Have you ever had a kid yell at you? No, not like that! I mean the good kind of yelling. The wide-eyed, bursting at the seams with excitement, hand frantically waving in the air as high as possible kind of yelling. Well, I have. You see, I work as an Education Assistant at an elementary school, otherwise known as a TA (Teacher’s Aide), Paraprofessional Educator, TT (Team Teacher), etc. And I love using LEGO.

This is one of many minifigures that has accompanied me to work. it’s fun to keep treasures in my lego backpack to show the kids at school.

Working in an elementary school is an emotionally draining field of work, but it’s also the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. When I applied for this position years ago, I wanted a workplace environment where I could be my weird and nerdy self without judgment. A place where I could add value, be challenged, and have fun. And LEGO helps me do that.

The LEGO Lady at School

Imagine you are standing in front of three classrooms full of kids all scattered around a brightly lit classroom when suddenly one boy points squarely at you and says, “Hey, I love your LEGO earrings!” Someone commenting on my LEGO earrings happens to me often during the school year. And if I am being entirely honest, it is my favourite part of my job. It is just one of the ways I bring LEGO into my everyday life as an educator.

when i wake up i’m still exhausted from the previous day, the thought of a cup of coffee in my lego mug is what gets me out of bed in the morning.

It's essential to make learning enjoyable because it not only keeps us positive and happy but also builds a sense of community and connections. I work at a school with around 500 children, and my role involves providing support to students from kindergarten up to grade seven. Each day, I'm assigned to different classrooms, and I find out my location just ten minutes before the day starts, which keeps things exciting and prevents boredom.

During recess and lunch breaks, I supervise designated areas and offer support to the entire school, working closely with my colleagues. Inside during lunchtime, I might be asked to supervise various classrooms or areas, which changes frequently. The unpredictability of my assignments keeps my work engaging, and I never have a dull moment.

if i ever lose my keys (which i do more often than ITS like to admit), it’s easy for my coworkers to figure out whose they are!

One challenge I face is that kids, especially new students, might be hesitant to approach unfamiliar adults for help. Coming up to an adult they don’t know can be scary. To address this, I strive to get to know as many of the nearly 500 children as possible. The LEGO connection creates an automatic familiarity. It breaks down the initial barrier of hesitation and makes my job more manageable. And let's be honest, it makes my job more fun.

I brought these to brick separators to grade 3 a few weeks ago. i added eyes to a couple of them so i can cheer up kids in the class with a giggle when they need it. this has led to kids adding eyes to my name tag and having fun.

LEGO is about the best icebreaker there is with most kids in their formative years. It stands out, it’s universal, and when kids hear that satisfying shimmering sound of a tub of LEGO being dumped out on the hard classroom floor, they fling themselves toward it hoping to be the first one to the pyramid-shaped pile of plastic bricks. Connection created.

A Change in Perspective

How did I discover that LEGO was vital for my job in education? About a year and a half into my previous role as an Education Assistant at a High School, I was honestly fed up. I despised my job, felt mentally detached, and decided it wasn’t worth the effort anymore. I had anticipated a rewarding job but was disappointed. Instead of meaningful classroom interactions, I mostly walked around with students I couldn't connect with. I wasn't teaching; I was bored, sad, and overwhelmed with a sense of fulfillment.

I suspected many of my colleagues lacked motivation too. While I don't blame them, I realized I wasn't suited for such an environment. My upbringing emphasized a strong work ethic and empathy, driving me to make a positive impact. However, my job had me losing sleep with nightmares and dreading each day. By the end of my final year at the high school, I angrily declared, “I’m done with this place! This isn't what I want for my life.” I’m not one to stay in unhappy situations. Change can be challenging, but it often leads to exciting adventures.

lego money for my lego wallet. seems fitting. this beautiful bright wallet makes my day every time i open my locker at work.

Luckily in Canada, we have two months off in the summer meaning lots of time to think, chill, and forget. I thought to myself, “Well, I spent so much money on my education to become qualified to work in the education field, I might as well give it one more try, but this time something a little different.” I decided to work at an elementary school for one year as a last resort. If I loved it, I would stay, if not I would leave education altogether.

My brick con backpack is perfect for work.

Spoiler alert: that was a whole bunch of years ago now so you know how that went! I found my people in elementary school. The teaching force there is incredible. They are caring, hard-working, collaborative, and most importantly, supportive! The kids at school constantly make me smile and think, with or without LEGO. Despite its stressful moments, as in any job, the moments of awesomeness overshadow the bad ones at least ten to one.

The First Day of School

I’ll never forget my very first day exploring this brand-new world of elementary school. I was carrying around a LEGO Batman water bottle given to me at a convention some time ago. (Was it BrickCon, BrickCan, Bricks Cascade, BrickUniverse, or Brickworld? I can’t remember.) I carry it with me everywhere I go because I get thirsty a lot. All of a sudden in the hallway I heard a kid exclaim, “Hey, is that LEGO?!” There’s no better icebreaker than LEGO—and all of a sudden we had ourselves a conversation and a friendly smile.

My lego water bottles! I had one more, but if you read my last article, you know what happened to that!

My LEGO obsession doesn’t stop at my water bottle. I have over 30 pairs of LEGO earrings I wear on a rotating basis daily at school. It started purely for the fun of it, but now it’s pretty much taken on a life of its own. I can’t count the number of kids who’ve run up to me in the halls and on the playground and said, “Ms. Melissa, what earrings are you wearing today?” Many kids know me at work, some of whom I haven’t gotten to know quite yet, but are delighted by the earrings because LEGO is incredible.

