From Jeanne Gibbs (2001), A New Way of Learning and Being Together, page 109.

After you know your students a bit and after they know each other, use the following procedure to build groups that have sociometric balance:

1. Assign five to six people to each tribe.

2. Balance the number of males and females in each group.

3. Make sure each group has at least one class leader.

4. Make sure less popular students are distributed throughout all of the groups.

5. Be certain that each person has at least one chosen friend in his or her group.

Here is a suggestion to do this easily:

1. Give each person an index card and have them write their name in the center of the card.

2. Ask each person to print the names of seven other people they would like to have in their group. They should include at least three males and three females.

3. Collect the cards and after class spread them out on a table in front of you.

4. Assuming that you will have six groups, first select six leader types, one for each group. Usually the leaders in the class are listed on many of the cards.

5. Add to each group at least one student who is usually shy and reserved.

6. Divide up the remaining cards among all six groups, making sure that at least each card has a name requested by someone else in the group.

7. Make adjustments to make sure there is a balance of males and females.

8. Check once more to be sure that everyone has at least one friend in their group.