Pulling Sticks for Volunteers

This by far, has been the best method of pulling sticks for volunteers in the classroom.  In order to ensure that everyone is participating and that I am not calling on the same children over and over, I use these sticks to make sure that everyone gets an equal turn. 


Here is how it works.  Each child has a popsicle stick with their name on it.  The ends of the popsicle stick are painted red on one side and blue on the other.

To start out, all of the sticks are pointed up with the blue end showing.

Blue means that those student have not had a turn yet.  I pull out one of the blue sticks and read the name.  Then I flip it over to the red side when I put it back in the container (dollar section at Target this summer).

It is easy to spot the blue sticks that have not had a turn yet.  Once all of the sticks are red, then I flip them all over to the blue side.

I explain to them once I flip them all over to blue to start again, anyone's stick could get pulled, even if they just went.  This works like a charm. :)