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