Put each student's name or number on one card. Shuffle the cards and draw one as needed to call on students. It seems like Billy always has his hand up, right? If you draw from the deck, Billy knows he'll get to answer AND Susie knows she has to answer because she's in the deck. Frank knows he'd better listen.... because the deck is random and he doesn't know WHEN you are going to call on him. There is also a little excitement involved when you shuffle the deck for a "volunteer" or even small groups. That snap of the cards gets their attention. It's something a little different.

Write each student's name or number on a craft stick and store them in a can. It's a great way to choose children randomly. If you are departmentalized or have more than one class of students, color the tips of the sticks a different color for each class. Use a different can or container for each class.

Instead of the sticks or the cards use clothes pins. Write the students' names or numbers on them and pick them out of a box when you need to call on students.