I had a relatively structured method of teaching so that I was able to keep my students organized and on track; however, I would always strive to keep my lessons interesting, visual, and somewhat quirky.
I used to break the science standards into units that lasted anywhere from three to four weeks on a block schedule. I gave a summative assessment at the end of every unit, which students would track individually and as a class. Students were aware of their progress at all times and they were able to link their strengths and weaknesses directly to specific content standards or learning goals.
My classes were almost entirely made up of English Language Learners, so a lot of what I do is very visual and clear. I tried to make my lessons as hands-on as possible, but I also strongly believed in good old-fashioned note-taking. My students keep up with their "Cornell Note Journals" and are able to reference them all year long.