DVC Teachers who love Disney

[Brancaneve]

I have used "Mickey Mouse Money" for my students. "Money" was given out for returned homework assignments, working independently, following directions. At the end of the week, students could "shop" from my store or bank it for next week. In the store was candy, school supplies, etc. Made the dollars on the computer with a picture of the mouse and my name. It worked really well.

Also have a maps of the theme parks and I rotate them on my door. When students line up, they read the map. I have a laminated picture of myself that I move around the park and the students have to find and read where I am.

I love the "Where is my teacher? " map idea. Can I steal it?

 

[Brancaneve]

Thank you everyone for the great ideas! I am actually writing to you on my last day of school. Well, not really. Our district is so overcrowded that we are on a year round schedule. I am off for one month about every three months, Nice, isn't it! The time off will give me a chance to live out some of your wonderful ideas.

For those of you that write to Mickey and then get a response, what is the address? It would save me hours of searching on the computer! Thanks!

 

[disneymom8589]

Thank you everyone for the great ideas! I am actually writing to you on my last day of school. Well, not really. Our district is so overcrowded that we are on a year round schedule. I am off for one month about every three months, Nice, isn't it! The time off will give me a chance to live out some of your wonderful ideas.

For those of you that write to Mickey and then get a response, what is the address? It would save me hours of searching on the computer! Thanks!

I have my information in a folder at school, but I found this address for Disneyland online and it looks like the one I remember:

Disneyland
c/o Guest Services
P.O. Box 3232
Anaheim, CA 92803-3232

I didn't find an address for Disney World.

 

[robandkelly13]

I teach high school world literature and I constantly use Disney movie references to illustrate the themes in our literature. They seems to relate better to Disney cartoons plus with a 3 year old DD Disney is all I watch at home - LOVE IT!

 

[Brancaneve]

My class tracked off today and about 5 of my students, including my job share partner are all going to Disneyland. I wonder if we inspired the trip? I wish I was going but we have to wait 126 days until our trip to Disney World.


Did any of you know that Mickey's birthday is November 18th(I think)? We are planning on celebrating his birthday on or around that day and including many "learning" activities around that theme. Keep the ides coming! I love it!

 

[Nikisha421]

Thank you everyone for the great ideas! I am actually writing to you on my last day of school. Well, not really. Our district is so overcrowded that we are on a year round schedule. I am off for one month about every three months, Nice, isn't it! The time off will give me a chance to live out some of your wonderful ideas.

For those of you that write to Mickey and then get a response, what is the address? It would save me hours of searching on the computer! Thanks!

WOW A MONTH OFF...THAT ONLY MEANS YOU GET TO DISNEY MORE...AND IN OFF SEASONS....PLEASE COULD I HAVE THAT SCHEDULE FOR A YEAR...COME ON PLEASE

 

[rantnnravin]

-I teach 9th grade English and Disney works its way into most discussions. My students have very weak foundations, but references to Disney movies, stories and characters help to build understanding of literary concepts and techniques.
-My desk is Disney decorated and I use the double zero in 2008 to form a hidden Mickey in the date on my board and Mrs. R. is always wearing a hidden Mickey- whomever finds it first wins a piece of candy.
-I use the concept of 'Ohana to build my classroom community.
-Very often, creative writing pieces and projects come with Disney references (blatant pandering for a good grade - I LOVE it!)

 

[TAKitty]

I teach high school and all my students know I love Disney. The only pens I let my students borrow are Disney character pens. The kids like the pens and they don't forget to return them. I also use the pens for parent teacher conferences. Many parents don't bring a pen and they used to end up taking mine.

As far as Disney in my classroom, I have some Disney quotes around the room, My screen saver on my media cart is a picture of the castle, and I use Disney stamps to stamp homework.

I love when my students wear Disney shirts it gives us something to connect on. With 140 students any little thing helps!

