ToolPorch / Classroom / Name Picker
Random Name Picker for the classroom
Fair cold-calling without the popsicle sticks. Save each class list once, turn on no-repeats, and every student gets called exactly once per round — even across days.
How teachers use it
The picker is built around a round: with no-repeats on, each pick removes that student from the pool until the whole class has been called, then the round resets. That's the difference between "random" and "fair" — a purely random picker calls the same eager kid three times while someone in the back is never called at all. The round state is saved per class on your device, so Tuesday's round picks up where Monday left off.
Common patterns: cold-calling during discussion (pick, ask, put the name back if they were absent), choosing a line leader or materials helper (one pick, done), review games (fullscreen it and let the suspense build — the name cycles briefly before landing), and exit-ticket spot checks (pick three names at the end of class).
Made for the projector
Click Fullscreen and everything disappears except the picked name in letters big enough for the back row. There are no ads and no interface in fullscreen mode — that's a promise, not an accident. Hit Esc to come back to your lists.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really random?
Yes — each pick uses your browser’s random number generator across the students still remaining in the round. With "no repeats" on, a student who has been picked can’t come up again until everyone has had a turn, which is fairer than pure randomness for cold-calling.
Can I save more than one class?
Yes. Type a list, give it a name like Period 3, and click Save. Switch classes from the dropdown any time. Lists are stored in your browser on your device — the same saved classes also appear in our group generator and seating chart maker.
Where do my student names go?
Nowhere. The whole tool runs in your browser; names are saved to your device’s local storage and are never sent to us or anyone else. Clearing your browser data will erase saved lists.
Does it work on a Chromebook or smartboard?
Yes — it’s a plain web page. Click Fullscreen to get a clean, giant display with nothing else on screen: no menus, no ads, nothing.
A student was absent — can I skip them without losing the round?
Yes. Click a name in the "already picked" list to put it back in the pool, or click a name in the pool to mark it as picked (e.g., absent students at the start of class).