What Is Think-Pair-Share?
A cooperative learning strategy where students think about a question individually, discuss with a partner, then share with the whole class.
Think-Pair-Share is a simple but powerful cooperative learning strategy developed by Frank Lyman. It structures classroom discussion in three steps: Think (students consider a question or prompt silently), Pair (students discuss their thinking with a partner), and Share (pairs share their ideas with the whole class).
Think-Pair-Share increases participation because every student thinks and talks — not just the few who raise their hands. The 'think' step gives processing time (especially important for ELL students and introverts), the 'pair' step lets students rehearse their ideas in a low-risk setting, and the 'share' step brings diverse perspectives to the whole group.
Variations include Think-Write-Pair-Share (adding a written component), Think-Pair-Square (pairs join to form groups of four), and Turn and Talk (a faster, less structured version). It works at every grade level and in every subject.
Related Terms
Cooperative Learning
A structured teaching strategy where students work together in small groups toward a shared learning goal, with individual accountability for each member.
Formative Assessment
Ongoing, low-stakes assessments used during instruction to monitor student learning and adjust teaching in real time.
Exit Ticket
A brief formative assessment given at the end of a lesson where students respond to a question or prompt to demonstrate understanding before leaving class.
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