Author: John Meehan

Back in the classroom and back in the trenches! As Michael celebrates 20 years in the classroom, John steps into a new school and a new hybrid teaching role… in the middle of the academic year! What’s next for EMC² Learning, you ask? Give a click for all the details.

These days, even the Vatican is drawing lines around all things AI! But teachers aren’t pastors. And teaching isn’t preaching. Join us for a closer look at AI, agency, and why the real commandment might not be rejecting the tool, but refusing to abdicate your calling.

Recently, John joined Dr. Ryan Read on The Pixel Classroom Podcast to discuss the new book, the changing state of education, and what real engagement looks like in an AI-shaped world. Tune in for an honest conversation about design, joy, and staying human in the details.

Run it back with us to Orlando for the Innovative Schools Summit! We’re bringing TWO high-energy sessions to the Theme Park Capital of the World to help you level up engagement, outwit the AI blindside, and play with purpose at any age. Grand Ballroom. March 14. Let’s go!

Climb aboard! We joined The Dave Burgess Show for a full-circle conversation on playful pedagogy, student voice, and teaching boldly in an AI age. Michael and Dave go back to Explore Like a Pirate (2016) — and this episode proves the Pirate spirit is still sailing strong.

Ready to move your review day way beyond the usual guessing games? Check out EMC² Learning’s all new Stack Skirmish collection, which blends hands-on learning with some seriously solid teaching fundamentals. See what happens when Bloom’s Taxonomy gets a playful twist!

Snow days should still be snow days—but winter has a way of piling on. If you’re facing multiple closures or virtual days, we’ve got you covered. A blizzard of playful ideas that work for any content area, without forcing school-as-usual. When plans change, play adapts!

Texas educators: this one’s for you. At TCEA 2026, we’re leading three sessions on next-level gamification, AI-proof assessments, and authentic play in the artificial age. Wanna’ play? If you’re ready to move beyond chocolate-covered broccoli, we’ll see you in San Antonio.

At long last, the new book finally here! In an age of AI, learning can’t afford to feel mechanical. Playing with Purpose shows how thoughtful play, intentional challenge, and inclusive design help teachers create classrooms where curiosity thrives and learning sticks.

What if the real problem with teacher PD isn’t teachers at all, but the stories we tell about them? From wizards to witches, today’s blog post pulls back the curtain to reveal what educators truly want, need, and deserve. Read on and change your teacher PD… for good!

Happy 2026! Ring in the New Year with 1100 activities (and counting!) designed to energize any classroom. From quick wins to deep engagement, these playful, flexible ideas help students reflect, reset, and launch the year with momentum. Bonus: no confetti cleanup required!