Katie is a nationally recognized expert in adolescent literacy, inclusive classrooms, Common Core State Standards, and integrating technology in the 21st century classroom. She began her career in education as a high school teacher in Chicago over 20 years ago. Currently, Katie’s work brings her to schools and classrooms all over the United States where she shares proven, practical models and strategies that develop the literacy skills of all students. Katie has published seven books that support teaching and learning strategies that engage all learners in reading and writing for the 21st century. Her titles include the best selling The Teacher’s Big Book of Graphic Organizers, Hands-On Grammar, and The Second City Guide to Improv in the Classroom.
Katie regularly presents on the following topics:
- Reaching and Teaching Reluctant Adolescent Readers
*Based on Katie’s book, The Teacher’s Big Book of Graphic Organizers - Content Area Literacy Strategies (including connections to Common Core Standards)
- Common Core Standards and What These Mean for the 21st Century Classroom, K-12
- Common Core Standards, Differentiated Instruction, Technology, and Literacy=The 21st Century Classroom, grades K-12
Hear Katie talk about how the CCSS are a manifestation of what 21st Century clasrooms are supposed to look like in this podcast. - The Common Core: Where to Begin & How to Integrate with Differentiated
Instruction - Wikis, Blogging, Podcasts and More Technology Tools for Literacy (K-12)
- Differentiating Instruction with Technology
- IPADS and Mobile Technologies for the 21st Century Classroom
- Teaching Reading and Writing in the Inclusive Classroom (Grades 6-12)
*Based on Katie’s books, Teaching Writing in the Inclusive Classroom and Teaching the Literature Classics in the Inclusive Classroom - Differentiating Reading and Writing Instruction at the Middle School and High School Level
*Based on Katie’s books, Teaching Writing in the Inclusive Classroom and Teaching the Literature Classics in the Inclusive Classroom - Using Improv in the Classroom to Teach Content (grades K-12)
*Based on Katie’s book, The Second City Guide to Improv in the Classroom - Web 2.0 Tools for the 21st Century Classroom (grades K-12)
- Teaching Writing and Grammar with Multiple Intelligences (grades 5-12)
*Based on Katie’s new book, Hands-On Grammar
View Katie McKnight's Resume/Vita, Publications, and Workshops.
To request NCTE Professional Development Services, complete the Online Request Form, call 800-369-6283 or email us today!
Katie recently shared her thoughts about implementing Common Core Standards and the role of professional development in this process. Watch her video here.
LISTEN to this podcast of Katie as she explains her Content Area Literacy Consultations!
Level: K-12
- Content area literacy
- Implementing Common Core Standards
- Differentiated Instruction
- Integration of 21st Century literacies
- Teaching reading, writing, and the Literature Classics for both the regular and inclusive classroom
- Grammar
- Integrating the arts and creative dramatics in the literacy curriculum
- Portfolio development and implementation for the high school English classroom
- On-Site Consulting Services. Kick off your year-long plan and build excitement among your teachers with an on-site workshop with Katie. For the greatest impact plan for multiple visits throughout the year. Plan early because her calendar fills up fast!
- Pathways for Advancing Adolescent Literacy. Access classroom examples, professional readings, and other resources throughout the year to keep the conversation and learning going between Katie's on-site visits.
- Any of Katie's Books. Plan a book study around any of Katie's books before or between on-site visits. We can help you choose a title based on your school's needs.
- Virtual Q/A Sessions or Customized Web Seminars. Keep the momentum going between on-site visits with this affordable addition to your consulting contract.
We can help you build a plan with any of these options. Contact profdev@ncte.org!
The Teachers Big Book of Graphic Organizers
Teaching English in Middle and Secondary Schools
The Second City Guide to Improv in the Classroom: Using Improvisation to Teach Skills and Boost Learning
Teaching the Classics in the Inclusive Classroom: Reader Response Activities to Engage All Learners
Writing in the Inclusive Classroom: Strategies and Skills for All Students
Read the article that forms the research-base of the the book The Second City Guide to Improv in the Classroom. 
Let us help you take the guess-work out of planning effective professional development for your teachers! Purchase a comprehensive professional development package that includes two full-day workshops with Katie McKnight (on a topic of your choice) AND one full year of access to Pathways for Advancing Adolescent Literacy for a team of 10 teachers from your school!
Cost: $6,400 plus travel costs.
Contact profdev@ncte.org to book this package!
