Random Student Picker for Teachers | Classroom Name Picker

Step 1 — Add your class list

Enter one student name per line, then load the list.

Class list

Your class list is processed in your browser. If you choose to save it, it is stored only in this browser on this device. Standard analytics may record page usage, not your student names.

🎡 Prefer a spinning wheel? The student name wheel below is a secondary tool — spin it for a single random name with the classic wheel animation. The student picker above is the main teacher tool, with no-repeat picking, absent students and groups.

Your Options (0)

How to use the random student picker

Paste or type your class list, then click Load Class List.
Click Pick Student for a quick random choice, or Pick Without Repeat so each student is only chosen once per round.
Mark any absent students so they are skipped.
When everyone has been picked, click Reset Picked Students to start a fresh round.

When to use no-repeat mode

No-repeat mode picks only from students who have not yet been chosen this round, so nobody is asked twice before everyone has had a turn. It is ideal for:

Cold calling fairly during a lesson
Choosing readers one after another
Checking homework around the room
Spreading classroom participation evenly
Avoiding picking the same keen student again and again

How to use absent students

Tick the Absent box next to any student who is not in today. Absent students stay in your class list but are skipped during picking and group generation, and the available count updates automatically. When they return, simply untick the box to include them again.

How to make classroom groups

Choose Groups of 2, 3 or 4. Groups are built from available (non-absent) students, shuffled randomly. If the class does not divide evenly, the extra students are spread across groups so the sizes differ by at most one — no student is ever left in a group on their own unnecessarily.

Privacy for teachers

Your class list is processed entirely in your browser. Saving the list is optional — if you choose to save it, it is stored only in this browser on this device using local storage, and is never uploaded to a server. Standard website analytics may record general page usage, but not your students' names. Clearing the saved list removes it from this browser.

Frequently asked questions

Is this free?

Yes, completely free with no limits and nothing to install.

Do I need an account?

No. There is no login or sign-up — just add your class list and start picking.

Are student names uploaded anywhere?

No. Names are processed in your browser and are not sent to us as a form submission. Standard analytics may record general page usage, but not your student names.

Can I save my class list?

Yes, optionally. Save Class List stores it only in this browser on this device, so it is ready next lesson. Clear Saved Class List removes it.

Can I pick without repeats?

Yes. Use Pick Without Repeat to choose only from students who have not yet been picked this round, then Reset Picked Students to start again.

Can I exclude absent students?

Yes. Tick the Absent box next to any student and they are skipped during picking and group generation, without being removed from your list.

Can I make random groups?

Yes. Choose groups of 2, 3 or 4 and the available students are shuffled and split as evenly as possible.

Does it work on a classroom screen?

Yes. Classroom Display Mode enlarges the result for the whole class to see, using full-screen where the browser allows it, with a large on-page display as a fallback.

How the wheel works

How does the wheel choose a winner?

The wheel randomly selects a result before the animation starts. It then calculates the exact final rotation needed for that result to land under the pointer. This means the displayed winner always matches where the wheel visually stops — every single time.

Is every option equally likely to win?

Yes. Every option on the wheel has an equal chance of being selected. The wheel uses your browser's built-in random number generator with no weighting or bias. The only way to change the odds is to manually add duplicate entries.

Can results be manipulated?

No. The random selection happens entirely inside your own browser. There is no server involved, no hidden logic, and no way to influence the outcome. What you see is what you get.

Why does the wheel spin before showing the result?

The spin animation makes the result feel more exciting. But the winner is already decided before the wheel starts moving. The animation reveals what was already chosen — the visual result always matches the actual result.