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This week I am talking with Rachel Tidd, an innovative educator renowned for her groundbreaking approach to learning through nature. Rachel has developed curricula like Wild Math and Wild Reading that I have been recommending to families for years. Her knowledge and insights into the outdoor learning world will leave you wanting to expand your homeschooling classrooms.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Introduction of Rachel Tidd and her work
• Background on Rachel's Children and Sensory Needs
• Discussion about her children attending an outdoor forest preschool.
• Focus on her youngest child's sensory issues and how the environment helped meet those needs.
• Challenges and Homeschooling Decision
• Rachel's consideration of traditional schooling challenges for her sensory-seeking child.
• Decision to homeschool and the process of developing outdoor-focused curriculum materials.
• Development of Wild Math and Reading Curriculum
• Steps Rachel took to create learning materials that integrated outdoor activities.
• Specifics on starting with math due to its hands-on nature and later addressing reading needs.
• Understanding Sensory Needs and Regulation
• Detailed description of her son's sensory-seeking behaviors at home.
• Discussion on sensory-seeking versus regulation and how outdoor environments supported her son.
• Advantages of Outdoor Learning
• Benefits of outdoor environments for sensory input and increased engagement.
• Support for executive functioning, risk-taking, and decision-making in children.
• Health benefits including improved vision and less illness.
• Adapting Outdoor Learning as Children Age
• Continuation of outdoor learning into older grades; adjustments as curriculum expands.
• Integration of indoor activities while maintaining outdoor experiences.
• Parental Tips for Outdoor Learning
• Advice for parents who aren't naturally drawn to the outdoors.
• Importance of having the proper gear to enhance outdoor experiences for both parents and children.
• Addressing Fears and Challenges in Outdoor Learning
• Strategies for dealing with kids' fears of outdoor elements like bugs or weather.
• Emphasizing gradual exposure and flexibility in outdoor activities.
• Wild Learning Resources and Access

Links and Resources From Today’s Show

• Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?
• Outdoor Education: Research Summary
• What Is Outdoor Education And How Does It Help Students?
• Handwriting Without Actually Writing
• Skills Nature Builds
• Building Fine Motorskills
• Harnessing the Great Outdoors for Visual Development and Learning
• Outdoor Activities to Develop Interoception in Children with Guest Caroline Santangelo
• Supporting Children Through Play-Based Reflex Integration
• Risky Play: Understanding the Benefits and Strategies for Safe Child Development
• Outdoor Adventures: Developing Fine Motor Skills Through Nature-Based Therapy with Carmela Trejo
• Narration: A Path To Thoughtful Learning
• Discover Wild Learning
• Rachel's Book
• Connect with Sarah on Instagram

Connect with our Guest, Rachel Tidd

Rachel Tidd is passionate about using outdoor and place-based learning to enhance literacy and math instruction. She is the author of the book Wild Learning: Practical Ideas for Bringing Teaching Outdoors and the Wild Math® and Wild Reading® Curricula series. Rachel is a former elementary special education teacher with an M.S. Ed. in Elementary and Special Education from Bank Street College of Education. She is a doctoral candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, specializing in Educational Sustainability with a focus on literacy. Her research explores integrating sustainability and language arts. You can find her at discoverwildlearning.com.

Connect with Rachel on Instagram here. 

Connect with Rachel on Facebook here