Break up the monotony of instruction. Use anticipatory sets, hands-on activities and quick reviews to break up a class period or subject.
Incorporate group work into lesson planning. Have students complete a web quest or work on a class project together or in small groups.
Use review games to test what students have learned. Get students out of their seats and tap into their sense of competition. Offer extra credit to the winning team.
Make sure instruction is centered around the students by having them teach lessons to the class or having them present projects that have been completed at home. Allow the students to interact with one another when they assume a leadership role.
Incorporate music or art into lessons. Use a song to teach poetry or have students sketch a scene from a story. Tap into students' different learning styles and the material will often stay with them longer.
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