
How Universal Design for Learning, Laughter, and a Bit of Chaos Build Healthier Brains (Yes, Even Yours)
It all started with a kid who thought the assignment was to “be a tree” and proceeded to lay flat on the floor like a log.
Technically not wrong. But definitely not what the teacher expected.
I was observing a classroom as part of a coaching session, and while some students were enthusiastically pretending to sway in the wind or grow imaginary apples, one lone student had decided to become a fallen redwood. Arms down. Eyes closed. Fully committed.
It was hilarious. But it was also telling. Because in that moment, we saw exactly what Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is all about: people process things differently—and they’re not wrong for it.