Why Critical Thinking is Your ELA Superpower

The beginning of the school year always feels like a fresh start.  There are new goals, new routines, and new possibilities. It seems like a good time to reflect on a bit of my teaching philosophy.  I don’t think I’ve ever shared the story behind the name of my store, Making ELA Matter, but this seems like the right moment to do that.

Why Making ELA Matter

When I returned to teaching in the classroom after taking time off to stay at home with my children, I noticed a BIG change in students.  They seemed more apathetic, less focused, and harder to engage than I remembered. I tried everything from discussion circles to multimedia tie-ins, and even gamified activities, but nothing worked consistently. 

That’s when I realized the problem wasn’t just about methods. The core issue was meaning. English class has to feel relevant if it’s going to matter to students. If all they take away are grammar drills, worksheets, and formulaic essays, then we’ve missed the bigger picture. I wanted my classroom to be more than just “checking the box” of standards. I wanted students to see that what we read, write, and discuss connects directly to their lives and the world around them.

It was during this time that I began creating my own resources that focused more on helping students think, question, and connect. That’s how Making ELA Matter was born. It’s not just the name of my store; it’s the foundation of my teaching philosophy.

At the center of that philosophy is critical thinking. I start with relevant, engaging content, but it’s the analysis and connections students make that elevate ELA beyond schoolwork. When students can question ideas, consider multiple perspectives, and apply what they’ve learned to real-world issues, they’re doing more than preparing for a test. They’re building the skills to think, communicate, and navigate the world thoughtfully.

Bringing Critical Thinking into Everyday ELA Activities

So how do you move critical thinking from a philosophy into actual classroom practice? The good news is that it doesn’t require a total overhaul of your lessons. Small shifts in how you structure activities can turn routine tasks into opportunities for deeper thought. 

Critical thinking happens when we consistently create opportunities for students to question, analyze, connect, and apply. By framing lessons around these four moves, you can transform everyday assignments into meaningful, skill-building experiences.

1.  Question: Push discussion beyond “right answers.” Instead of asking for plot details, pose open-ended prompts that require students to compare perspectives, evaluate motives, or connect themes to modern issues. Here are some sample questions: 

• Why do you think the character made that choice?
• Whose perspective is missing here?
• How might this character’s decision look different if it took place today?
• What parallels can you draw between this conflict and issues in the news?

2.  Analyze: Guide students to dig deeper into the text by examining how an author builds meaning. This might mean looking closely at an author’s word choice, comparing two characters’ motivations, or examining how structure shapes meaning. To get there, try questions like these:

• What words or phrases stand out to you in this passage? Why might the author have chosen them?
• How does the author’s use of imagery (or figurative language) shape the tone or mood?
• In what ways do these two characters’ choices reveal their values or priorities?
• How does the structure of this scene or chapter build tension or move the story forward?
• What patterns do you notice in the author’s writing style? Does this affect the meaning? How? 

3. Connect: Encourage students to link ideas across texts and to the world around them. Pair literature with nonfiction articles, TED Talks, or even social media posts. Then, have students analyze how ideas are framed differently depending on the medium.  Push students with questions like these:        

• How might different audiences interpret this text differently?
• How does this theme show up in a modern issue?
• What connections can you make between this content and a current song, article, or even a meme?

4. Apply – Give students authentic opportunities to use what they’ve learned. This could look like a journal entry, creative writing, debates, projects, or multimedia work that reimagines a theme in a new context. Some application ideas:

• Writing a journal entry, letter, or speech from a character’s perspective.
• Creating a podcast or debate that explores a theme in today’s world.
• Designing a project that remixes a text’s central idea into a modern setting.
• Creating an infographic or one-pager
• Creating a blackout poem

When lessons are built around this Question, Analyze, Connect, Apply cycle, critical thinking shifts from being an abstract ideal and becomes something practical and attainable.  Each part in the framework gives students a clear way to dig deeper: questioning opens the door to curiosity; analysis sharpens focus on details and structure; connections broaden perspective; and application cements learning in authentic ways. Together, this framework ensures that critical thinking is woven into the very fabric of what we do in the ELA classroom.

 Final Thoughts

The key is this: critical thinking doesn’t happen in one grand lesson or flashy activity.  It happens when we consistently create spaces for students to question, analyze, connect, and apply. Each time students wrestle with a complex idea, draw a connection to the world beyond the text, or reframe their understanding through writing, they’re strengthening muscles that go far beyond ELA.

That’s why making critical thinking central to our classrooms matters so much. Yes, it prepares students for tests and academic success, but more importantly, it equips them to navigate information, form their own perspectives, and engage thoughtfully with the world around them. 

This year, Make ELA Matter by embracing the power of critical thinking. It’s the skill that transforms English class from another box to check into a meaningful space where students learn to read deeply, write with purpose, and grow into thoughtful citizens long after they leave your classroom.

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