Read-Pair-Share

Read-Pair-Share

Reading component  Comprehension
Related Standard(s) of Learning 

Overview of the strategy
The Read-Pair-Share strategy, based on the work of Larson and Dansereau, is based on the idea that
readers summarize and clarify more easily with peer support. Summarizing helps students demonstrate
literal comprehension, and clarifying helps students ask and answer questions about text.

Strategy procedure
1.  Choose a text on the instructional level of the students. Divide the text into portions, and mark the places where students will pause to discuss. Distribute the text to the students.
2.  Divide students into partners; if there is an odd number, partner with a student who may need additional
support. Assign one student in each pair to be the summarizer and the other to be the clarifier. 
3.  Model the procedure with the first portion of the text, using a strong student to be your partner: the students read a portion of the text silently and then pause to summarize and clarify. The summarizer restates the important ideas briefly while the clarifier listens and asks clarifying questions. Then the clarifier adds any important information that may have been omitted.
4.  Have the student pairs continue reading and pause to summarize and clarify. After several portions have been discussed, have the students switch roles. Have students continue until the text has been completed.
5.  Students might also draw, chart, diagram, or summarize the entire selection collaboratively or individually to demonstrate comprehension of the text as a whole