Special episode: Cultivating critical thinkers in your classroom, starring Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D.

Feb 4, 2026

Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D., a national educational consultant and literacy leader who has served as teacher and school leader, discusses cultivating critical thinking in classrooms. He outlines why critical thinking matters for long-term learning. He describes concrete classroom moves: deep text work, paced discussions, organizers, rereading, and modeling to build knowledge and higher-order thought.

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INSIGHT

Critical Thinking Enables Knowledge Building

Critical thinking is cognition that enables knowledge acquisition and deep understanding.
Mitchell Brookins argues we cannot scale knowledge building without teaching students to think critically.

ADVICE

Orchestrate Discussion, Don’t Just Wait

Orchestrate and pace classroom discourse rather than simply waiting silently.
Use probing follow-ups to tease out students' limited answers and deepen thinking.

ADVICE

Know The Text Deeply First

Internalize the text: deconstruct concepts and identify enduring understandings before teaching.
Prioritize two or three craft questions that target the most challenging parts of the text.

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We're excited to share a special episode from our friends at our sister podcast, Beyond My Years.

Host Ana Torres is joined by nationally recognized educational consultant and thought leader, Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D., to discuss what critical thinking is and how to help students develop it. He also explains why critical thinking is crucial for long-term academic success. Mitchell also gives gives educators four clear steps that they can implement to effectively nurture critical thinking skills in their classrooms. Ana is then joined by Beyond My Years Classroom Insider extraordinaire Eric Cross, who discusses how he encourages his students to hone their critical thinking skills in class.

Show notes:

Binge all of Beyond My Years podcast Season 2 now: https://amplify.com/bmy
Submit your questions on comprehension
Access free, high-quality resources at our brand-new companion professional learning page
Visit Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D,’s website
Connect with Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D., on LinkedIn
Connect with Ana Torres
Connect with Eric Cross
Join our community Facebook group.
Connect with Susan Lambert

Quotes:

"When you are a school administrator, you can't be confused as to what your identity is. People expect you to step in with voice, with passion, with vision, and direct the path." —Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D.

"That's how you know you're in a classroom with critical thinking: We're not rushing the conversation. We're enjoying it." —Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D.

"There's an art and science to teaching, and I think that they're two different things." —Eric Cross

"The importance of modeling can’t be overstated." — Ana Torres

Timestamps*:
00:00 Introduction
02:00 Ana Torres & Eric Cross preview Ana's conversation about critical thinking
04:00 Introducing Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D.
10:00 Why should critical thinking be top of mind for educators?
15:00 Where should teachers begin when trying to help students develop critical thinking skills?
20:00 Questioning that reveals classrooms in which teachers honor students' thinking
24:00 You can't get to a higher level if you don't have the knowledge.
28:00 For a lot of us, this work is more than just a profession it's a calling
30:00 Classroom Insider conversation with Eric Cross
37:00 Recap of Classroom Insider takeaways
39:00 Closing thoughts from Susan Lambert
*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute