Think-Pair-Share is a simple classroom strategy that helps learners build critical thinking: the ability to solve problems, make informed decisions, and form logical arguments based on evidence. This guide explains what the strategy is, why it works, and how teachers can use it at the start, middle, and end of a lesson.
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What is Think-Pair-Share?
Think-Pair-Share is a collaborative learning technique developed by Frank Lyman and his colleagues in the 1980s. It has three steps:
- Think. The teacher poses a question or problem, and each learner reflects on it silently.
- Pair. Learners pair up with a partner to discuss their thoughts and agree on a solution or answer.
- Share. Each pair shares its solution or answer with the rest of the class.
How Think-Pair-Share builds critical thinking
It keeps learners actively engaged
When every learner must think about a question on their own first, no one can sit back and wait for others to answer. Each learner has to analyze the situation and come up with a response. This gives them practice in analyzing information, evaluating evidence, and making informed decisions.
It builds collaboration and communication
Working in pairs, learners listen to each other, exchange ideas, and practice respectful dialogue. They learn to express their ideas clearly and concisely, and to listen actively to other points of view.
It develops metacognition
Metacognition means thinking about your own thinking. During the silent thinking step, and again when comparing answers with a partner, learners look at how they reached their answer and judge their own reasoning. Over time, this helps them notice their strengths and weaknesses and adjust their thinking when needed.
It supports social and emotional skills
Beyond critical thinking, the strategy helps learners practice teamwork, communication, and empathy, since they must work with and understand a partner.
How to use Think-Pair-Share in your classroom
Teachers can use the strategy as an assessment tool at three points in a lesson.
| When | Purpose | What the teacher learns |
|---|---|---|
| Start of the lesson | Pre-assessment | Learners’ prior knowledge, misconceptions, and knowledge gaps, so the lesson can be adjusted to their needs |
| During the lesson | Formative assessment | How well learners understand the material, so the teacher can give feedback on their thinking and guide further instruction |
| End of the lesson | Summative assessment | Learners’ mastery of the material and how clearly they can communicate their ideas |
Tips for teachers
- As a pre-assessment, open the lesson with a question about the new topic and listen to the pair discussions for ideas learners already have, including wrong ones.
- As a formative check, give pairs a problem to solve mid-lesson. Their discussions show where understanding is solid and where key concepts need reinforcing.
- As a summative check, use the sharing step to see whether pairs can explain their answers clearly to the whole class.
Does it work across subjects?
Think-Pair-Share is used across many learning areas, including science, mathematics, social studies, and language arts. Collaborative learning approaches like it are often recommended for classes with learners from diverse backgrounds and with different learning styles, because every learner gets time to think and a partner to talk with before speaking in front of the class.
Summary
Think-Pair-Share promotes active engagement, collaboration, communication, and metacognition. Used as a pre-assessment, formative assessment, or summative assessment, it helps learners develop the critical thinking, communication, and social and emotional skills they need to succeed in the 21st century.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three steps of Think-Pair-Share?
First, learners think about a question or problem silently. Next, they pair with a partner to discuss their ideas and agree on an answer. Finally, each pair shares its answer with the whole class.
Who developed Think-Pair-Share?
The technique was developed by Frank Lyman and his colleagues in the 1980s.
How does Think-Pair-Share improve critical thinking?
It makes every learner analyze a problem on their own, then test their reasoning with a partner. This builds skills in analyzing information, evaluating evidence, communicating ideas, and reflecting on their own thinking.
Can Think-Pair-Share be used for assessment?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a pre-assessment to check prior knowledge, as a formative assessment to check understanding during a lesson, and as a summative assessment to see mastery and how well learners explain their ideas.
What does metacognition mean?
Metacognition is the ability to think about your own thinking. In Think-Pair-Share, learners practice it when they reflect on how they reached an answer and compare their reasoning with a partner’s.
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