I try to create activities that contain some kind of meaning or purpose related to real life. I've found that keeping things engaging and relevant is a major key to student buy-in, and thus, student success. A lot of my activities are also based on life experience growing up with family in the special needs community. I look at activities from not only the teacher side (what concepts will be taught) but the family side (how will this make a difference to their future) and the student side (what might they find interesting or boring).