Find ways to incorporate music into your lessons for extra sticking power, Azar said. Think of those earworm songs that you can’t get out of your head! Wouldn’t it be nice if those lyrics were useful information? For younger children, teachers can find videos that set class materials to music, or they can create their own videos and encourage kids to sing along. For older students, teachers can ask them to create songs, raps or chants about material and then perform for the rest of the class. Too shy? Find songs that relate to the materials you are talking about – songs about people, places, or events you are covering – and play those during class. Be sure to share information about the musician or composer, too.

Anything that can be counted or measured can be used in a math lesson. Find ways to apply math to real life situations and you will be safely depositing that material into your students’ long-term memory banks. Bonus points for getting kids out of the (same old boring) classroom for these activities because new environments stimulate children’s seeking systems, Azar said. Seeking systems are the part of children’s brains that incline toward exploration and tackling new challenges.

Starting class with a quick puzzle helps wake up student brains and prime them for processing. That is because confusing brains is one way to kick start them into action. Puzzles are also a terrific way to quiet students, give them something to focus on, and segue from one activity or unit to another. These puzzles can complement the subject area you are teaching or be completely random – the key is to stump young minds.

Incorporating movement into class accelerates children’s learning process. Students who move as they learn absorb information more quickly than students who sit still and passively observe, Azar said. When students get up and move, they also enjoy a burst of neurochemicals that boost mood and protect against anxiety and depression. Worried? Movement does not have to mean chaos. Start classes with short bursts of activity like jumping jacks or jogging in place. Toss a ball to students answering questions, using it to give them a turn to speak. Create learning stations so that children are encouraged to move around the classroom to learn. Incorporate stretch breaks in between classes or subjects.