Teaching is hard enough without jumping through hoops.
But a small, meaningful challenge? That’s different.
If you believe classrooms should be places of curiosity, joy, rigor, and meaningful challenge… AND that play can be a serious force for learning? You’re in the right place. To celebrate the release of Playing with Purpose, we’ve created a Power Packed Playbook filled with classroom-ready resources that bring the book’s ideas to life.
It’s free. It’s practical. And (true to the spirit of the book!) it’s a little playful.
Welcome, dear friends, to the wonderful world of Desired Difficulty!
A Quick Note on Desired Difficulty
In Chapter 5 of Playing with Purpose, we explore the idea of Desired Difficulty—the counterintuitive truth that adding just a smidge of challenge can actually improve outcomes for everyone.
Not the soul-crushing kind of difficulty where you throw your controller across the room. Not the thrown into the deep end to fend for yourself, and “figure it out on your own” variety. Think instead of those gentle nudges that actually help us change.
Unlike the yoga mat collecting dust under the bed while we promise ourselves we’ll totally log back into YouTube someday, these are the kinds of supports that work. Like the friendly buzz on your wrist reminding you to stand up, stretch, or get moving.
They don’t demand perfection. They don’t shame you into action. They simply make the next step a little more intentional.
Paradoxically, making things just a bit harder often makes change a whole lot easier.
Which brings us to a tiny challenge of our own…
The Challenge (Yes, There’s a Tiny One)
This bonus is for readers who are ready to play along.
To unlock the playbook:
Open your copy of Playing with Purpose to page 5.
(Pro tip: In the spirit of Universal Design for Learning, you can also use the free Kindle preview if that’s the most accessible option for you!)See that part where we talk about how ineffective old-school “sit and get” PD models can be? We actually give a percentage of just how little what’s learned in traditional PD ever makes its way back to the classroom. In fact, the figure is so staggeringly low that we repeat the number THREE TIMES!
Enter that number we mention (WRITE IT OUT IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS) as the secret password in the short form below
That’s it.
Just a wink and a nod to fellow educators who cracked the code—whether you did it with a hardcover in hand or by creatively leveraging a free ebook preview. Bravo for putting the barrier-busting spirit of UDL to work for you!
What You’ll Unlock
Once you enter the password, you’ll receive an exclusive digital Power Packed Playbook—a curated collection of fully editable, classroom-ready resources aligned directly to the core ideas of Playing with Purpose.
Inside, you’ll find:
Ready-to-use activity templates connected to key chapters
Practical ways to blend UDL, gamification, and AI without gimmicks
Plug-and-play structures adaptable across grade levels and content areas
Tools designed for real classrooms—not idealized ones
To be crystal clear: This is not a teaser. It’s not a “pay to unlock the rest” preview. It’s the kind of resource you can open and use immediately.
Why We’re Doing This
Playing with Purpose was written for educators who care deeply about their craft—and who believe learning should be joyful and meaningful.
This playbook is our way of rewarding our most committed supporters—game-changing teachers who are committed to:
Designing learning with intention
Honoring student variability
Making room for curiosity, challenge, and play
If that sounds like you, we’d love to share this with you.
Ready to Unlock It?
Enter your information below.
Crack the code.
We’ll take care of the rest.
