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Data-Informed Instruction Part 3: Independent Enrichment Activities

Creating inquiry-based activities that deepen understanding

AuthorAuthor

Riz Malik & Jonathan Ben-Isvy
October 20, 2025

Welcome to the third and final post of our series on data-informed instruction. Today we're focusing on independent enrichment activities - an essential component of effective small group instruction that keeps all students meaningfully engaged while you work with targeted groups.

These activities serve dual purposes: they provide engaging, relevant math experiences that help all students develop positive mathematical identities, and they can strategically reinforce key concepts and skills identified through analysis of student work.

Designing Independent Enrichment with Coteach

Step 1: Identify the concepts to focus on

Example Prompt: "Analyze [Unit X, Lessons 1-4]. What are the overarching mathematical ideas that connect across these lessons?”

Follow Up With: “Which of these would work best for enrichment activities?"

Step 2: Make cross-curricular or student-specific connections

Identify real-world applications that will make the mathematics meaningful to your students.

Example Prompt: "What are some real-world applications of [mathematical concept from Step 1] in science, social studies, or the arts?"

Step 3: Generate a first draft of the activity

While every classroom situation is unique, here's a framework you can adapt for effective prompting:

  • Explicitly state the concept focus

  • Provide the amount of time (How long will students work independently? 15 minutes? 20? Be specific!)

  • Identify the activity components: learning objective, open-ended questions, discussion prompts, student materials

  • Specify the group size and working structure

Example Prompt: "Create an independent inquiry-based enrichment activity for [key concept] that connects to [chosen subject area or interest]. The activity should: Include a clear learning objective; Be designed for groups of 2-3 students working independently (no teacher facilitation); Take 15-20 minutes to complete; Include 1-2 open-ended questions that require mathematical reasoning and real-world application; Encourage students to make connections between math and [chosen subject/interest area]; Provide complete student-facing materials with all instructions and resources needed; Include discussion prompts built into the student materials"

Use Coteach to create unit-aligned enrichment activities

Step 4: Build in targeted skills practice

Review your pre-assessment data (Pre-Unit questions or Check Your Readiness) to identify skills that need reinforcement, then ask Coteach to integrate them into the enrichment activity.

Step 5: Review and refine

Look back at the big mathematical ideas of the unit and ask:

  • Does the activity meaningfully reinforce the targeted math concept(s)?

  • Will the activity genuinely engage your students?

  • Can students complete this activity independently without teacher support?

  • Are all necessary resources and instructions included in the student-facing materials?

Refine Until You're Satisfied: Continue your collaborative conversation with Coteach until you're satisfied with the activity design. The most valuable interactions emerge through back-and-forth, just like working with a trusted colleague!

Give it a try!

With these steps in hand, you're ready to create enrichment activities that reinforce core unit concepts, engage your learners, and provide opportunities to build skills for students who need targeted practice. Start with one activity this week and help your students see that math is about exploration! Try Coteach today!