Everyone knows you can put a student's name (or number) on a popsicle stick and use that to ensure you call on every student during discussions and questions.
But did you know that you can use popsicle sticks to select students for seating charts? I regularly change seating arrangements to help with too much familiarity and with general management in my classroom. Sometimes, I don't want to make the new seating chart because I am busy, pressed for time, or just thought of moving 2 seconds previously. I just use the popsicle sticks to randomly place my students. Yes, randomly. If I have a student who has an IEP that requires proximity to the teacher/board, I know I can move them at the end, but make it feel random. (I often will save the front row for the end to ensure I can give the placement required when they randomly are chosen ) Sometimes this will create a challenge for students. They are sitting next to someone they don't like, or someone they don't think they can be well behaved while positioned near, or someone they think is weird or whatever. This challenge forces students to use self control and grace to be neighbors with that student. I remind them that I expect them all to exhibit the qualities of good neighbors to all.
Did you know that popsicle sticks can create parts for a program? Yes, I have students who vie to play the same part in the same program and the popsicle stick makes the choice. Everyone easily accepts the will of the popsicle sticks.
Popsicle sticks dictate who will be first to make their presentation to the class.
Popsicle sticks determine the order for spelling bees.
Popsicle sticks create the order in which someone gets to do a super fun activity. (We make artifacts in Social Studies all the time. It is a very popular and coveted activity.) Popsicle sticks allow the hope that you will be first, but the reality that there is no disappointment or hard feelings when you are not first.
Popsicle sticks can choose teams for groups. Instead of always trying to group with abilities, try the random popsicle stick choice. Some of the best group work I've ever received has been generated by a popsicle stick grouping.
PSP in my class stands for Popsicle Stick Partners. My stations/centers will often assign a student to select a PSP to be their partner for a particular activity.
Because it is random, everyone relaxes rather than complains about the grouping being unfair. When it comes to seating, they know it will change in two weeks anyway, so there is no point in complaining.
Using popsicle sticks has simplified many things in the classroom that used to take time to tweak and that used to start whining and complaining. Who can be mad at a popsicle stick?
Popsicle Sticks Rule the World!
Try it out for yourself and let me know how it goes....I'm sure you will be a very happy teacher!
First Published October 14,2017
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