Any worksheet that is created and used must be aligned with the work that is ongoing in the classroom. For example, if you are teaching the numbers 1 through 10 this week, the worksheets must only focus on the numbers 1 through 10. Consider that the worksheet is an opportunity for the student to prove to himself, as well as his teacher, that he can apply what he has learned.
Worksheets that require students to simply write out numbers or letters may be boring to the student and might lead to the student losing interest in the subject material; therefore, make your worksheets fun or interesting. For example, on the worksheet, have the student write out the number five and have the student color in five apples with a red crayon. If you are teaching the letter B, have the student write the letter and then color in a picture of a balloon.
Not all students learn at the same pace or develop the same skills as other students of the same age. You can address this issue by customizing the worksheets you create for your particular student. If the student, for example, was only capable of retaining the letters A and B, but not C this week, make a worksheet that focuses only on the letters A and B. By doing this you are reinforcing what the child has learned and then you can begin next week's lesson with the letter C.
While the core material on the worksheet is aligned with the material that is learned, use the worksheet to promote critical-thinking skills and challenge your student. This is accomplished by including a task at the end of the worksheet that requires the student to think past what has been learned and perhaps incorporate other elements into the topic. For example, ask the student who is just learning the letter A to circle the letter A each time it appears in the words "cat", "apple" or "ate." Have the student count how many times the letter A appears or have the student write the number.