Students in kindergarten and first grade can use newspapers to recognize letters and words. Pair the students and give them a newspaper. Let them use a pencil to find and circle letters and words they know.

Allow second and third graders to cut out words they know and rearrange the words in sentences. They can then share the sentences they created with other students.

Third and fourth grade students can work in pairs to find nouns and verbs in sentences. They should be able to mark the beginning of a paragraph. Students can find different types of punctuation.

Fifth and sixth graders should have more understanding of grammar. They can find nouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives in the sentences and circle them. They can then use the words they circled as part of a news story they write themselves.

Seventh and eighth grade student can create their own classroom or school newspaper. They can take turns being editors, writers, and proofreaders. Their newspaper can be published by using the computer.

2. Use a variety of lesson plan formats that tailor to different learning styles. You will keep all of your students engaged by regularly using lesson plans that meet their learning needs and preferences.

3. Provide a variety of hands on manipulatives throughout each week. Mix up the routine with new options on a regular basis. Consider special materials to use on an occasional basis as well (i.e. M&Ms for a math counting lesson).

4. Give students options and choices whenever possible. Throughout a typical school day, a grade school student does not have a lot of choices. Even small choices such as the order of completing independent work or the manipulatives they can use during a lesson or test can make a big difference.

5. Spend less time talking. Keep your students engaged by giving them as much work time as possible during every lesson. Break up verbal instruction with opportunities for them to practice the material.

One of the most common ways is to play math games, to present a real-world challenge to the student. Another effective method combined with playing a game is to provide incentives for the student. For instance, playing a math game with candy that the student can earn can stimulate creativity and help the student to learn while giving them something they want in return. Incentives and presenting information in a fun way are both methods that have proven to be effective in the past for many teachers as students often don’t even realize that they’re learning important skills that they can use further on in the future.