Think Pair Share

T H I N K – P A I R – S H A R E

Why should I use Think-Pair-Share? Think-Pair-Share is an instructional strategy that supports student thinking through collaboration. It is an excellent introduction to collaboration because:  Student roles are clearly defined  It has a minimal duration  It is applicable to varied situations

When should I use Think-Pair-Share? Think-Pair-Share can be used at all point in the lesson.

How should I use a Think-Pair-Share? Below is an example of a primary grade teacher who is having students compare different parts of speech to assess their current level of understanding.

 Give students an instructional prompt: “On your paper, please write down one verb and one noun. It doesn’t matter what noun and verb you choose. Now use a Venn Diagram to compare the similarities and differences between verbs and nouns.”

 Let students think. Instruct students to spend at least one minute working on their Venn Diagram alone.

 Put students in pairs. “Slide next to your partner.” (wait until partners are together). “For the next three minutes you and your partner are going to compare and discuss your Venn Diagrams. Did your partner include something in their diagram that you left out? Do you or your partner have a characteristic about nouns and verbs in your diagram that is incorrect?”

 Allow students to share. “I am going to record your answers on the Venn Diagram on the board. What similarities did you find….Miguel?”

What are common challenges in implementing Think-Pair-Share?

The biggest challenge with any type of collaborative learning is providing clear expectations to students. To increase the effectiveness of Think-Pair-Share as an instructional strategy, you should:

1. Model your expectations for each stage of the Think-Pair-Share process before ever using it. 2. Clearly assign pairs before beginning the activity. 3. Set and enforce specific time periods for each task.