Teachers who love Disney

[Brancaneve]

Are there any teachers out there who love Disney and incorporate it into their classroom? My job share partner and I have fun ways of incorporating some Disney magic but I have a few questions.

1) What are some fun "Disney" ideas that you have? How do you use it to enhance your behavior plan, lessons, etc.?
2) Do you ever worry about getting sued for using anything Disney? For example, I don't have time to show feature length movies, but am wary of showing Disney movies. I once heard an urban legend about a teacher who was sued by Disney(her student's dad was a Dis attorney). Ouch!
3) Have you ever had a problem with parents who did not support your Dis magic? The only problem I have had relates to parents whose children beg them to go to Disneyland!

I look forward to sharing ideas with all the DT(Disney Teachers )out there.

 

[Disneylvrforever]

I'm not a teacher, but one of my teachers showed a clip of Mulan to prove a point. The class I'm taking is an Asian American Woman's Studies class and we were talking about what is expected of an Asian woman. For Mulan, it was to get a good husband, bring honor to her family, etc. Although it was for a class of higher education, I thought it was fun watching something Disney related in the classroom. I'd love it if there was a whole class related to Disney!

 

[Disney Princess]

We don't have tons of time for me to incorporate my Disney, but I try. I teach Spanish, and sometimes I'll show a clip of a Disney movie in Spanish that uses a specific piece of grammar, vocab, etc. The students are usually familiar with the story and dialogue, and it seems easier to hear it in Spanish that way.

 

[Brancaneve]

Great ideas and thank you for sharing. I teach 2nd grade and to promote good behavior the students are given a ticket that shows a picture of tinkerbell and the words, "You have magical manners." Magical manners are passed out when we see good behavior and the children have to pay two when they have broken a classroom rule. At the end of the month we have an auction where they are able to bid and purchase items using their magical manners. They take this very seriously!

I also give Disney birthday cards(from the disney.go.com/magicartist/coloring) website along with a Mickey pencil. There are also a variety of awards that I use at the end of the school year. I use the Diney fonts(free on the internet) as often as I can and all the nametags are written in Disney font with Disney stickers attached.

I also put Disney stickers in my lesson plan book and have a lot of stuffed Minnies and Mickey's all over the classroom.

I also label one of my bulletin boards with "All Ears for Science" and change the subject as the bulletin board changes. For example, "All Ears for Geometry."


I also display my weekly vocabulary words under a sign that says, "Mickey's words of the week."

Just some ideas that make teaching fun and engaging for the children!

 

[PHXscuba]

My son's third grade teacher a few years ago was a huge Mickey Mouse fan. He used it on bulletin boards, around the classroom, on "Mickey money" given as rewards, on nametags, etc. I think he had a clip art program that gave him lots of images to use. It gave his room a consistent theme (I have seen other elementary teachers do similar with bears, frogs, etc.)

Becuase he liked Mickey so much (and was a well-liked teacher) kids were always bringing him character stuff; some nice, some cheap. At the end of every quarter, he had an auction using the Mickey money and gave away a chunk of his "collection." I thought it was a nice way to reward the kids and "recycle."

Strangely, he had only been to DLR once. He said he didn't like the crowds.

PHXscuba
"You can't have everything -- besides, where would you put it all?"

 

[JadeDarkstar]

nice ideas im gona keep an eye on this thread.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I teach pre-k. We have a pointer that is called "Mickey's Hand" because it looks like a white glove.

I wear Disney pins (and others) on my key and whistle lanyard. Different pins each week depending on what letter we are learning.

When they do their worksheet to the best of their ability, I offer them a choice of Cars or Disney Princess stickers.

That's about it. There are a few kids who go to DLR and they always talk to me about it and what rides they went on. One day they made Disneyland in the sandbox!

 

[avalon451]

I teach Kindergarten, and I have that same kind of pointer with the gloved hand, though I haven't associated it with Mickey.

Good ideas! I have not incorporated much of my Disney obsession into the classroom, but it looks like there's some fun ideas out there!

 

[kkheburn]

I teach preschool and use the Mickey heads from Home Depot for a matching game. My kids love it. Plus we listen to Disney music ALL day. I think my co teacher is going crazy!

 

[Brancaneve]

A game that I play with my students is the character game. For example, I give 3 clues about a character and then they have an opportunity to guess only after I have said, " Who am I?' For example, I have black hair. I have seven little friends. I bit into a poisonous apple. Who am I? " This then leads into using this game format to review social studies, vocabulary words, math terms, etc. "I have tall buildings. Lots of people live here. I am outside of a rural area. Who am I?" The answer is an urban area.


I will post again when I think of something good!

