Teach Smarter Podcast · Guest
Lauren McNamara
Founder of Schoolyards for Thought and Recess Project Canada · Learning scientist
About Dr. Lauren McNamara
Lauren McNamara, PhD, is the founder of Schoolyards for Thought and Recess Project Canada. A learning scientist and researcher, her work focuses on the connection between play, belonging, school climate, and student well-being.
Through her research and partnerships with schools across North America, she has helped reshape how educators think about recess, advocating for school environments that promote inclusion, social connection, and learning. Her work has influenced school policy, playground design, and conversations about the role of play in education around the world.
About This Episode
Recess, Belonging, and Better Schools with Dr. McNamara
Recess is often treated as a break from learning, but what if it is actually one of the most important parts of the school day?
We sit down with Lauren McNamara, founder of Schoolyards for Thought, to explore how recess, play, and schoolyard design influence belonging, behavior, mental health, and academic success. We discuss why so many schoolyards fail to meet students’ needs, what schools can do to create spaces where every child feels connected, and why investing in play may have a bigger impact than many traditional interventions.
If you are a teacher, a school leader, or a parent, this conversation will challenge the way you think about recess and why it deserves a much bigger place in the conversation about improving schools.