With exams around the corner and summer still months off, March can feel like a trying time for new teachers and their students. But it can also be an opportunity to experiment with fresh strategies for keeping students engaged and motivated. Here are some ideas to help you bring joy into your classroom.

Set the tone. It’s no secret that your own enthusiasm can be contagious in the classroom. This month, try to model your own positive learning experience for your students by showing them how excited you are about a subject or topic.

Refreshing your classroom environment can be another way to chase away the winter doldrums and lay the foundation for engaging learners. Perhaps it’s time to rearrange your classroom layout for the spring or introduce quiet music while students are working or making transitions.

Keep students engaged and motivated by fostering choice and independence. Your students, just like you, will likely gravitate toward topics that excite them. If you can, explore ways to give your students some degree of choice — whether it’s in where they sit, with whom they work or the type of project they’re working on.

“With a certain amount of freedom, students become more willing to work hard,” writes Elisabeth Jaffe, an algebra teacher at Baruch College Campus in Manhattan who won a Sloan Award for Excellence in Teaching Science and Mathematics in 2013. “They discover the value of what they learn and a desire to learn more. They also get the opportunity to find their hidden talents.”

What is it that your students are experts in? This month, you might try to explore ways to extend their expertise in the classroom by allowing them to take some ownership of how the class is run.

“We’re so used to being the captain of the ship, but giving them that sense of agency and autonomy is really empowering for them,” says Allyson Compton, who teaches a model United Nations course at the HS for Environmental Studies in midtown Manhattan.

Find the fun. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the demands of your curriculum. But it’s possible to get creative about making room in your daily schedule for joy. Some teachers post a daily joke or riddle on their whiteboards, for example, or squeeze in a few minutes right before or after lunch to read aloud for enjoyment. Students’ transitions from table to table can be a prime opportunity to fit in a stretch or a dance. Even choosing a student to call on can be turned into a game.

You won’t always be able to turn every lesson into a celebration. But bringing joy into your classroom can foster a better learning environment for both you and your students.