1. Modified Wednesday, October 6, 2010 Think-Pair-Share
Cooperative Learning

2. Cooperative Learning: Think-Pair-Share
Agenda
What is it?
Why use it?
When do we use it?
Things to consider
Next Steps

3. Cooperative Learning: Think-Pair-Share
What is it?
Think-Pair-Share is a strategy designed to provide students with time to formulate individual thoughts and then share those ideas with another student (Lyman, 1981).
This is how it works:
1. THINK: The teacher asks an open-ended question and asks the students to take a few moments to think about the question.
2. PAIR: Using designated partners, students pair up and talk about the answer each came up with for the question.
3. SHARE: After the pair has a few moments to talk, the teacher brings the full group back together and calls on pairs to explain their thinking.

4. Cooperative Learning: Think-Pair-Share
Let’s try it…
Activity: If you were Superman and there were no phone booths to change in, where would you change?
1. THINK
2. PAIR
3. SHARE
Debrief: What did you like about the format of this activity? Brainstorm at your table reasons to use this in your classroom.`

5. Cooperative Learning: Think-Pair-Share
Why use it?
“Think Time” increases quality of student responses
Students become actively involved in thinking about the concept being presented
Students retain information better once they have been given an opportunity to process the new information individually and then with another student

6. Cooperative Learning: Think-Pair-Share
Why use it? (con’t)
Students can make connections, through conversation, to prior knowledge
Misconceptions can reveal themselves (and be resolved) during these discussions
Students are more willing to participant in a pair discussion than a full group
Easy to use at any time
Easy to use in large classes
100% of students are actively involved at one time

7. Cooperative Learning: Think-Pair-Share
When do we use it?
Thinking
Communication
Information Sharing
Let’s Think-Pair-Share:
In content areas, turn to a partner and list 2 ways that you can use this strategy in your classroom – be ready to share one way with the group.

8. Cooperative Learning: Think-Pair-Share
Things to consider
Management Tips:
Identify partners, such as Partner A and Partner B
Use a timer and set specific time limits for each partner to share
Practice with non-content examples and set protocols for think time and discussion time
Use a quiet sign to get students’ attention
Monitor the conversations –
are they “on-task” discussions
are there any misconceptions
discover the level of conceptual understanding in the room

9. Cooperative Learning: Think-Pair-Share
Things to consider (con’t)
Variations of this strategy:
Think-Write-Pair-Share – students write down their individual ideas before discussing with their partner – more accountability
Stand Up - Hand Up – Pair Up (SUHUPU) – get students up and moving around the room to Think-Pair-Share (Kagan, 2005)
Note-taking and Summarizing – how can Think-Pair-Share or Think-Write-Pair-Share be used by students for note-taking and summarizing?

10. Cooperative Learning: Think-Pair-Share
Manatee Core Curriculum:
Get out your MCC manual, and find your next unit. Look for a learning activity that you can use a Think-Pair-Share as the vehicle for discussion.
Chart your learning activities and ways you can use a Think-Pair-Share with your students
How are you going to prepare to use Think-Pair-Share in your classroom?
What explanation of student thinking are you looking for in this activity?
How will you monitor equal participation in the pairs?
How will you clarify misconceptions that occur during the pair discussions?

11. Cooperative Learning: Think-Pair-Share
Next Steps:
Generate a goal for implementing Think-Pair-Share in your classroom – how often will you use it?
Reflection – determine a time to get together with your colleagues to discuss using Think-Pair-Share

12. Cooperative Learning: Think-Pair-Share
EXIT SLIP:
Think-Write-Pair-Share
1. Individually, think about how are you going to use Think-Pair-Share in your content area?
2. Individually, write down how you are going to implement this structure into your content area.
3. In pairs, discuss your written thoughts (each person gets 1 minute).
4. Share with your table group one way you and your partner are going to use Think-Pair-Share.

13. Cooperative Learning: Think-Pair-Share
Next Month:
Word Analysis in your Subject Area
December:
Cooperative Learning Continued