Think-pair-share
Think-pair-share
This strategy will help students to:
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formulate and share individual ideas through focused, short-term, purposeful talk with peers
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develop the ability to filter information and draw conclusions
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consider other points of view when making decisions.
Implementation
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Pose a question, issue or scenario then ask students to think about their response. Students may also write down their responses during this time.
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After giving sufficient ‘thinking time', instruct the students to form pairs then share their ideas. This will allow students to consider others' ideas and perspectives.
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If time allows, one pair of students may share ideas with another pair, making groups of four. Sufficient time for discussion should be allowed.
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The discussion can then become a whole class activity where all ideas are considered.
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As with all the think-pair-share strategies, students should be given the opportunity to reflect on what they have written, heard and discussed.
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Ask students to consider what influenced their thinking and/or decision.
Variations
Musical-pair-share
Explain to students that they are to move around the room until a piece of music stops then find the nearest person and discuss a question posed by the teacher or written on the board. Repeat the procedure for different questions.
Think-pair-share-write
Conduct the think-pair-share as explained in Steps 1 to 3. Have students reflect on the discussion then write their thoughts on paper.
Think-ink-pair-share
Ask students to think then ‘ink' or write their own ideas, understandings or attitudes to a given statement before sharing these with a partner.