*Other packages/quantities are available. Contact us to learn more!
One- Or Two-Day Common Core Seminar
Intended Audience: K-12 teachers, principals, curriculum directors and administrators
Sample agendas for one- and two-day Common Core Seminars.
The Common Core standards are the next generation of standards for our students, grades K-12. There are key differences in this next generation of standards that teachers, principals, and administrators need to understand. The one-day seminar will build participants' understanding of the common core standards to align standards with teaching and learning activities that improve student achievement. Participants will also learn about Common Core based formative assessments. The two-day seminar will build on the one-day seminar by also exploring and addressing questions like:
- How does our school create a common language to discuss the Standards?
- What impact do the Common Core Standards have on teaching and learning in the 21st Century?
- How can the Standards aligned to the curriculum?
- How do we build formative assessments that evaluate the rigorous skills articulated in the Common Core Standards?
Making Writing Instruction Tangible
Grade Level: 6-12
Several well known writing gurus offer models and ideas for teaching writing and grammar in context. It is often suggested that teachers use mini lessons as an instructional strategy for teaching grammar. The participants will learn how to develop effective mini lessons that integrate Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. These lesson integrate different learning styles and are designed to support all learners, regular education and students with special needs, in the inclusive classroom.
This presentation is based on the material in Teaching Writing in the Inclusive Classroom: Strategies and Skills for all Students, Grades 6-12. Jossey Bass, (2006).
Teaching the Classics in the Inclusive Classrooms
Grade Level: 6-12
What happens when you are required and want to teach classics works like Shakespeare, Homer, Chaucer, and Austen to students whose reading abilities are widely different? How do you unpack these linguistically complex literature classics that our so much a part of our popular culture and experience? The answer lies in creating active reader response strategies that are based on current models for effectively teaching adolescent readers.
The classics are not too difficult for our students to read, understand, and appreciate when the appropriate teaching strategies were used. This book contains discussion, teaching ideas, and full lessons that were developed by the presenter who has experience teaching in diverse middle and secondary high school classrooms. All of the lessons and ideas were developed through her teaching experience and encourage students to be active readers and learners as they experience the rich human experience of these literature classics.
This presentation is based on the material in Teaching the Lliterature Classics in the Inclusive Classroom, grades 6-12. Jossey Bass, (In Press).
Active Literacy Learning Requires Active Teaching
Grade Level: 4-12
The current model for teaching and learning promotes the ideas and notions that classrooms should be interactive where learning activities are a result of the partnership between the classroom teacher and the students. Students have a voice in their learning and are encouraged to be active participants in the classroom. Unlike the traditional classroom, where activities are primarily directed by the classroom teacher, the contemporary classroom is a result of active collaboration as a result of a common quest for learning.
In this hands-on presentation, the participants will explore student centered learning strategies that actively involve learners in classroom activities.
Content Area Literacy Strategies
Grade Level: 6-12
You might be familiar with the adage, “We are all teachers of reading and writing”. This workshop will explore the theory and practice involved in teaching content reading at the middle and secondary school level. It focuses on the literacy processes, which involves listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In addition, building on general knowledge of teaching literacy in middle and secondary schools, this workshop provides exploration of the methods of teaching reading and writing within the content areas. Through the exploration of current research in the field of adolescent literacy, participants will develop their knowledge of instructional methods associated with increasing comprehension for students in secondary schools.
Integrating the Arts into the Literacy Curriculum
Grade Level: 6-12
This professional development explores importance and instructional value of the integration of the arts: dance, drama, music, and visual art in the adolescent literacy curriculum. It is through the arts that students learn and develop important skills in focus, concentration, creativity, and problem solving that are directly related to the skill set for literacy learning. This presentation will briefly draw on recent brain research and other sources to show evidence that the arts are a vital teaching tool that significantly impacts literacy learning in a traditional educational setting.
This presentation is based on Katie's book, The Second City Guide to Improvisation for the Classroom, Grades K-8. (Publication Date, January 2008).
Moving Middle School Readers Toward a Literature Based Reading Program
Grade Level: 6-8
In this one day workshop, the participants will learn strategies that support students to read more independently in a reading workshop setting. If our students are able to experience reading as an enjoyable activity, they will be more inclined to personally connect with text worlds. Through comprehension strategies, writing techniques and access to a wide variety of interesting texts, students can engage in a dynamic reading and writing learning environment through a reading workshop setting.