To make sure that I call on students in a random manner, I write each student's name on a popsicle stick and place the sticks in a plastic cup. When I am asking questions during a review, or calling on someone to read, I simply pick a stick and call out that name. The stick is then placed back in the cup. (Each period/core has a different colored stick. Blue for period one, yellow for period two, etc. That way I can tell at a glance if a student's stick is misplaced in the wrong cup.) Students tend to pay careful attention because they never know when they will be called upon. Additionally, this cuts down on students calling out in class.

Have handy a file folder of five minute fillers. That is, activities to do when you have five minutes or so to fill. "Down time" is usually the time when problems occur. In your folder you might place mini-mysteries, poems for two voices (that students could read), "Jeopardy" type questions, "What if . . ." questions, word games, discussion starters, etc.