 

[MouseFan'sKid]

I use recognizable scenes from Disney movies to teach my fourth graders about landforms. All my students know a plateau from a plain because of The Lion King! I love the idea of using park maps to teach map skills. I won't be in Disney again for quite a while, but my dad is going on his annual trip in a few weeks. I'll have to ask him to bring back maps for me!

 

[rutgers1]

I only have one regret about going into teaching.....having to take Disney vacations when everyone else is there, lol.

I remember "back in the day" when my parents would take us down in October. Those were the days!

 

[LarryM]

My wife teaches kindergarden and each week there is a star of the week. Her co-workers give that student a teddy bear to keep for a weekend and write in a journal that stays with the bear. My wife does the dame thing but with a little Mickey Mouse and in Mickey's bag is a Mickey shaped cookie cutter. Over the years Mickey has traveled all over including a bowl game in Arizona. The cookie cutter has made pancakes as well as cookies and the journal has some great pictures that the parents have added of thier child and Mickey Mouse. This past year a little girl made an ornament for Mickey and gave it to her because she knew we would be going back. This past summer we gave it to Mickey in his house and luckily Minnie was there as well so we got a picture of them with the ornament for the little girl and sent it to her so she could have it.

 

[Brancaneve]

I only have one regret about going into teaching.....having to take Disney vacations when everyone else is there, lol.

I remember "back in the day" when my parents would take us down in October. Those were the days!

Being the largest district in Northern California and one of the largest in the state, 95% of Elementary schools are on a year round schedule. I started at the end of July, finished my report cards at the end of September and tracked off yesterday. This means packing up everything I own and leaving behind an empty classroom for the teacher that is
tracking back on. I am off all of October, February, June and half of July. It is so nice to go to DL or DW in February or October when the parks are not so crowded. However, we did find crowds in February due to winter breaks on the East Coast.

Having breaks throughout the year is so amazing! Every teacher needs to clear her/his head and every student needs to do the same. I find that concepts the children could not understand, become easier to grasp after a nice little break. I don't think I could ever go back to a traditional schedule!

Keep the ideas coming!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I teach high school Italian, and I am able to incorporate Disney into my classroom.

When I teach the more advanced level Italian classes, I have the students write a fairy tale in Italian, in their own words, but sticking with the original story. Their choices are Cenerentola (Cinderella), Bianca Neve (Snow White), Aladdin, Il libro della giungla (The Jungle Book), Pinocchio (which is originally an Italian story). They have to write the story on a First Grade level. They also have to illustrate the story with their own drawings. I love doing this project and they always come out so nice! I then have each student present their Fairy Tale to the class. We all sit in a big circle (picture 34 teenagers and a teacher!!), the presenting student gets in the middle and reads us all the story as if we are a bunch of 5-year-olds! The kids work very hard on these and it shows! And I always get a lot of positive feedback that they had fun doing the project.

Before they students complete the Italian fairy tale project, I show them 2 videos. I have both Cinderella ("Cenerentola" in Italian), and Snow White ("Bianca Neve" in Italian) films dubbed in Italian. So we first watch those in class and they really love it!! I find it easy to incorporate things the students love into the foreign language classroom. The fairy tales are always a hit with them!

 

[disneymom8589]

My wife teaches kindergarden and each week there is a star of the week. Her co-workers give that student a teddy bear to keep for a weekend and write in a journal that stays with the bear. My wife does the dame thing but with a little Mickey Mouse and in Mickey's bag is a Mickey shaped cookie cutter. Over the years Mickey has traveled all over including a bowl game in Arizona. The cookie cutter has made pancakes as well as cookies and the journal has some great pictures that the parents have added of thier child and Mickey Mouse. This past year a little girl made an ornament for Mickey and gave it to her because she knew we would be going back. This past summer we gave it to Mickey in his house and luckily Minnie was there as well so we got a picture of them with the ornament for the little girl and sent it to her so she could have it.

I also give my students a bear to take home each weekend to write about their adventures, but I love your wife's idea of using a Mickey Mouse and sending a cookie cutter along with him! I may try that next year!