Playing with Purpose (Paperback)

Turn big-picture educational theory into engaging, hands-on classroom activities

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a powerful framework for creating classrooms where every learner can thrive, but turning it into everyday classroom practice can feel daunting. Playing with Purpose bridges that gap, showing educators how to turn UDL from abstract theory into engaging, hands-on practice through the power of gamification.

Playing with Purpose is filled with equal measures of big-picture research and hands-on teaching techniques that can help make your instruction more joyful, more purposeful, and more impactful at every step along the way. And every single resource has been intentionally designed to help students become authentically engaged in whatever they’re learning about, no matter where they live or what age they are. There’s no complicated prep required—just pick a playbook suggestion, add a sprinkle of your curriculum (or a splash of AI), and the classroom activity is ready to go!

Whether you’re designing more inclusive lessons, experimenting with game-based strategies, or wrestling with the ethics of emerging technologies, you’ll find practical tools, inspiring insights, and ready-to-use ideas to help you adapt and thrive in Playing with Purpose. This isn’t about isolated games or one-off activities—it’s about transforming the way we teach, making every stage of instruction feel like an invitation to play, explore, and grow.

Endorsements

“Playing with Purpose is a practical guide for educators who refuse to choose between joy and rigor. This is essential reading for school leaders and teachers committed to instruction that is both joyful and evidence-based.”—Dr. Carl Patton, high school principal

“The book you're holding cracks the code on making UDL feel every bit as fun and energizing as gamification itself. Reading it gave me ideas that help keep transforming my teaching in the most fun way possible.”—Fabian Hofman, high school teacher and co-host of Rebel Teacher Alliance Podcast

“Playing with Purpose feels like a joyful permission slip for teachers to toss out one-size-fits-none instruction and replace it with learning experiences that actually meet the needs of every student.”—Hollie Woodard, 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Finalist and author of Hacking Flex Teaching