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Brain-Based Learning and Teaching that Actually Works: Make This Make Sense ep8 Dr. Katie McKnight
Why do so many students struggle in school even when they're trying their best? Literacy expert Dr. Katie McKnight explains how brain-based learning, adolescent development, and evidence-based teaching strategies, including improv, can transform the way we educate—and why understanding how students learn is just as important as what we teach.
Topics
🧠 Brain-based learning 📚 Literacy development 👩🏫 Teaching strategies 👧 Adolescent brain development ✍️ Reading comprehension 🗣️ Vocabulary growth ❤️ Student engagement using improv 🎓 Helping every learner succeed
About Dr. Katie McKnight
Dr. Katie McKnight is an award-winning educator, literacyexpert, author, and international speaker who has spent more than three decades helping educators translate learning science into practical classroom strategies. In this episode, she shares how brain-based learning, literacy development, improv, and our growing understanding of adolescent braindevelopment can help teachers, parents, and schools better support every learner.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Katie McKnight
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiemcknightphd/
Visit EngagedLearners.com: https://www.katherinemcknight.com/
Podcast: https://www.katherinemcknight.com/sorpodcast
The Science of Reading: https://www.katherinemcknight.com/sorbook
The Second City Guide to Improv in the Classroom: UsingImprovisation to Teach Skills and Boost Learning (Jossey-Bass Teacher): https://a.co/d/09HkHER7
💬 Memorable Quotes
"The brain is shaped by relationships, experiences, andenvironment."
"Students learn best when they feel safe enough tolearn."
"We know far more today about adolescent braindevelopment than we did even ten years ago."
"Learning isn't about memorizing facts—it's abouthelping the brain make meaningful connections."
"When we understand how the brain learns, we becomebetter teachers."
🎧 Who Should Listen?
👩🏫 K–12 teachers looking for research-backed classroom strategies.
🎓 College faculty interested in improving student engagement and learning.
👨👩👧 Parents wanting to better understand how children and teenagers learn.
📚 Reading specialists, literacy coaches, and instructional leaders.
🧠 Anyone fascinated by neuroscience, learning, and human development.
🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense
If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more episodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense.
NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Sense are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated.
Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.
Chapters
0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️0:04:24 What Is Brain-Based Learning? 🧠
0:07:47 How the Adolescent Brain Develops 🌱
0:12:46 Why Traditional Teaching Doesn't Always Work 📚
0:19:57 Using Improv in the Classroom 🎭
0:27:19 Creating Classrooms Where Students Thrive ❤️
0:35:20 Improving Literacy in HigherEd ✍️
0:40:51 New Book 📖
0:50:21 The Lore behind “Cookie Pusher” 🍪
0:52:06 Final Thoughts 🌟
