Let’s cut the fluff—death-by-slideshow is not the way to start your school year. In this solo episode, Dan breaks down why you should ditch the rules-and-procedures lecture and how to launch your year with a small, high-impact Project-Based Learning (PBL) activity that sets the tone for real engagement.

Forget the “All About Me” coloring sheets. Instead, empower your students to fix a real problem, co-create the classroom culture, and build something that matters.

Dan shares:

• 3 reasons why starting the year with PBL is a game-changer

• 3 easy starter project ideas you can run in any class

• A cheat sheet for making it work with no budget and little prep

• A challenge for you to compare two classes—one with PBL, one with slides—and see the difference

• Culture > Rules: Start with habits, inquiry, and ownership instead of a contract.

• Small Projects, Big Impact: You only need cardboard, curiosity, and a problem worth solving.

• Make It Personal: Projects like “Fix Something at School,” “Redesign the Rules,” and “Solve a Personal Problem” help students feel heard and valued from day one.

• Skip the Grade: The reflection is the assessment. Ask: What did you learn? What would you change?

“Don’t tell them this class is different—prove it. Let them build something. That’s how you earn buy-in.”

• Curipod for anonymous, interactive student input

• CoachThomasTech.com – for blog posts, PBL ideas, and contact info

• LEGO, craft materials, markers, cardboard—whatever you’ve got on hand

Try a mini PBL project this week and tag Dan on social media @coachthomastech. Whether you fix the pencil problem or redesign the rules, share what your students create.

Want help brainstorming a PBL kickoff for your class or school? Reach out to Dan directly at coachthomastech.com or message him on Twitter/X.