#74: What the Most Impactful Teachers Do Differently with Dr. Rebecca Knighton
There’s a moment in every teacher’s career when you meet a student who feels unreachable. Maybe they never bring a pencil. Constantly act out. Or sit with their head down no matter what you try.
For educator and researcher Rebecca Knighton, that moment launched a journey—not just back to school for a PhD, but into the classrooms of teachers who consistently reach those kids.
She studied the teachers who connect with students others have written off—the ones who shift a child’s entire trajectory—and what she discovered might just flip the script on everything we think we know about student engagement.
What the Most Impactful Teachers Do Differently
Rebecca’s research revealed that the most impactful teachers don’t rely on one magic strategy—they embody a mindset and way of being that’s radically student-centered.
Here’s what they do:
- See students as fellow humans first.
They remember what it’s like to be 10… or 15. They don’t take behavior personally—they see missteps as developmentally appropriate, and they meet students with curiosity, not judgment. - Understand child and adolescent development.
When a student forgets a pencil or calls out during a lesson, these teachers don’t see defiance—they see a moment to teach, scaffold, and support. - Are unapologetically authentic.
Students—especially those who’ve faced adversity—can sniff out inauthenticity a mile away. The most impactful teachers are real, consistent, and emotionally honest. - Believe in students—even when students don’t believe in themselves.
They hold the hope until the student can hold it on their own. - Engage in ongoing self-reflection.
They examine their own triggers, biases, and beliefs. They ask:
“What’s getting in the way of me truly seeing this student?”
And perhaps most importantly… they’re not superheroes. They’re humans who learned how to lead with humanity.
Real-World Examples That Will Stay With You
You’ll hear incredible stories in this episode—like Jessica, a seventh grade teacher who taught her students to write an essay without them realizing it.
By breaking down each step, giving students time to master each piece, and helping them feel successful along the way, she helped one struggling reader believe in herself—and eventually, leave special education services entirely.
Or the teacher who, instead of shutting down a student’s plan to “drop out and sell liquor up north,” helped him do the math on that plan… and guided him, through logic and care, to realize it wouldn’t work.
These stories aren’t just feel-good anecdotes—they’re practical, repeatable ways of seeing students, removing barriers, and making change possible.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
- Why classroom management isn’t the key to connection—and what is
- The surprising skill that makes students trust you (hint: it’s not charisma)
- How to uncover the hidden barriers preventing student success
- Why believing in your students starts with believing in yourself
- One small shift you can try tomorrow to build stronger relationships
Bringing It All Together
Impactful teaching isn’t just about the perfect lesson plan or the latest curriculum trend. It’s about seeing students as full, complex humans—and reflecting on who we are as educators, too.
The good news? These skills aren’t reserved for a chosen few. They can be learned, practiced, and refined.
And every time you connect with a student others have given up on, you’re rewriting not just their story—but yours too.
Want More Support? Join The Science of Reading Formula
Inside The Science of Reading Formula, we help teachers build not just strong readers—but strong relationships.
Our step-by-step system shows you what to teach, when, and why it works… but it also equips you with the tools and support to differentiate, connect, and transform student trajectories.
From phonics to fluency to classroom community, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
👉 Join The Science of Reading Formula and get the training, resources, and coaching you need to make reading instruction effective, joyful, and life-changing.
LINKS
Dr. Rebecca Knighton Website / LinkedIn
Become a Science of Reading Formula member!
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