With educators being continually pushed toward canned curriculums and standardized testing, Lindsay Portnoy reminds teachers, parents, and all those invested in education that there’s a better way to learn: through play.

Using cognitive science to explore the ways in which play helps students gain and maintain critical skills, Portnoy shows how inviting creativity and excitement into the classroom results in big gains for everyone. Thanks to the book’s relatable vignettes, ready-to-use examples, and informative “Level Up” toolboxes, readers are empowered to bring Portnoy’s lessons directly to their learners.