This is the end of the road for this series. When I started out, I had a plan. But, as it goes in the classroom, this series took some interesting turns. My goal of these past few weeks was to stretch some thinking, ignite some inner dialogue, and just challenge the status quo. Based on your feedback, it was clear: we started something.
The topics that I covered are things that I do every day and have been for the past 32 years. Based on the responses that I generated, these ideas resonated with many fellow educators. Turns out my ideas are needed to disrupt education for the better. I hope that you had as much fun in this series as I did. Take a minute and reflect on what we have covered.
It turns out that fun isn’t fluff or extra. It is the fuel that drives learning.
Looking Back: What We Built
I covered a wide range of topics and ideas from growth to curiosity to grades. I hope that you can see a through line in all of it. My core ideas are play, curiosity, growth, creativity and real-world learning. There were a few posts that seemed to get the most engagement. For that, I thank you. LEGO Bricks never disappoint, but build stronger learners
Before we move into what’s next, let’s take a moment to look back at five key moments from this series that captured the spirit of play, creativity, and disruptive learning. These weren’t just blog posts, they were building blocks for a new kind of classroom.
🧱 1. Building Classroom Community with LEGO Bricks
This post launched it all. Instead of starting the year with rules, we started with connection. Using simple LEGO bricks, we created spaces where students didn’t just follow directions—they felt seen, heard, and valued.
💬 “We weren’t just stacking bricks—we were stacking trust, creativity, and courage.”
👉 Read the full post » Why ‘Sit and Get’ Doesn’t Work: The Case for Play-Based Learning in All Grades – Coach Thomas Tech
🧠 2. Creative Problem Solving with LEGO
In this post, we explored how creativity and critical thinking aren’t separate skills—they grow together. Students built bridges, told stories, and tackled design puzzles that had no single solution. The goal? Embrace the process, not perfection.
💬 “Creative problem-solving isn’t about solving fast—it’s about thinking better.”
👉 Read the full post » Play Isn’t a Break—It’s the Bridge: – Coach Thomas Tech
🔍 3. The Power of Curiosity
This post got to the heart of what drives deep learning: student questions. We challenged the idea that curiosity is a distraction—and instead named it for what it truly is: the spark that lights the fire.
💬 “Curiosity isn’t a distraction—it’s the compass that points learning in the right direction.”
👉 Read the full post » What If We Let Them Wonder? Reigniting Curiosity in Learning – Coach Thomas Tech
⚙️ 4. Engineering Play: Harnessing LEGO for Learning
Here, we blended engineering with play. Through the lens of the design process, students used bricks to prototype, fail, and try again. We proved that every student can think like an engineer when they’re given the tools—and the trust.
💬 “Engineering is the art of figuring it out—and kids are better at it than we give them credit for.”
👉 Read the full post » Let Them Build It: What If Building Is the Most Academic Thing We Can Let Kids Do? – Coach Thomas Tech
🎯 5. Beyond the Report Card: Real Learning for Real Life
This was our mic-drop moment. We stepped away from compliance and grading to focus on growth, mastery, and purpose. This post reminded us that real learning isn’t measured by a percentage—it’s lived and built over time.
💬 “Grades aren’t the goal. Growth is.”
👉 Read the full post » Ditch the Grades, Build the Skills – Coach Thomas Tech
Why It Matters: The Work Ahead
Education is challenging right now. There is some burnout, system fatigue and just plain apathy. Teachers, students, and administrators all feel it. Parents see it. But we keep coming back. Everyday! Why? Because it matters. It is needed. We all believe that school can be both fun and meaningful.
The fun and play we have been talking about is more than games. It’s about bringing back the energy, the curiosity, the motivation and the critical thinking into schools. These things are a must if we want our students to succeed outside that classroom. It works. Just look at the athletics arenas, the band concerts, or the musical. There is fun, joy and motivation there. A tremendous amount of hard work is being done, and they don’t even know it. If we want that same energy in our classrooms, we need to build it with purpose.
As the school year winds down, and before you leave for the summer, take a few minutes and sit in your space. Maybe turn the lights off, turn off the computer, close the door and just sit in the quiet. Take a moment to reflect on the joyful moments that went on. Remember the good that was done, but don’t forget the struggles.
Write something down. Leave a note for yourself. Make a video and share it. Give yourself something to remember when the struggles come.
Remember Play is the spark, but growth is the goal.
What’s Next: A New Summer Series Begins in June
Now is not the time to stop. We need to keep pushing forward. Keep the momentum building. I am working on a summer series that will help push the boundaries a little more when we start the next school year. I want to help you shift from survival mode to growth mode.
This summer, I’m launching something new, something personal, playful, and deeply reflective. Every Brick Has a Story — a weekly exploration of how we, as educators, can shape the future brick by brick. Each week, you’ll get one simple “brick” to focus on: a value, a mindset, a habit, or a story that shapes the way we teach and lead.
You’ll reflect.
You’ll imagine.
You’ll probably play a little, too.
And in the process, you’ll start writing the next chapter of your story—on your terms.
🧱 Because teaching isn’t about following a script. It’s about building something real.
Want in?
The first “brick” drops in June, and I’d love for you to be part of it.
👉 [Join the summer series now] (or insert link here)
This is more than a series—it’s the early foundation of a new project I’m building.
Keep the Curiosity Going
I wanted to give a heartfelt thank you to all of you that have been on the journey over the past few weeks. Your support, comments, and shares are invaluable. We, as educators, need to build a community that inspires and motivates us to keep going. What you do daily is amazing. We need to share that.
You’ve built alongside me through this entire series—and now, I want to hear from you.
What was your favorite idea?
What did you try that actually worked?
What flopped spectacularly and taught you something anyway?
🎯 Your triumphs, your struggles, and your experiments matter. They’re not side notes—they’re your story, and they might just be the encouragement another teacher needs.
Let’s keep the conversation going and build a community where creativity, curiosity, and a little bit of chaos are welcome.
📣 Share your story on social using #EveryBrickHasAStory or reply to this post with what you’re walking away with. You never know who you’ll inspire just by being honest.
Together, we’re not just building better classrooms.
We’re building a movement—one brick at a time.
