Select interesting topics. Modify the required curriculum to appeal to the appropriate age group; demonstrate the topic's relevance to students' life and interests today. For example, if standards dictate that you teach statistics, tie this math-related subject to baseball or another sport to make it more exciting.
Integrate technology. Trade standard paper and pencil activities, such as worksheets, for more computer-oriented ones to intrigue easily bored students. Assign quizzes online. Create digital slide shows or craft brochures to make learning a visually stimulating experience.
Partner students with a classmate. Students often find classwork less distasteful when they have the opportunity to partner with others in completing it. Let your students pick their own partners, or select for them; take skill level into consideration when pairing to ensure compatibility and maximize learning potential as well as enjoyment.
Give students choices. Offer an assortment of different classwork activities that teach the same subject in different ways -- for example, allow students to write poems, answer comprehension questions or create skits. Encourage them to elect the options that interest them most.
Create a competition. Challenge students to compete against each other to motivate them. Offer simple and inexpensive prizes to the students who answer the most questions correctly or perform best at a task.
Foster creativity. Children are often naturally creative; capitalize on this strength. Instead of having students write dry reports on past presidents, assign a timeline enhanced with pictures or short stories based on facts that feature these prominent historical figures.