Card
I Think / We Think
This strategy can be used in a variety of ways to encourage students to think about and list their individual ideas on a topic and to record common ideas that surface during group share-out and discussion.
I Think / We Think
Summary
Students reflect on a prompt, writing down their thoughts on a table before grouping with their classmates to share what they wrote. After discussing the prompt with their classmates, students write their new, common understanding on the table as well.
Procedure
Students divide a piece of paper into two columns. The left-hand column is titled "I Think," and the right-hand column is titled "We think."
Present students with a prompt and asked to reflect on the concept or topic presented by the prompt.
Give students time to record their thoughts in the "I Think" column, leaving the "We think" column alone.
When students are done recording their own thoughts, they select or are sorted into pairs or small groups to share what they recorded.
After sharing with their partner or group, students record their common understanding in the "We think" column.
This can be followed by a whole-class discussion (optional).
Keeley, P. (2008). Science formative assessment: 75 practical strategies for linking assessment, instruction, and learning. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, SAGE.
Publisher
Downloads
Placement In Lesson
- Engage/Opening
- Explain/Closing
- Explore/Learning Activity
Intention/Purpose
- Activate Prior Knowledge
- Brainstorming
- Collaborate
- Organize
- Present
- Reason
- Speak & Listen
- Student Choice
- Summarize
Related Resources
LEARN 5E Instructional Strategies
Professional Learning
Supporting Literacy with Bell Ringers
Professional Learning
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 License.
Report copyright infringement »