A graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University with a degree in educational leadership, Chip McGee spent over 15 years as the superintendent of schools for the Bedford, NH school system. During his tenure, Chip McGee was awarded the Outstanding Service Award by the NH School Administrators Association.
In this role, he organized professional development for educators, including the Summer Curriculum and Technology Institute, which introduced classroom techniques such as Think-Pair-Share.
Think-Pair-Share is a knowledge building and sharing strategy that works in any classroom setting. The activity is usually conducted in three phases:
Think - In the first phase, students are presented with a topic or question. The teacher gives the class a few minutes to write down or think of an answer, compose thoughtful questions, or brainstorm any information they already know about the subject.
Pair - Once the Think phase is over, the teacher will pair students together to discuss their answers and ideas. To make the activity more effective, teachers should match students who work well together, or pair empathetic stronger students with students who need more support. The pair may be asked to write, draw, or discuss a collaborative response to the initial prompt.
Share - Each small pair will get the chance to present their work to the class. Teachers may ask that one person share the ideas of the partnership or see that both students have the opportunity to present.