Those little bricks hold a lot of power—the power of connection and the power of community. The LEGO fandom creates a sense of belonging, even in kids. I can often be seen on the playground wearing my cool pink LEGO shoes too. And, of course, I always have on my ‘Ms. Melissa’ LEGO name tag and my drawstring LEGO backpack. I am a walking advertisement for LEGO. Just last week a kid I didn’t know asked, “Ms. Melissa, do you have everything LEGO?” with excitement in their big, bright, curious eyes. It warmed my heart.

I bought these beauties for 20 bucks brand new! they were headed to the brickworld garage sale to be sold. My awesome boyfriend intercepted them first!

Back to Kindergarten

This school year started in September, and initially, I worked with Grade 3 and Grade 7 classes with students I knew from last year. However, last week, I received notice that I would be shifting to kindergarten. As an EA, I’m aware that my assignments can change suddenly, and I was told this would probably be a permanent change for the year. While I’m always up for a challenge, which I love about my job, I must admit I was panicking at the thought because I have rarely worked with the Kindies in my years as an EA.

a grade 3 and a grade 7 student in minifigure form. just for fun!

Upon entering the room, I saw 18 adorable 5-year-olds on a bristly, thin, grey carpet. I leaned in and asked the teacher to introduce me and tell the kids that I love LEGO. The teacher happily obliged, announcing, "We have a new adult who loves LEGO!" I greeted the kids, asking how many of them liked LEGO too. Every single smiling face shot their hand up with excitement, instantly forming a connection. Now, whenever I enter the warm classroom, a little hand usually goes up, commenting on my LEGO earrings—sometimes during class! It's incredibly cute and heartwarming and creates an instant and lasting connection.

In the fourth week of school, while monitoring a Grade 2 class during lunch, the topic of LEGO naturally came up. Kids noticed my name tag and earrings and exclaimed, “Cool name tag!” and “I love your earrings!” This led to my usual question, “Do you build with LEGO at home?” Some students had been to the Bricktacular West Coast Modern Show at the West Vancouver Memorial Library, and I excitedly mentioned that my boyfriend, Paul Hetherington, had created some of the LEGO art on display there. Although I hadn’t worked with these kids before, I showed them pictures of Paul’s work, leaving them in awe. This sparked interest from other classrooms, resulting in many friendly greetings from kids I hadn’t officially met. How many “Hi’s” did I get the next day from kids I have yet to officially meet? A LOT.

here it is! the ole’ name tag. a few of the students i work with ask if they can change the letters around. only once have i regretted it. haha!

LEGO Activities Beyond the Classroom

My LEGO attire isn’t the only time I’ve used LEGO at school. Sometimes I bring in small LEGO sets for kids to build when they need a brain break. Without going into detail, I have even used LEGO in an emergency as a needed distraction tactic to help encourage a behaviour change.

These leaves represent my ever changing work environment. team work makes the dream work!

I’ve even brought some LEGO flowers to work and taught a grade four art class. I brought in a variety of LEGO flowers and each kid got to build one. I marvelled as kids, who normally don’t engage much, began to chat and help each other build. Some kids were familiar with LEGO and were quick builders who could help those who did not have LEGO at home. It was heartwarming to watch them helping out. It was an instant success and a lot of fun.

here are some of the styles of flowers we build (using instructions) in grade 4. it was a fun, memorable day.

During lunch hours, things can get a little hectic (there is a lot of excitement at that age) so I’ve even used LEGO videos to capture the attention of the room. I’ve shown LEGO videos from Paul Hetherington’s YouTube channel, Beyond the Brick, and GBC channels. When the videos first come one, you can hear a pin drop, the kids are so excited. It turns a crazy lunch hour into an engaging one (and a bit more relaxing one for me). What makes me smile are the conversations that happen between the kids after, excited to try out something they saw on a video. On Friday afternoons when the kids get to choose their activity, the five spots for the LEGO are always the first to be filled.

LEGO Connections

The best part about using LEGO as a connection (pun intended) tool at school is it makes my job way easier. But let’s be honest. It makes my job more fun too. And it’s inspiring. It is just as scary for a kid to approach an adult for help as it is for an adult to help a small army of children, but LEGO helps bridge that gap. My reputation for being the EA who loves LEGO is an automatic icebreaker because many of the kids know my fun style, so I’ll likely always wear my LEGO earrings and shoes, just to make the connection as easy as possible.

I could go on and on with my LEGO connections at school. But for now, this tired EA needs some rest. Play well, everyone!

these squishy little bricks from brixalotl have been a lifesaver for me. although they did cause a fight in kindergarten, It was adorable, if i am being honest. no more squishy bricks for the 5 year-olds! haha!

Best of BrickNerd - Article originally published October 9, 2023.

Do you work as an educator and use LEGO in school? Have you ever used LEGO as an icebreaker to connect with kids? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Do you want to help BrickNerd continue publishing articles like this one? Become a top patron like Charlie Stephens, Marc & Liz Puleo, Paige Mueller, Rob Klingberg from Brickstuff, John & Joshua Hanlon from Beyond the Brick, Megan Lum, Andy Price, Lukas Kurth from StoneWars, Wayne Tyler, LeAnna Taylor, Monica Innis, Dan Church, and Roxanne Baxter to show your support, get early access, exclusive swag and more.