 

[disneymom8589]

I'm another 2nd grade "DT"!! It's been fun reading all of the great ideas! I use a gold Mickey head pen as a pointer, have a Tinkerbell mug on my desk that holds my pens (including Disney ones!) and pencils. For a map skills activity, I laminated the 4 WDW park maps and have questions related to directions to different attractions. For example, is the castle north or south of Central Plaza, etc.? When we were at WDW last year, I took a picture of the display in "One Man's Dream" that showed Walt Disney with his 2nd grade desk (initials carved in desk!) I framed that picture and have it displayed in my class. I also have pictures of us at Disney displayed around my desk area. I play quiet instrumental Disney music when they're working on art projects, activities, etc.

My students, parents, and co-workers know I'm a big Disney fan! When we do Secret Pals I always get Disney-related things! Co-workers ask me for Disney travel advice and I'm happy to help!

 

[jemilah]

The science teacher at Ds9's school has a Disney themed room !

Not a teacher myself but every week last school year we made at least one sentence for spelling about Disneyland. some weeks it was a challenge but there was always at least one!

Oh and the 3rd grade teacher last year told lots of Disneystorys of her trips too . and our 3rd grade BIG report was on Walt Disney my son wore his top hat Mickey ears!

 

[cutedisneygirly]

I am a student teacher in a second grade class (almost done!) and my school is really into Disney. There is a first grade teacher who has Mickey and Minnie all over her room, and her mom, who is the secretary, has decorated the office in a Disney theme. I have my badge hanging on my 2008 Disneyland lanyard with the fab 5 on it, and I love to wear my Disney skirts.

However, since it is not my classroom, I can't do a lot of Disney decorating. I do have Disneyland park maps in all the languages that are offered, and I plan to laminate these and stick them up on a wall in my own classroom next year. This would be a great tool to expose my students to many other languages.

I will keep an eye on this thread so I can pick up some of your ideas and try to incorporate those into my own classroom next year!

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

Last year, my son's First Grade teacher was a HUGE Mickey fan. She had Mickey's all over her room, used photocopied "Disney dollars" as class currency (is that legal?? ) and called her minivan (which small groups of kids sometimes got to ride in when she took them for ice cream as rewards) the "Mickey Mobile." Of course, we supported her cause, and when it came time to give her Christmas gifts or other teacher gifts, Mickey was always involved. For fun, when I was helping my son write his spelling sentences, I would suggest he should use "Mickey" or "Disneyland" instead of regular names and places, just to see if she noticed! She was a really great teacher, and when she retired at the end of the year, she held a "garage sale" in her room and "sold" the kids a bunch of her Mickey collection. My son brought home an awesome Mickey statue and a magnet.
I am a teaching assistant, and since the room I work in isn't "mine" I don't decorate or anything. But I do wear my Disney shirts to work whenever I can, and on hat day I wear my Mickey ears! The kids LOVE it!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

I teach Kindergarten, and I have that same kind of pointer with the gloved hand, though I haven't associated it with Mickey.

Good ideas! I have not incorporated much of my Disney obsession into the classroom, but it looks like there's some fun ideas out there!

It was only just this years students who came up with that. I can't take credit for it.

 

[Disney Princess]

I am a student teacher in a second grade class (almost done!) and my school is really into Disney. There is a first grade teacher who has Mickey and Minnie all over her room, and her mom, who is the secretary, has decorated the office in a Disney theme. I have my badge hanging on my 2008 Disneyland lanyard with the fab 5 on it, and I love to wear my Disney skirts.

However, since it is not my classroom, I can't do a lot of Disney decorating. I do have Disneyland park maps in all the languages that are offered, and I plan to laminate these and stick them up on a wall in my own classroom next year. This would be a great tool to expose my students to many other languages.

I will keep an eye on this thread so I can pick up some of your ideas and try to incorporate those into my own classroom next year!

Thanks for reminding me! I also have the Spanish maps laminated (from WDW) and we use them when talking about directional prepositions (next to, to the left of, to the right, far from, etc.) I have also used it when practicing giving directions (go straight until the castle, then turn right)

Although, after reading some of your fun ideas, I wish I taught younger kids. I teach at a university and I don't even have my own "room". My office has lots of Disney though!

 

[becky_AK]

What great ideas. I am currently finishing my Masters in Elementary Ed and by this time next year should have a classroom of my own. I'll keep my eye on this thread for more great ideas

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I like the map ideas and alot of others ty i will keep an eye on this thread.

 

[Brancaneve]

It has been fun reading what everyone does in their classroom! I have two cups for pencils; a sharp cup and a dull cup. I have a large sticker of Lightning McQueen on the sharp and Mater on the dull. A great visual reminder of where to put your pencil! I will write more as I think of more things!

 

[cutedisneygirly]

I LOVE this idea! I taking it to use it in my room! Now I just need to get the stickers.

It has been fun reading what everyone does in their classroom! I have two cups for pencils; a sharp cup and a dull cup. I have a large sticker of Lightning McQueen on the sharp and Mater on the dull. A great visual reminder of where to put your pencil! I will write more as I think of more things!