A fair way to call on students
Calling on the same eager hands every lesson is easy to fall into. A random name picker gives every student an equal chance of being chosen, which keeps the whole class alert and makes participation feel fair. Students can see the wheel spin, so nobody can say you picked on them.
Set up your class in 30 seconds
- Paste your class list into the entries box, one name per line. You can copy a column directly from Excel or Google Sheets.
- Name the wheel with the class or period, for example “Year 7 Science”.
- Open My wheels and click Save this wheel.
- Click Fullscreen to show it on your projector or smartboard.
Classroom strategies that work with a wheel
- No hands up: ask the question, give thinking time, then spin. Everyone has to be ready.
- Pick without repeats: turn on Remove winner automatically so everyone gets a turn.
- Group work: spin to choose group leaders, presenters or the order of presentations.
- Classroom jobs: assign weekly roles like line leader, board cleaner or tech helper.
- Rewards: spin a winner for a sticker or prize at the end of the week.
Keep it positive
Some students feel anxious about being picked at random. Many teachers allow a “phone a friend” option, let the student pass once, or use the wheel for low-pressure questions first. Adding a fun slot, like “Teacher answers!”, keeps the mood light.
Privacy
Names you enter stay in your browser. They’re never uploaded unless you choose to create a share link.