End the Year Strong: Build, Reflect, and Reclaim Purpose
Hey educators —
It’s that time of year. The tests are over. The countdown is on. The challenge now? Keeping students engaged while making these last few weeks matter.
Here’s the good news: you can do both. And I’ve got the tools to help you.
🛠️ The Master Maker Build-Off
This 10-day hands-on design challenge gives students purpose and ownership to finish the year as creators. Whether you have 80-minute blocks or 45-minute class periods, the Build-Off is flexible, structured, and fun.
Students choose from projects like:
Mini chain reaction machines
Marshmallow crash test vehicles
Shark Tank-style product pitches
Real-world school problem-solving
Game design with learning goals
✅ I’ve created full teacher and student packets, editable docs, daily pacing guides, rubrics, and printable build logs. Grab the full set here → coachthomastech.com/blog
🎙️ New Podcast Episode: Reclaiming CTE Education
This week on the Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast, we dive into how CTE can shift from rigid pathways to real-world learning experiences that empower students to build skills that actually matter.
We’re not just talking trades — we’re talking about creating a space where students can explore, design, and prepare for any path they choose.
Listen now → bit.ly/TechEd-Clubhouse
🏰 My Book: Sir Prise and the Bridge of Ingenuity
My newest book continues the adventures of Sir Prise in the land of Ingenuia — where a kingdom is divided by a vast canyon and collaboration is the only way forward. Sir Prise and the Bridge of Ingenuity blends storytelling with engineering, teamwork, and design thinking.
It’s a great classroom read for teaching iteration, problem-solving, and the value of creative ideas.
Grab your copy on Amazon → xfactor.link/prise
🎯 Let’s Wrap This Year the Right Way
The last weeks of school can be exhausting — or they can be energizing. Let’s choose the latter. Let’s build something. Let’s reflect on what worked. Let’s show our students that learning doesn’t stop just because the calendar says June.
I hope these tools — the project, the podcast, the book — give you something real to use.
Let’s finish strong. Let’s reclaim purpose. And let’s have some fun while we’re at it.
Dan
🔗 Follow along: https://coachthomastech.com