Think Pair Share
This strategy has a high level have student involvement. It is a co-operative
strategy. Students get the chance to access and share prior knowledge and work
collaboratively with a partner. The teacher can see what the students already
know and what they need to learn. A great activity to use as an opening
activity, formative assessment, brainstorm, or to review!
Step1 (Think):
Students are given a question to answer or a topic to brainstorm or think about individually. Students
may write down notes. The teacher sets timer and gives everyone the quiet time to think (approximately 1-2 minutes)
Step2 (Pair):
Next Students work with another student, in pairs, and discuss their ideas and brainstorm together for the allotted time (1-2 minutes)
Step3 (Share):
After the pair shares out their ideas to the class in whole group discussion.
Notes: Alterations or extensions to this activity include;
“Think,Pair, Square, Share”: Add an additional step between step 2 and step 3.
Step 3 would then become “Square”- the pair joins with another pair and
discusses for 1-2 minutes. Then proceed to step 4- Share.
“Think, Ink, Pair, Share”: Make step 2: Ink – students are given time (1-2 minutes) to write notes after brainstorming. This helps keep students accountable and aides some in organizing their thoughts
before discussing, but be careful it may make the activity stressful and less accessible to students with writing challenges.
"Popsicle Sticks"- is another strategy you can use with "Think Pair Share" to reduce stress in the classroom. The teacher can pull Popsicle sticks with the students names on it and ask for answers. It will help make sure everyone is getting a turn. Make sure to pull the stick in advance and tell the students, "Ok, next turn you and your partner are going to share." It gives them warning and the chance to make sure they get th ecorrect answer during the discussion time.
strategy. Students get the chance to access and share prior knowledge and work
collaboratively with a partner. The teacher can see what the students already
know and what they need to learn. A great activity to use as an opening
activity, formative assessment, brainstorm, or to review!
Step1 (Think):
Students are given a question to answer or a topic to brainstorm or think about individually. Students
may write down notes. The teacher sets timer and gives everyone the quiet time to think (approximately 1-2 minutes)
Step2 (Pair):
Next Students work with another student, in pairs, and discuss their ideas and brainstorm together for the allotted time (1-2 minutes)
Step3 (Share):
After the pair shares out their ideas to the class in whole group discussion.
Notes: Alterations or extensions to this activity include;
“Think,Pair, Square, Share”: Add an additional step between step 2 and step 3.
Step 3 would then become “Square”- the pair joins with another pair and
discusses for 1-2 minutes. Then proceed to step 4- Share.
“Think, Ink, Pair, Share”: Make step 2: Ink – students are given time (1-2 minutes) to write notes after brainstorming. This helps keep students accountable and aides some in organizing their thoughts
before discussing, but be careful it may make the activity stressful and less accessible to students with writing challenges.
"Popsicle Sticks"- is another strategy you can use with "Think Pair Share" to reduce stress in the classroom. The teacher can pull Popsicle sticks with the students names on it and ask for answers. It will help make sure everyone is getting a turn. Make sure to pull the stick in advance and tell the students, "Ok, next turn you and your partner are going to share." It gives them warning and the chance to make sure they get th ecorrect answer during the discussion time.