Think Academy x Epic ELA: Building Reading and Writing Skills in the AI Era
At our recent ELA program launch webinar, Joe Young, Head of the Teacher Management Team and a former elementary school principal and instructional coach with over 7 years of experience, shared a key insight that shaped how we built this program: many students can read, but far fewer can clearly explain and express their thinking.
He emphasized that today’s students need to go beyond understanding what they read, they need to think critically and express their ideas clearly, skills that directly impact school performance, long-term academic achievements, and navigating this AI era.
Missed the webinar? You can watch the full session here.
This program is designed for students who are already on track in school and want to build stronger reading, thinking, and communication skills. Whether your child is looking to enhance understanding, think deeply, express ideas more clearly, or move beyond standard school expectations, this program will be the solid engine to help them start smoothly and go further..
What Parents Are Noticing Today
Many parents tell us:
- “My child can read the passage, but I wish they could explain their thinking more clearly.”
- “They have good ideas, but their writing doesn’t fully reflect what they’re thinking.”
- “Online classes don’t keep them engaged, they’re not actively participating.”
- “I want to see clearer progress, not just completion.”
These are not motivation problems.
They are signs that students are ready to develop stronger thinking and expression skills.
What Makes This Program Different
This is not just a reading class.
Most programs focus on helping students read more books, but reading alone is not enough. Students need to learn how to process what they read, organize their thoughts, and express ideas clearly.
That’s why this program is built as a complete literacy system, helping students move from understanding to thinking to clear communication.
How the Think x Epic ELA Program Works
Read → Think → Express (Core Learning System)
Read
Students often struggle to turn reading into writing because they don’t have a clear thinking structure. In our program, students first learn how to extract key ideas from both fiction and nonfiction texts.
Nonfiction reading builds the real-world knowledge students need to understand academic content and engage with more complex ideas.
Think
We then extend this through interdisciplinary topics; such as science, history, and social studies; so students learn to analyze cause-and-effect, organize ideas, and apply their thinking across subjects.
Students structure their thinking using visual tools like Tree Maps, helping them break down key ideas and clearly organize their understanding.
Express
Finally, students practice expressing their ideas through speaking and writing, supported by detailed teacher feedback. This ensures they can clearly communicate what they understand, not just recognize it.
What students gain: Students don’t just read, they learn how to clearly explain and communicate what they understand.
For families considering the program, our trial class is a helpful way to see this learning process in action.
High Engagement Through Small Group Learning
Many students lose focus in large or passive online classes. In this program, classes are intentionally kept small, with no more than 10 students. Each student is actively involved throughout the lesson, speaking multiple times and receiving real-time guidance. On average, every student gets called on stage at least 8 to 10 times per lesson to share their ideas, building immense public speaking confidence.
What this leads to: Students stay engaged and gradually build confidence in sharing their ideas.
The Right Level for Every Student
One of the biggest challenges parents face is finding the right level. Classes are often either too easy or too difficult, which slows down progress.
Our ELA program offers two structured tracks:
- Honors Track: Focused on strong grade-level mastery and top 10% performance
- Challenge Track: Designed for students ready to move one year ahead with deeper analysis
What students gain: Students learn at the right pace and continue to make steady progress.
Clear and Visible Progress
Another common concern is not knowing whether a child is improving. Our ELA program is designed to make progress visible and easy to understand.
Each learning cycle includes:
- Pre-class preparation
- Interactive live lessons
- Homework with detailed feedback
- Monthly 1-on-1 progress reviews
What parents gain: Parents always know what their child is learning and how they are improving.
How We Measure Growth
We track student progress using widely recognized benchmarks such as Lexile levels, MAP / i-Ready scores, and Learning A–Z levels.
Our goal is to help students reach top 10% performance nationally, while showing consistent and measurable growth over time.
What a Typical Lesson Looks Like
In each class, students follow a structured learning process. They begin by reading a carefully selected text, then identify and organize key ideas, and move into guided speaking and writing practice. Each step builds on the previous one, helping students turn understanding into clear expression.
Over time, this process helps students develop:
- Strong reading comprehension
- Clear thinking structures
- Confident communication skills
Here’s what this looks like in practice:
Before vs After
Before:
- Reads independently but struggles to clearly explain ideas
- Writing feels messy or incomplete
- Participates passively in class
After:
- Explains ideas more clearly
- Writes in organized, structured paragraphs
- Participates actively and speaks with confidence
Program Details
- Format: Live online, small group (max 10 students)
- Schedule: 1 lesson per week
- Academic Year: 43 lessons
- Class Duration:
- Grade 2: 1 hour
- Grade 3: 1.5 hours
- Class Duration:
Tuition & Special Offers
Choose the plan that fits your family’s goals and schedule.
| Plan Type | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Package(Most Popular) | $995 / year(Orig. $1075-80 promo) | $1,532.50 / year(Orig. $1612.50-80 promo) | Best value for long-term growth |
| Monthly Plan | $75-$100 / month* | $112.50-$150 / month* | Easier scheduling |
Most families choose the annual plan to ensure consistent progress and maximize savings over time.
*Annual Promo: The $80 discount will be automatically refunded to your original payment account after the student completes their 4th lesson.*
*Monthly Billing: The exact monthly cost varies depending on how many scheduled classes fall within that specific calendar month.*
Current Offers
| Promotion | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Discount | Save $80 (refunded after 4th class) |
| Think Math Bonus | Save an extra $50 off for current Think Math students |
| Sibling Discount | Save 5% for enrolling the second child |
Referral Rewards
Share with friends and unlock bigger rewards:
- Invite a friend → $50 credit
- 10 referrals → 50% off next year
- 20 referrals → Next year FREE tuition
Ready to See the Difference?
Give your child the tools to succeed, not just in reading, but in thinking and communication.
Start a live chat now to get personalized recommendations and explore the right trial class for your child, via our website or WhatsApp.
About Think Academy
Think Academy US Online, part of TAL Education Group (NYSE: TAL), provides structured math and ELA programs that help students build strong academic foundations and grow with confidence. With expert teachers, proven methods, and innovative AI tools, we nurture learning ability, curiosity, and healthy study habits that support long-term growth and a lifelong love of learning.
Check our programs:
- Think Kids: Ages 3-5
- Math
- Lower Elementary Math — Grades 1–2
- Upper Elementary Math — Grades 3–5
- Middle School Math — Grade 6–8
- High School Math — Grade 9-12
- ELA
- Elementary ELA — Grades 2–5
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