This article discusses ways in which physical educators can enhance learning in their classrooms based on the book How Learning Works: Seven Researched-based Principles for Smart Teaching (2010). Although the research-based principles were proposed for classroom teaching, they are equally applicable to a physical education setting. The article highlights the similarities between effective teaching in the classroom and in the gymnasium. The learning principles include: (1) prior knowledge; (2) organization of knowledge; (3) motivation; (4) development of mastery skills; (5) goal-directed practice; (6) students as social, emotional and intellectual learners; and (7) students as self-directed learners. The authors define each principle and suggest applications in physical education.