Think-pair-share (TPS) is a collaborative learning strategy where students work together to solve a problem or answer a question about an assigned reading. This strategy requires students to (1) think individually about a topic or answer to a question; and (2) share ideas with classmates. Discussing with a partner maximizes participation,
focuses attention and engages students in comprehending the reading material. Show
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Watch: Think-Pair-ShareVisit Cathy Doyle's second grade classroom in Evanston, Illinois to observe her students learning the think-pair-share strategy. Cathy goes over the "rules" and then engages the kids around a classroom read-aloud, An Egg Is Quiet. Joanne Meier, our research director, introduces the strategy and talks about how the strategy can help build confidence with students who are often reluctant to talk in front of the whole class. Collect resourcesLanguage ArtsUse think-pair-share to deepen discussions about specific characters in books the class is reading together. For example, if the class is reading The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson, try think-pair-share to respond to questions such as, "Would you be able to be friends with Gilly? Why or why not?" MathTry think-pair-share for math problems with more than one correct answer, such as estimation, patterns, and logic. This strategy can also be used when students are deciding how to approach a math problem. Social StudiesJumpstart a think-pair-share discussion by asking a gbroad question relevant to a new unit of study, such as, "What do you already know about the Civil War?" As students dig into more difficult topics, you might ask questions such as, "Would you have agreed to be a 'stop' on the Underground Railroad? Why or why not?" ScienceUse think-pair-share to help students form hypotheses or to discuss their interpretations of a class experiment. For example, before an experiment on density, students might be asked to use the think-pair-share strategy when deciding which items will float in a tub of water. Differentiated instructionFor second language learners, students of varying reading skill, students with learning disabilities, and younger learners
See the research that supports this strategyGunter, M. A., Estes, T. H., & Schwab, J. H. (1999). Instruction: A Models Approach, 3rd edition. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Lyman, F. (1981). "The responsive classroom discussion." In Anderson, A. S. (Ed.), Mainstreaming Digest. College Park, MD: University of Maryland College of Education. Rasinkski, T., & Padak, N. (1996). Holistic reading strategies: Teaching children who find reading difficult. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall. Children's books to use with this strategyHow I Learned GeographyAge Level: 6-9 Reading Level: Independent Reader Based on Shulevitz's childhood, the boy learns that imagination can ignite a passion that survives grueling times. Silent Music: A Story of BaghdadBy: James Rumford Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction Age Level: 6-9 Reading Level: Independent Reader Ali, a contemporary boy living in Bagdad enjoys soccer, "loud, parent-rattling music," and Arabic calligraphy. Ali finds solace in it during the noise of war much like 13th century calligrapher Yakut. Dynamic, evocative illustrations make this book memorable, sure to remind readers that children are similar world-over. What to Do About Alice?By: Barbara Kerley Genre: Nonfiction, Biography Age Level: 6-9 Reading Level: Beginning Reader What must it be like to live in the White House, especially if you’re not at all like other children of your time? Read about Alice — Theodore Roosevelt’s oldest child — and her unconventional approach to life in the White House. CommentsIn which one of the following ways are students most likely to benefit from knowing the instructional objectives of a lesson quizlet?In which one of the following ways are students most likely to benefit from knowing the instructional objectives of a lesson? Objectives enable them to predict how their teacher will teach the lesson, so they know what to expect.
Which one of the following statements is most accurate about the value of homework in the elementary grades quizlet?Which one of the following statements is most accurate about the value of homework in the elementary grades? It has little effect on students' learning but may help them develop self-regulatory skills.
Which one of the following is the major advantage of in school suspension over out of school suspension as a consequence for serious and chronic misbehavior?Which one of the following is the major advantage of in-school suspension over out-of-school suspension as a consequence for serious and chronic misbehavior? In-school suspension enables a student to keep up with schoolwork.
Which one of the following is the major rationale underlying a mastery learning approach to instruction?Which one of the following is the major rationale underlying a mastery learning approach to instruction? Students should learn one topic well before moving on to a more difficult one.
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