It's September and the crash, clanging and rumble of lockers, desks and students is heard in hallowed school halls again. Students catch up on summer reality shows, who's hot, and who's paired up with whom for homecoming. Meanwhile teachers return to their quest of piquing the interest of sometimes already-jaded students and teaching them something. Here are a few quick and creative tips to break through the white noise…

Betsy Allen, senior vice president at Bob Pike Group, is one of the main facilitators of the Research-based Creative Teaching Strategies—a scientifically-sound approach to student success based on more than 30 years of brain and learning research which increases attention, retention and recall. She suggests getting more interactive and more creative (which doesn't necessarily mean a lot more work) to help kids process and retain information without them knowing they're studying—or getting tested.

“We need to get away from tests being about catching students being wrong and use testing to teach and affect learning,” Allen said. “Anxiety is inversely proportional to retention.” In other words we are less likely to remember if we're scared about something—say, a quiz or exam. “Strive to create a safe learning environment, where it is safe to make mistakes, to teach others what we know, and to assist each other in being successful by processing what we're learning out loud.”

Allen suggests three quick ways for testing students in an unobtrusive way.

Crossword Puzzle : Students can complete a crossword alone or in pairs. This helps them review the information already covered and perhaps fill in gaps they missed along the way. By themselves, it's an open book test, but fun way to learn; with a partner, it's an interactive and perhaps synergetic learning tool.

Four Corners : Students are given four verbal multiple-choice options. Each corner of the room is assigned one of the answers—A, B, C, or D. The students go to the corner representing their answer. This is a great tool for using with students who are always tapping their pens or feet—they may be kinesthetic learners who learn better by having a small part of their body moving while learning.

Sequence Shuffle: Students create their own sequence of events—one part of the sequence per 3 x 5 card. Students then shuffle the cards and then put them in the proper order. If students have sequenced out different events, they can then exchange shuffled decks and put a new one in order.

“Very little learning happens in the ‘delivery' of content,” Allen said. “The learning happens in the processing of content, so use creative testing techniques which reinforce learning and provide the teacher with feedback on what they are getting collectively and what they are not. Ultimately, do I as the teacher have to confirm individual strengths/weaknesses and comprehension?—Yes. The point is to make it a safe process, so kids are learning for life, not just to pass.”

The Bob Pike Group offers a 2-day Teach-the-Teacher Workshop that has proven to increase student grades, attidudes and standardized test scores. It is also in compliance with NCLB.