What about Disney is educational?

[Planogirl]

I think having to explain to a school why you should be allowed to take your own kid on a vacation. They're your child not the states.

But if you can get the days to not count against attendance then that is great. There have just been so many threads with people asking how to get trips approved and such by principals and I find that insane. I'd be pulling my kid in a heart beat.

Of course we already home school so...

However I do think parents as a whole should take an active role in educating their kids in a natural way so am all for opportunities that foster this.

Now being forced by the school in order to allow a student to go- that is over stepping .

Schools can't control the kids but they can set rules for their schools. Their solution if you don't want to follow their rules is often to take your kid elsewhere.

Personally I refused to consider WDW an educational experience. Of course you can learn anywhere but out focus at WDW was to get away from it all and that included heavy education.

 

[BayouMickey]

AND vocabulary (facetious)!

Love of World Showcase has our kids interested in visiting the countries represented.

Did I spell it wrong? lol I'm known to do so

 

[afinnteach]

I agree that any travel opportunity can be educational. However they need to be age appropriate. I think your idea of poetry is great and skill appropriate. A lot of the stuff listed were more like 3rd or 4th grade.

I read OP post and the first page then got interrupted by my kids before posting, so I missed the post about her child being in 8th grade. Obviously, more in depth learning will have to occur, but it could be done with some pre-planning.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

Different perspectives, definitely. Everywhere we went we looked at it as an educational opportunity and always looked for learning experiences and things to teach our children. Not because we wanted to force education, but simply because learning is fun and we wanted our children to think so. Curiosity fueled this in many ways; both in us, as parents, and the kids.

We had a running joke for my daughter's entire school life: When she was young, she said she hated math. We would point out everything that was math in life - especially the necessity of math when she wanted to buy something. It became a running joke. Go to the movies? It takes math! Then I hate it, she would say, and then smile. She got the point. She has her masters, is successful, and lives in Manhattan now. Sometimes we would add formal things such as logs and work, but often just stopping and soaking up the learning experience when available was enough.

The point is, why wouldn't a parent look at everything as education, everything as fun, and everything as both!? Children are curious animals. Feed that curiosity and guide it.

OP, you rock! Go for it. We took our kids out of school several times for the educational experience of Disney and it was very educational for all of us. Epcot and Animal Kingdom are absolutel full of fun educational opportunities. Your kids will benefit from what they learn, AND from learning that education is fun and everywhere.

 

[DebbieB]

My mom and I took my niece was she was 9. She had to do an educational project while we were there. I bought the Epcot passport and we went around to all the countries meeting the cm's and getting their signatures. There were also flag stickers for each country to put in the book. She also had to do a journal and homework assignments. My mom is now gone and she is now 23. That was the only time she has flown in a plane or been far from home. I think this time was more valuable than a week at school.

 

[zy144622]

But is it both? Is she going to make sure its educational, or is she just looking for reasons it is so she can list them and her vacation can be excused?
I have no problem taking kids out of school, I've done it myself. I just didn't try to excuse what I did. It was a for a family vacation, plain and simple. I mean what's next- I took my dd out of school for a manicure and pedicure, she learned good hand and foot hygiene. I took my dd out of school for a day of shopping so she could learn budgeting. Schools are making it easy for parents to buck responsibility and teach their kids to do that too, when they let parents excuse a family vacation IMO. If I'm taking my kids out of the classroom, its for my own personal selfish reasons (which is my right) so I'll take full responsibility for it and deal with whatever teh consequences of that choice are.

I think life experiences are far more educational than a classroom. They also leave a lasting impression. One does not need to try to make Disney educational. To bring what you read about in school to life is a wonderful experience.

 

[wendydarling826]

LOL. It's "educational" to watch your parents try to BS your teacher and principal into selling a family vacation as an "educational enhancement opportunity".

Having had my laughs at this, I must say from a teacher's perspective that there is so much to learn at WDW if you take the time to take it all in.
Animal adaptations and habitats at AK
Elements of fairy tales at MK
Cultures and customs and innovations at Epcot
DHS - hmmmm.... I'm sure I can come up with something.
Just have your kid keep a journal (or write it in the airport while waiting for the flight home).
Family time in WDW is priceless, don't feel guilty. Kids are learning all the time in everything they do and everywhere they go.

 

[Burnedout]

I read OP post and the first page then got interrupted by my kids before posting, so I missed the post about her child being in 8th grade. Obviously, more in depth learning will have to occur, but it could be done with some pre-planning.

I wasn't being snotty. I like poetry

 

[Burnedout]

I think life experiences are far more educational than a classroom. They also leave a lasting impression. One does not need to try to make Disney educational. To bring what you read about in school to life is a wonderful experience.

