Every student needs an independent reading book in their desk to read when they are done with their classwork. Increased reading time is the greatest aid in increasing reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary acquisition and spelling skills, according to Scientific Learning.
P.O.W. (or problem of the week) instituted in a classroom gives students a challenging math problem to work on when they are done with classwork. The weekly challenge helps expand the concepts addressed in math class and helps students reflectively engage in problem solving skills. Many teachers introduce the problem on Monday in a whole group setting. The kids work on the problem when they have time and discuss the solutions on Friday.
Many teachers assign rotating classroom jobs to students. Along with the responsibility of having a chore to complete, the job gives the students a sense of belonging in the community of the classroom. Train the students the first few weeks of school in how to complete each job. Some of the assignments will be simple -- sharpening pencils or watering the plants. Other tasks are easily learned with training for even the youngest students -- sorting books in the library or checking the thermometer's temperature.
When kids finish early, they take a work station box back to their desk to complete. The work station boxes have been made ahead of time to reinforce the learning objectives that are being addressed in in the classroom. For instance, if the class is learning the states and capitals of the United States, the early finishers work on a puzzle of the 50 states. If the class is studying poetry, they write their favorite poem on an index card to go on the poetry wall. Having a few stations set up to emphasize the curriculum is easily assembled and keeps the students actively learning, even when they are done with their classwork.