I can't take credit for this because I learned about it at a training the week before school. But after I heard it I thought "DUH! Why didn't I think of that?! SO SIMPLE!"
Do you have popsicle sticks with student names or numbers that you pull out of a cup? I used to put the ones I had already pulled into a little pile and inevitably at some point during the year I would lose one or two and have to replace them. Not anymore!
Take your cup and place an empty toilet paper roll inside.
Now place your popsicle sticks inside the roll.
Now you can pull from inside the roll. After you call the student, place their popsicle stick on the outside of the roll. * If there was a student that you think you might want to call on again just place them back inside the roll. Now students won't know who you're going to call on. They'll just think you're putting all the names back into the cup! So brilliant!
Love it! I was just dealing with that problem today! Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteTessa
Spotlight on Kindergarten
That IS brilliant!! Sometimes it's the simplest things that make a difference. Congratulations on your wedding, I'm just catching up on blogs sorry for the delay! :)
ReplyDeleteKristen
Thanks for the idea! Love it! I have also recently seen another teacher who paints the half the stick red and half the stick green before writing names on them. She places all sticks with green side up in the cup, then flips them over after she has called. I thought that was a cool idea too! :)
ReplyDeleteCharity
The Organized Classroom Blog
GENIUS!!! and free!!!! my 2 favorite things!
ReplyDeleteI'm cracking up...seriously why didn't any of us think of that? Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to try it!
ReplyDeleteKimberly
Funky First Grade Fun
Love this idea :) So simple.
ReplyDeleteJodi
fun-in-first.blogspot.com
I usually color one side of the stick red. Then, I flip it over once I have called on the student. If I want to call on the student again, I just put it back red side down. I like this because I often have students chose names, and it is easy for them to identify which sticks to chose from!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! that makes heaps of sense and makes me question how I call on students...hmmm...
ReplyDelete✪ Liam ✪
Twist of Liam
Anther tip... I always had trouble with the cup of sticks getting knocked over and them spilling everywhere. Plus I had this same problem with the mixing the used ones with the others. So, I got a small bucket and now I use clothespins instead. I can just clip the ones I've already used on the side of the bucket.
ReplyDeleteThat's a neat idea! I use those pretty decorative glass stones on my sticks - when I call on someone I just flip the stick so it's stone side down. When there are no more stones sticking up then I know everyone's had a turn and I flip them all back over. I love how mine turned out this year, I posted a picture of them here:
ReplyDeletehttp://herdingkats.blogspot.com/2011/07/im-feeling-crafty.html
Jennifer @ Herding Kats In Kindergarten
Brilliant!!!! Can't wait to try it!
ReplyDeleteJenn
Finally in First
What a great idea!! Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteMiss J
Really? awesome......wish I had thought of that!
ReplyDelete~~Lori
http://bee-the-change.blogspot.com/
Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThis is so smart and so simple. I blogged about and included information about iPhone Popsicle sticks. (But I still like to have a cup of real sticks around, so thanks!)
ReplyDelete~Kitty
The Write Handed Teacher
Sheer Genius! I just told everyone in my house to make sure we used a roll of toilet paper today (like that was going to be a problem).
ReplyDeleteWOW! It really is the little things! That makes so much sense and makes my life SO much easier too!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! It's the simple things that make our lives easier! Many thanks!
ReplyDeletehttp://myfirstgradeadventures.blogspot.com/
oh yes- duh! :) Great idea!!! Thanks for sharing the simplest things!
ReplyDeletehttp://firstgradejabber.blogspot.com
This is such a great idea, thanks for sharing. I have always used this idea with 2 cups, but then I'll lose track of which cup has been called on! I always add a couple of sticks that say "teacher's choice" so kids that have been chosen still have an opportunity to get picked (and need to still behave to get chosen!).
ReplyDeleteKrissy
Mrs.Miner’s Monkey Business
Such a simple great idea! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteRambling About Reading
Thanks, I can't wait to try this tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteGenius! So simple! :) Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete-Audrey
acolwell.blogspot.com
just a hint in saving tp rolls for the many things we can use them for--I keep a grocery bag on the back of the bathroom door and when we have an empty one, in the bag it goes
ReplyDelete