Read on for great ways to ensure all students contribute to your lessons...
Here are my favourite ways to ensure a range of students are called on to answer questions:
No 1. Lollipop sticks
Add each student's name to a lollipop stick and pick names at random. You can even get students to decorate their own lollipop stick for more buy-in. Keep sticks in a pot on your desk or in your desk drawers for easy access.
No 2. Lego pieces, plastic counters or pieces
Hand students a few pieces each at the start of a lesson. Their goal is to rid themselves of all their pieces before the end of the lesson by answering questions. Students love to fiddle with objects whilst they think... so if you want your pieces to stand the test of time, go for plastic or wooden items!
No 3. Play ‘bounce‘
Get students to choose the next person to answer a question. Once they answer their question they can 'bounce' it to another student. Add caveats e.g. you have to bounce to someone of the opposite gender (otherwise they often pass to their friendship groups!)
No 4. Post-it walls
Give each student a post-it, which they write answers or questions on to and then place on your whiteboard or display board. Or students write their name on their post-it and the teachers job is to remove their post-it once they have answered a question. Equally, the teacher can pick a post-it at random (if the names are written on the back!) to answer a question. Post-its are expensive though - for a cheaper alternative, try cut up paper and paper tack!
No 5. Everyone must provide an answer for the register
Although make it a quick answer otherwise you'll be there all day! To quicken it up, or provide an element of surprise, choose every 2nd or 3rd name on the register to answer.
No 6. Online name randomiser
This is a fun one (like 'Wheel of Fortune') and you can remove students' names once they have answered to avoid repeats! https://wheelofnames.com
No 7. Number the student tables
I glue laminated numbers to the tables, so each seat area has its own designated number. This is great because I only need to randomise the numbers 1-30 and can rinse and repeat for every class I have as numbers are universal. Make sure you change the seating plan a few times in case you are particularly partial to a certain number! My rule is that if a student is missing the next number up must answer in their stead e.g. if 18 is missing, then 19 will answer the question.
No 8. A, B, Cs...
Label students as 'A', 'B', 'C' and so on (depending on how big your class is). Best rule of thumb is around 4-5 students in each group. I suggest giving them a coloured item to help you spot them during questioning. Ask a question and expect someone from a certain letter to answer it e.g. 'What's the square root of 91?' please answer someone from group 'B'. When rotating the letters you'll start to get used to which students are in the group and it will prompt you to ask a different student the next time that letter is called upon. You can even provide an element of competition by awarding points for the group each time a question is attempted and/ or answered correctly.
And, to get all students involved at once, try...
No 9. Dry wipe boards and pens
Students love these, and you can get quick answers from the whole class... and gauge progress simultaneously.
No 10. Blind Pair questioning
Divide students into pairs (partner A and partner B). Partner A sits on the student table with their back to the whiteboard. Partner B can see the whiteboard and whatever you have projected... an image, questions, answers etc., but must not tell Partner A. Partner A must communicate questions or answers to work out what is on the whiteboard. Partner B guides them. They both sit down once they have completed the task. Repeat with Partner B.
So there you have it, great ways to pick students' names at random. For more useful ideas, check out our range of blogs.
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