What exactly is a “stick head?” Stick heads, as I call them, are tools that I use as one strategy for grouping students or calling on students in class. Many teachers write students’ names on popsicle sticks and pick them out of a jar. I think that this is a great idea, but I wanted to make my sticks a little more unique.

I allowed students to decorate their popsicle sticks in the beginning of the year using paint and Q-tips to add details. I then took a picture of every child, printed them on a color printer, cut out the heads, and laminated them. We then used a hot glue gun to attach the heads to the sticks. We always refer to them as “stick heads” in my classroom simply because I can’t think of a better name!

All of the stick heads live in a little pail on the top of my bookshelf. I pull out the pail whenever students are not volunteering to answer questions as much as normal. This always keeps the students on their toes and they make sure that they are ready whenever their stick head is picked. This is a great tool for choosing readers as well.

I love to have stations during my AIS reading or math groups. When I have stations set up, the students know that they need to go over to the side of my bookshelf and look to see which pocket their stick head is sitting in. Each pocket was made out of cardstock scrapbook paper and was attached to my bookshelf using a staple gun. I added a tag to each pocket, which indicates which number station the students are expected to start at.

At the end of the year when I give out my packet of “Miss McNamara’s Favorite Summertime Reads,” I will give each student their stick head to use as a bookmark.