There is a wide gap between what we know about the brain and how we teach kids to read. Research on the science of reading brings us closer to understanding how the brain learns to read, but little attention is paid to how our brain actually learns. According to leading neuroscientists, it is neurobiologically impossible to think deeply about things you don't care about, which is why the most meaningful learning occurs when students create emotional connections to abstract concepts. Our brains are wired to make connections, and it's easier to learn and store information when there’s a hook to hang it on. That hook is background knowledge, and this includes the “feeling-based” connections that we all share. Research on early brain development shows that the affective learning networks are primed for learning long before the higher level, cognitive processing centers are formed. By aligning abstract phonics skill content with already familiar frameworks of learner experience and understanding (i.e. having a crush, not getting along, being shy, getting hurt, feeling left out, being sneaky, etc...) we can take advantage of the brain’s backdoor systems for learning to fast-track phonics skill mastery, and empower all learners to become fearless codebreakers!