry points into mathematical problems, allowing students with varying abilities to engage meaningfully with content. The session highlights how choice fosters ownership of learning and how parallel tasks promote differentiation without lowering expectations. Educators will explore practical ways to design and implement these approaches to make math more inclusive, rigorous, and student-centered.

Core Needs Addressed

  • Lack of student engagement and ownership in mathematics learning

  • Limited strategies for differentiating instruction while maintaining rigor

  • Over-reliance on one-size-fits-all tasks that do not meet the needs of diverse learners

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Key Learnings

  1. Designing Open and Parallel Tasks – Teachers will learn how to create open-ended and parallel math problems that allow for multiple solution strategies and adapt to a wide range of learner readiness levels.

  2. Implementing Choice Boards Effectively – Participants will gain tools for developing and using choice boards to give students agency in their learning, while still aligning with standards and instructional goals.

  3. Balancing Rigor and Differentiation – Educators will explore strategies to ensure tasks remain challenging while being accessible, providing every student the opportunity to engage deeply with mathematical concepts.

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Student Engagement in Mathematics, Part 2: Open/Parallel Tasks and Choice Boards

Boost math engagement with open and parallel tasks plus choice boards that increase access, rigor, and ownership.

Led by our team of Instructional Strategists

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Last Updated

Apr 15, 2026 2:50 PM

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Designed for School Leaders asking...

How can we use open and parallel tasks to produce measurable gains in student engagement, problem-solving, and math achievement?

What instructional practices will ensure all students access rigorous math content through differentiated entry points without lowering expectations?

How do we build teacher capacity to design choice-driven math experiences that increase ownership, participation, and overall proficiency?

This workshop helped me better understand the challenges families face and gave me practical strategies to strengthen communication and engagement. I now feel more confident in building supportive partnerships with families to improve student success.

Jen Soloman

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Delivering Powerful Learning Experiences

As a result of this work

As a result of this work, educators will implement open tasks, parallel tasks, and choice-based strategies to increase engagement and differentiate mathematics instruction, ensuring all students can access and meaningfully engage with rigorous content. Teachers will leave with practical strategies, task design approaches, and choice board structures that support multiple entry points, foster student ownership, and promote inclusive, student-centered math learning.

Workshop Description

This workshop focuses on increasing student engagement in mathematics through the use of open tasks, parallel tasks, and choice boards. Participants will learn how these strategies can provide multiple entry points into mathematical problems, allowing students with varying abilities to engage meaningfully with content. The session highlights how choice fosters ownership of learning and how parallel tasks promote differentiation without lowering expectations. Educators will explore practical ways to design and implement these approaches to make math more inclusive, rigorous, and student-centered.

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Designed for Today's Schools

Customized
Expert-led
In-person, virtual, or asynchronous
Standards Aligned
Research-Based
Nationwide

Educators will confidently

Educators will confidently use open tasks, parallel tasks, and choice boards to engage all learners in meaningful mathematical problem-solving. This work supports district priorities by making mathematics instruction more inclusive, rigorous, and student-centered.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes your workshops different from traditional professional development or other providers?

Our approach goes beyond one-size-fits-all professional development. We hold ourselves to rigorous standards of quality and delivery in every client interaction, ensuring that each experience is meaningful, relevant, and impactful. We don’t just deliver workshops—we build long-term partnerships with schools and districts, working alongside educators to improve instructional practices and student outcomes over time.

We actively listen to educators’ unique contexts and experiences, using that insight to collaboratively design tailored solutions rather than pre-packaged sessions. Our team asks thoughtful questions, challenges assumptions, and continuously learns so we can help redefine what’s possible in teaching and learning.

Above all, we communicate authentically, foster positive and productive relationships, and bring a deep passion and commitment to education. The result is professional learning that feels purposeful, personalized, and truly transformative.

Who are your workshops designed for?

Our workshops are designed for educators and school leaders, including teachers, instructional coaches, school administrators, and district teams. Each session is tailored to the specific audience to ensure content is relevant, practical, and immediately applicable.

What does a typical workshop look like?

Our workshops are interactive, engaging, and grounded in real classroom practice. Each experience is intentionally designed using the principles of andragogy, sound instructional design, and the core constructs of effective professional development to ensure relevance, coherence, and impact. Participants engage in discussion, reflection, planning, and application activities — not just passive listening. Educators leave with concrete strategies and next steps they can implement right away.

How long are your workshops?

We offer flexible formats, including half-day, full-day, and multi-session series. We can also design ongoing professional learning experiences to support sustained implementation over time.

What delivery methods are available for your workshops?

We offer flexible delivery options to meet the needs of schools and districts, including in-person sessions, live virtual workshops, and asynchronous learning through our applied learning platform. Regardless of format, all experiences are designed to be interactive, engaging, and collaborative, with structures that promote meaningful participation and application of learning.

What kind of follow-up support is available?

We believe professional learning is most effective when it’s sustained. In addition to workshops, we offer instructional coaching, implementation planning, and follow-up sessions to help teams translate learning into practice and drive meaningful results.

Who facilitates the workshops?

Inspired Instruction’s workshops are facilitated by a nationwide team of expert Instructional Strategists.  Our facilitators bring diverse experience as classroom educators, instructional coaches, principals, directors, and superintendents, spanning all content areas. We thoughtfully match your specific needs with a facilitator whose expertise aligns to ensure the learning experience is relevant, practical, and impactful for your staff.

How much does it cost to bring a workshop to my school or district?

We offer a range of pricing options designed to meet the needs of different schools and districts. Our Client Directors work closely with you to understand your goals, scope, and budget, and will partner with you to design a high-quality professional learning experience that fits within your financial framework.

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