Timed Pair Share

Partner A speaks for a fixed time without interruption. Partner B listens. Swap. A single protected minute each. Builds the habit of uninterrupted extended speaking.

Distinct from Think-Pair-Share: timed pair share is about speaking time equality, not scaffolding-to-whole-class.

Procedure

1. Pose a prompt. Describe the most important person in your life. Or: Argue for or against this statement.
2. Decide who is A and B. A speaks first.
3. Start timer: A speaks for 60 seconds (or 2 min for higher levels). B listens without speaking.
4. Stop timer. B speaks for same time. A listens.
5. Optional: A paraphrases what B said. Partners give a one-sentence response.

Why It Works

• Protected airtime: quiet learners get a full minute they cannot be interrupted out of.
• Listening discipline: B trains the skill of listening without jumping in — harder than it sounds.
• Fluency pressure: the clock doesn't stop for thinking; students have to keep producing.

Variations

• Timed Pair Share with listener response: B has to respond with a question, a paraphrase, and an opinion — structured reply rather than silent listening.
• Time ladder: round 1 = 30 seconds, round 2 = 45, round 3 = 60. Builds fluency stamina.
• New partner, same prompt: mix-pair-share-style. Same prompt said twice improves both times (see 4-3-2).
• Third listener: trios with one silent note-taker whose job is to report back.

Tips

• Normalise silence: if A runs out at 40 seconds, the remaining 20 are silent. This teaches that "nothing more to say" is a legitimate state; next time they prepare more.
• Use for narrative, opinion, description — any prompt where sustained speech has value. Not for rapid Q&A (use Rally Robin for that).
• Pair with Stand Up-Hand Up-Pair Up to refresh partners across several rounds.