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

Participants will gain strategies for differentiating learning experiences in mathematics through the exploration of reasoning, modeling, and numeracy exercises, to promote computation fluency and student engagement.

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

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

Participants will gain strategies for differentiating learning experiences in mathematics through the exploration of reasoning, modeling, and numeracy exercises, to promote computation fluency and student engagement.

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Oct 28, 2025 11:48 PM

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Core Needs Addressed

Underlying Needs for Stronger Family-School Partnerships

  • 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

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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Perfect For You

Pre-Winter Break
Sequenced
Science
Editable
Weekly Cadence
Start of School Year
New Jersey
Research Backed

Key Learning

  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.

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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