Think-Pair-Share + Consensus

This protocol benefits all learners, SWD and ENL students in a classroom setting.

The think-pair-share w/consensus protocol allows students to think individually about a topic or answer to a question. It teaches students to share ideas with classmates and builds oral communication skills.

Think-Pair-Share with Consensus Explained

Protocol Set Up

Before beginning, teachers must

Decide upon the text to be read and develop the set of questions or prompts that target key content concepts.
Describe the purpose of the strategy and provide guidelines for discussions.
Model the procedure to ensure that students understand how to use the strategy.
Monitor and support students as they work through the following:

T : (Think) Teachers begin by asking a specific question about the text. Students “think” about what they know or have learned about the topic.

P : (Pair) Each student should be paired with another student or a small group.

S : (Share) Students share their thinking with their partner. Teachers expand the “share” into a whole-class discussion.

Steps:

1. Each student thinks about his/her response and writes it in the “What I think” column.
2. Student A shares his/her response, Student B actively listens.
3. Student B paraphrases what Student A said and then writes down what the partner said in the “What my partner thought” column.
4. Student B shares his/her response, student A actively listens.
5. Student A paraphrases what Student B said and then writes down what the partner said in the “What my partner thought” column.
6. Students discuss and then reach a consensus (four possible types of consensus)
7. Share one’s own response and justify why it is the best response by identifying evidence.
8. Share a partner's response and justify why it is the best response by identifying evidence.
9. Combine both contributions and justify why it is the best response and why it is the best response by identifying evidence.
10. Come up with an entirely new idea that arose because of the conversation.
11. Students write down their consensus to share out with the rest of the class.

Materials for Think Pair Share + Consensus

Think-Pair-Share Protocol

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