It depends on the emphasis. If the "life experience" is playing video games or texting all day long getting from one ride to another then I totally disagree. If the kid has a developed a solid curiously then the need to know more will prevail. It just depends

 

[minniesbiggiestfan]

Susiec:

your form sounds like the one I have to fill out for my kids.. One school signs it without ever saying a word, and I have told the teachers ahead of time also. My DD is also 9 and in 3rd grade..

my son, who is in middle school (11 and in 6th grade) his school is being a tad more difficult. Same forms, but not willing to "excuse" the days that the girl is getting.. its also a semi private school, that I PAY money for him to attend.. Thus, we booked our trip and got the airline tix way ahead of my son getting into said school..

my husband is an airline pilot @ Jetblue and this is his down time.. so we always have traveled in sept/oct.. you can make anything in disney educational.. food, nature, meeting people, fairytales, science, rides, ect.. Have fun on your trip
and don't worry about the school.. as my dh would say "Im not going to let school, get in the way of the kids education"

 

[larryz]

Another sterling educational opportunity is to help the student plan the finances and budgeting for the trip.

Be sure to include:
1) transportation to and back
2) lodging
3) food
4) park tickets
5) souvenirs
6) tips

Have the student log the daily expenses, then compare them to the forecast/budgeted items. Have them graph/chart the results, and then analyze with sugguesstions as to why the figures vary. Run stats and determine which expenses exceeded 1, 1.5, and 2 SDs.

Should be lots of fun and very eye-opening for them...

 

[Disneylifeforme]

My son who has missed many a day for Disney is being tested for gifted class this week.

 

[Burnedout]

My son who has missed many a day for Disney is being tested for gifted class this week.

Okkkkk...?

 

[kathy884]

Even how to get from one ride to another can be educational. Having your teen experiment with computer models for the most efficient touring plan for a park, etc. might be their first exposure to something like this and open their eyes to something new. Have them come up with a custom touring plan or something like that if they have an interest in this. It's sort of fascinating how many people make a living by doing time studies of crowd patterns and length of lines, etc. at amusement parks.

Actually maybe the reason that I appreciate and am so fascinated by these models is because we usually travel high season when school is not in session and if it weren't for these wouldn't go at those times.

 

[RedHeadedFairy]

The truth is that everything in life becomes a teachable moment or opportunity when you think about it. My DD learns analytically when we are at the grocery store, library, post office, etc. She learns emotionally when we involve her in discussions and treat her with respect. As a parent we are never done teaching, lol. But I can see where trying to justify Disney as an educational experience that qualifies as replacement for class time is kinda like me expecting extra credit for taking my kid to the library on Saturdays.

I am thankful that I do not have to be concerned with this tug-of-war regarding taking my DD out of school like so many are - our school/teachers have all been really great about it, every single time we've done it. I think it stinks, OP, that you have to justify your family time to ANYONE.

That said - if it hasn't already been mentioned the Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot is a wonderful, affordable tour that you might think about adding to your trip for DD. It's a small group setting, only takes about 60-90 mins and the CMs are GREAT with a lot of one-on-one Q&A & they have tons of info to share. It's an awesome opportunity for a lot of close up pic taking & more in-depth info & could easily be part of a report or presentation or whatever when you return home. DH, DD & I loved doing this tour! The great part is that if the rest of the family isn't interested it's short enough that they can easily occupy themselves doing other activities in the area & everybody's happy. If you decide to book something like this don't forget that AP holders & Disney visa card members qualify for discounts!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Quite frankly you could justice a WDW educational trip with just a visit to the American Pavilion in World Showcase, not to mention all the other countries!

AKK

 

[Burnedout]

Quite frankly you could justice a WDW educational trip with just a visit to the American Pavilion in World Showcase, not to mention all the other countries!

AKK

Lol, as long as you realize it is a very carefully picked through description of our history.

For an 8th grader I'd be having them analyze what was chosen, what wasn't and why they thought the choices were made.

 

[JenluvsDisney]

My 7th-grade son did a project on Sum of all Thrills for his science class last year. This included an oral presentation explaining the physics principles involved in roller coaster creation. And he was especially thrilled to be able to show his class the ride he "created" when he was at Epcot since they give you a card that contains a code to access your ride from home.

Hope you're able to get your trip approved and that you have a great time!

 

[WDSearcher]

My son who has missed many a day for Disney is being tested for gifted class this week.

Which likely would have happened whether he missed school or not, so I don't think Disney (or vacations) had anything to do with it.

There are probably also a whole bunch of kids who have never missed a single day of school ever but still will never get above a C.

There's really no correlation between missing school and being smart (or not).

 

[JKSWonder]

Having had my laughs at this, I must say from a teacher's perspective that there is so much to learn at WDW if you take the time to take it all in.
Animal adaptations and habitats at AK
Elements of fairy tales at MK
Cultures and customs and innovations at Epcot
DHS - hmmmm.... I'm sure I can come up with something.
Just have your kid keep a journal (or write it in the airport while waiting for the flight home).
Family time in WDW is priceless, don't feel guilty. Kids are learning all the time in everything they do and everywhere they go.

At DHS....maybe something to do at Art of Animation? The drawing class? After all, art is part of education too. Or maybe go see Walt...One Man's Dream and do a short written biography on him?