I got these for middle schoolers who are reluctant to follow along in the text. It's not a magic bullet, but it does increase participation. Be warned that you need to set the ground rules right away. It's gone if they use it as a toy. Also, be prepared to lose a few. No matter how I try to keep track of them to get them back each class period, some disappear in pockets. I work in a very low income school, and I know that the little entertainments are hard to come by, so I shrug it off.