ShiftED Podcast #85 In Conversation with Rachel Tidd Is the Classroom Big Enough? What Outdoor Learning Makes Possible

Is the Classroom Big Enough?What if attention, regulation, and real academic growth aren’t just about strategy—but setting?We sit down with Rachel Tidd, founder of Discover Wild Learning and author of Wild Learning: Practical Ideas to Bring Teaching Outdoors, to explore a realistic path for making outdoor learning part of everyday teaching. No gimmicks. No Pinterest pressure. Just field-tested routines, literacy and numeracy strategies, and research that explains why fresh air can change what happens next.Rachel shares how a simple question—what if the setting is the missing support?—led to a schoolyard-first framework that scales outward. From call-and-response signals and visible boundaries to phonemic awareness sound hunts and chalk-based math routines, this episode is packed with practical ideas that align with curriculum and reduce transition friction.We also dig into the research: attention restoration, executive function, ADHD support, and the powerful “carryover effect” that boosts indoor learning after time outside.If you’ve wondered whether the classroom is big enough for what students need, this conversation might change how you plan your week.