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It can sometimes be a major challenge to keep your students engaged. Students will easily get bored and they can become less interested in learning. During down times and at home, make sure that your students have activities that are fun for them to do while keeping their minds sharp. Our top 10 brain games will keep your students engaged and ready to learn.
Any type of crossword is a great way to add creativity to your student’s minds. Consider using these on off days, as study guides or to send home for your students to do while they are home. They’re great to send on vacation with kids and will give them a chance to learn more words. Consider making it a competition.
A word search may seem just like fun, but it really works out the brain. Your students will be able to find words that they need to know. There are many word search generators and ones that are intended for use with specific curriculum. Consider making your own to help your students practice studying.
This number game may seem easy at first, but it is anything but a breeze. Start small and, as your students get better, try larger Sudoku squares. There are many options that you can add on to your games to make them even more of a challenge. The Sudoku options are limitless.
For a quick brain test, make a sheet with words. Color the word blue with orange coloring. Color the word red with purple coloring. Ask your students to read the colors. They will really have to concentrate to avoid saying the color that the word is instead of the actual word.
Try an opposite day in your classroom. If your students are right handed, tell them to try to do everything with their left. Be prepared for a day of very messy handwriting and dropped supplies around your classroom.
Six words. That is all you have to tell a short story. Tell your students to start off with as short of a story as possible. Give them adjectives that they can use to cut down the number of words that they use to eventually get the story to six words. Bonus: your students will have a story they can share on Twitter.
This game is fun for students and something that they can do without paper, a pen or any supplies. Tell them to count back from one hundred by fives, sevens or any other number. Let them see how far they can get without missing a number or getting it wrong.
Create a key! Use symbols or numbers to create a language that your students can use. This is a fun way to boost creativity and will give your students a secret code to write in with their friends for fun. Pro tip: consider having all of your students use the same “language,” make a key and put it on your board. This is a great way to lead into discussion about hieroglyphics.
Pictures with hidden objects are fun. Classrooms with hidden objects are even more fun. This will take some time on your part, but gather up random objects and place them in hidden spots around your room. Ask your students to figure out where these objects are and to point them out. It’s can turn into a really exciting game…you may even forget where you have some objects.
To teach your students how to take notes later on in their school career, have them start practicing early on. They can take notes when they are being told important information in the classroom, at home and anywhere else. Arm them with a small notebook and pencil they can always have on hand.
If you’ve been struggling with keeping your students engaged, these ideas can help you get their brains really working in overdrive. Which ones do you think you will use?
If you’re new to the industry and are looking for ideas on how to get started with your own tutoring business, check out how to start a tutoring business.
