| Much has been said and written lately about providing | | | | Whoever has the slip #1 gets first choice of topics, |
| students with choices. I'm all about any methods | | | | #2 chooses second, and so forth. No one can claim a |
| which will improve student involvement in class, giving | | | | biased order of selection! This is great for research |
| them ownership in their learning. There are many | | | | paper topics, where you don't want students |
| ways to give students choices, options, or just to | | | | choosing the same topics. |
| provide random results and change up the monotony. | | | | We will also use small slips of colored paper to form |
| This article will discuss how to use random results in | | | | random groups of students. If I want four different |
| typical class situations.One technique I use is drawing | | | | groups, figure how many students you want in each |
| from a hat (or mug, box, basket, or other container). | | | | group and tear that many small slips of colored |
| You can choose anything to put in the hat, and | | | | construction paper. Do this for each group, using |
| decide if you or the students will do the drawing. You | | | | different colors. I find this is a good use for scraps of |
| can draw, or let your students pick. I try to keep the | | | | paper left over after an art project (the thick paper |
| 'hat' above the chooser's head so there is no possible | | | | holds up better). Then go around the room and let |
| way to cheat on the draw.In the hat I like to use | | | | the students 'choose' their group. Collect the slips |
| different colored poker chips: white, red, and blue. | | | | back after recording the groups & names so you can |
| We will use these for many applications, or at least | | | | re-use the slips again.You could use all sorts of |
| any that involve three different outcomes. When | | | | everyday items to get random choices. Flip a coin in |
| grading freewrites, for example, drawing a blue chip | | | | a two-choice situation. A die or pair of dice can give |
| means I take an immediate grade on the | | | | you even more choices. You could even use a deck |
| assignmentA white chip means "thank you for writing | | | | of playing cards.To randomly call upon students, we |
| today", but we aren't going to grade it, just file the | | | | utilize note cards filled out with student names and |
| writing into your folder. A red chip indicates I'll collect | | | | personal information. At the beginning of the year, |
| the papers, read over them, grade them, and select | | | | students write their name, parents' contact info, text |
| a few to write comments upon. By drawing a chip, | | | | book numbers, hobbies/interests, and other |
| the students don't know if the assignment will be | | | | information on a regular 3 x 5 index card. I then |
| graded or not, so they must do their best. However, | | | | collect these and pull them out, shuffle, and select a |
| for the teacher, the students are writing more but | | | | random card (with the student's name on it.) Voila! |
| you don't have to grade every paper!We will also use | | | | Random selection of students.And if you want to |
| the chips for minor homework assignments. Same | | | | ensure you call upon everyone equally, just don't |
| idea - white is a no grade, blue goes immediately to | | | | shuffle the cards, and place the used card at the |
| the grade book. But on red chips, I'll allow a minute or | | | | back of he deck. You can cycle through the card |
| two to fix mistakes before I collect them. It depends | | | | deck over and over, ensuring you're calling upon |
| on the situation. It's that simple. And the students | | | | every student equally.Cards, dice, coins, poker chips |
| never know if the assignment will be graded or not, | | | | and simple slips of paper can be easily used to make |
| so they have to do their best just in case. | | | | random selections in class. We'd love to hear any |
| Another technique is to use strips of paper in a | | | | other 'random acts' ideas and techniques you may |
| coffee mug for completely random choices. This is | | | | have. We'll add them to this article and post them on |
| great for games like charades where students draw | | | | our website with credit to you!------------- |
| random words, topics, or choices. This could be used | | | | For this article, and more on teaching and education, |
| to randomly discuss class topics or answer questions.I | | | | be sure to check out our website: |
| like to use this for choosing project topics. Put slips | | | | Holes, Jr. is the editor of the StarTeaching website |
| of paper numbered 1 through however many | | | | and the bi-monthly newsletter, Features for |
| students are in the class. Fold the slips and then have | | | | Teachers. |
| students draw their own place in the waiting line. | | | | |