Name Spinner
- Spin the demo class
Substitute Teacher Name Picker — Share a Demo Class Wheel
Guest teachers can spin a fair random name picker with a demo class roster — no setup, no account. Share a link from the full tool for your real list.
Why substitutes need a ready-made picker
Substitute teachers walk into unfamiliar rooms with limited time to learn every name. Calling students from memory leads to awkward pauses, mispronunciations, and the same volunteers dominating. A random name picker gives guest teachers a fair, visible way to choose who answers — without pretending they already know the roster.
This guide includes a demo class wheel below so subs can practice the flow instantly. For a real assignment, the classroom teacher should paste the actual roster into Name Spinner on the homepage, generate a share link, and leave it in the sub folder. The sub opens the link, spins, and every student sees the process is neutral.
What to leave in the sub folder
The share link — one URL with names pre-loaded beats a printed seating chart for participation games. One-line rules — “Spin for cold calls; allow one pass per period; remove absent students before spinning.” Reset policy — note whether winner history matters or each period starts fresh.
Backup plan — if the network fails, the sub can use a printed roster and draw numbers. Digital pickers are best when the projector or teacher laptop is already on.
Encourage subs to display the spin when possible. Transparency reduces “you picked me on purpose” pushback on day one.
Sub folder checklist for teachers
- Paste class roster into Name Spinner and copy the share URL
- Write spin rules on the top of the lesson plan
- Note students who prefer not to be cold-called (if applicable)
- Include a backup participation method if Wi‑Fi fails
- Tell the sub where the projector adapter lives
First ten minutes as a sub
0–2 min
Open the shared picker link and confirm names match the roster on the desk.
2–5 min
Explain participation rules — one spin per question, pass policy, absent students.
5–10 min
Run a low-stakes practice spin so the class learns the routine before content begins.
Illustrative sub workflow notes
22
Demo names on this wheel
Practice roster — replace with your class via homepage share link
~1 min
Setup time with link
Illustrative example — open URL and spin
0–1
Passes per period
Example norm — set your own rule in the sub plan
Share links vs this demo embed
This blog embed is session-only — perfect for trying the tool, but it does not save your real roster. The homepage builds a URL encoding your names so substitutes open the exact list you prepared. Update the link when the roster changes mid-year.
Winner history and auto-exclude live on the homepage too. If you want every student called once per block, enable auto-exclude before copying the link and note that in the sub folder.
Common questions
Can subs edit names? On a shared homepage link, they can adjust for absences if you allow it. This demo embed supports edit for practice only — changes reset on refresh.
Is student data stored on a server? Names in share URLs are encoded in the link itself for the homepage tool; check your district policy before sharing rosters with any web app.
What if a student is upset by the spin? Acknowledge feelings, enforce the pre-agreed pass rule once, and return to the spin for the next question — consistency matters more than speed.
Build your sub-ready link
Paste your roster on the homepage, copy the URL, and drop it in tomorrow’s sub folder — takes about two minutes.
Create a shareable class wheel →Build your own spinner wheel
Paste any list, import a class roster, save history, and share a link — free on the Name Spinner homepage. No account required.
Open full Name Spinner →