My Disney Class podcast

Crafting Disney's Stories: Lessons in Communication from Allen Babiarz-Lira   In Season 9, Episode 18 of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan Boeckman and Howie DiBlasi welcome special guest Allen Babiarz-Lira, a college professor of communication at Saint Xavier University. With over 10 years of teaching experience, Allen brings a wealth of knowledge to the discussion. He holds a bachelor's degree in media communication and a master's degree in communication and training from Governors State University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in communication from Regent University. Allen's teaching and research interests encompass a broad spectrum, including interpersonal communication, gender communication, leadership, Disney, and social media. During the episode, Allen shares his expertise on how Disney utilizes storytelling and narrative techniques in their theme parks, providing valuable insights into the power of communication in creating immersive guest experiences. He also discusses his Disney Communication through Animation class, offering a glimpse into how Disney's animation techniques can be studied and applied to enhance communication skills. Additionally, Allen delves into the topic of Disney's presence in his classroom and how he utilizes Disney's strengths to his students' advantage. Showing them how to develop and maximize their potential.  Outside of academia, Allen enjoys spending time with his family and friends, particularly at his favorite destination, Walt Disney World. Tune in to this engaging episode as Ryan, Howie, and Allen delve into the fascinating world of communication, Disney, and storytelling, providing listeners with valuable insights and perspectives.  

In Season 9, Episode 17 of My Disney Class Podcast, co-hosts Ryan Boeckman and Howie DiBlasi embark on an intriguing exploration of the top ten urban legends about Disney and education. Delving into the realm of myth and mystery, Ryan and Howie uncover fascinating stories and rumors that have circulated within the Disney and educational communities. From supposed hidden messages in Disney films to legendary tales of innovative teaching methods inspired by Disney magic, the hosts dissect each urban legend with curiosity and insight. Drawing on their collective knowledge and expertise, Ryan and Howie offer engaging commentary and analysis, separating fact from fiction and shedding light on the truths behind these captivating tales. Throughout the episode, listeners are treated to a blend of entertainment and education as Ryan and Howie unravel the myths surrounding Disney and its influence on educational practices. Join them on this captivating journey as they debunk myths, share anecdotes, and celebrate the enduring legacy of Disney and education. Tune in to discover the truth behind the top ten urban legends about Disney and education, and prepare to be enchanted by the magic of storytelling and discovery. We hope you enjoyed our look at urban legends at Disney and in schools. We also hope you found a few nuggets that might inspire a lesson or activity that you can do with your students dealing with urban legends. If you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better and that's no urban legend!

In Episode 16 of Season 9, hosts Ryan Boeckman and Howie DiBlasi welcome special guest Professor Bob Abbott to My Disney Class podcast. Professor Abbott brings a wealth of experience as an instructor in Project Management, Visual Thinking, and Business Analysis at McGill University Centre for Continuing Education, with over 15 years of teaching under his belt. Additionally, he boasts over 30 years of Information and Technology expertise in the telecommunications industry, making him a seasoned enterprise Senior Project Manager and facilitator.  Throughout the episode, Professor Abbott shares insights into the importance of visual thinking and brainstorming in project management and corporate training, drawing on his extensive experience and expertise. He discusses techniques for fostering creativity and innovation within teams, often employing humor, storytelling, and Disney to cultivate an atmosphere of trust and creative thinking during his classes. Practical examples of visual thinking and brainstorming techniques are explored, highlighting their effectiveness in problem-solving and idea generation.  The episode concludes with Professor Abbott sharing how he uses Edmagineering Classrooms in his courses at McGill University.  Bob offers us some helpful tips for using some of the same techniques he uses and also shares how he helps his students who struggle with this approach get over some of their initial hurdles.    Overall, Episode 16 offers valuable insights and practical strategies for fostering creativity and innovation in both project management and educational settings. We hope you enjoyed listening to Professor Abbott and we hope that you try some of the innovative approaches he has to helping students maximize their learning potential through visual learning.  If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with fellow educators. Stay tuned for more captivating episodes as we continue our journey through the world of education and innovation, Disney style!  

AI Magic: From Disney to the Classroom   In the latest installment of Season 9, airing on March 1st hosts Howie and Ryan embark on an intriguing exploration of the role of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Disney company and its potential applications in the field of education. They begin by delving into how Disney has effectively integrated AI technologies across various facets of its operations, leveraging them to enhance guest experiences and streamline processes. From interactive chatbots providing personalized assistance to predictive algorithms optimizing theme park logistics, Disney's innovative use of AI serves as a compelling case study in the realm of customer service and engagement. Transitioning seamlessly into the educational sphere, Ryan and Howie pivot to discuss how educators can harness the power of AI to tailor classroom instruction and cater to the individual learning needs of students. Drawing on a range of AI tools and resources, they explore options such as chat generators and adaptive learning platforms that enable teachers to create dynamic and personalized lesson experiences. Through practical examples and insightful discussions, the hosts illuminate the transformative potential of AI in education, empowering educators to enhance student engagement, facilitate differentiated instruction, and foster deeper learning outcomes.  Whether it's leveraging AI-powered chatbots to facilitate student-teacher interactions or utilizing adaptive learning algorithms to tailor lesson content in real time, this episode offers a wealth of valuable insights and resources for educators looking to harness the power of AI in their classrooms. Tune in to discover how AI is revolutionizing both the magic of Disney and the landscape of education.  

Cody Havard, Being a Fan of Disney In this special interview episode, hosts Howie DiBlasi and Ryan Boeckman are joined by Dr. Cody Havard, a professor at The University of Memphis. Dr. Havard's diverse creative projects, ranging from comic books to podcasting, are explored, along with the launch of his latest endeavor, "Being a Fan of Disney: The Book," and "The Perspectives Files" on Kindle Vella. Listeners are encouraged to connect with Dr. Havard's work through various channels, including subscribing to his podcast, following him on social media, and visiting his website. As the interview concludes, the hosts express gratitude to Dr. Havard for sharing his expertise and insights, inviting listeners to continue exploring the fascinating world of sports rivalry and fandom through his work. Don't miss this engaging conversation that offers valuable insights and opportunities for further exploration. Make sure to subscribe to My Disney Class to stay updated on future episodes and guests.

Can You Feel The Love Tonight  In this special February episode of My Disney Class, co-hosted by Howie DiBlasi and Ryan Boeckman, the focus is on the captivating ways Walt Disney World cast members demonstrate care towards their guests and how we can apply this to our schools. The discussion unfolds with an exploration of various customer service techniques employed by Disney cast members, from warm greetings at the park gates to creating a welcoming atmosphere that makes guests feel at home. Tying these magical gestures to the theme of Valentine's Day, the hosts draw connections between Disney's care techniques and how educators can make students feel loved in schools. The episode delves into real-life examples from Walt Disney World, showcasing instances of extraordinary guest experiences and the impact of personalized care on overall satisfaction. The hosts then translate these Disney magic moments into practical strategies for educators to implement in the classroom, emphasizing the importance of building meaningful connections with students.  We hope you enjoyed our episode today where we bring the love to you and hopefully to our students! If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with fellow educators. Stay tuned for more captivating episodes as we continue our journey through the world of education and innovation, Disney style!

Inspiring Magic, One Child at a Time with Emily Gathman. 0 Nov 15, 2021 In today's Replay episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie welcome Emily Gathman again.  Emily is a 6th grade Science teacher at Bussey Middle School in Garland Texas. She loves to inspire her students to be creative problem-solvers as they tackle real-world Science and engineering problems in her classroom.  Emily was recognized in 2021 as the Bussey Middle School's, Teacher of the year which as you will see in this episode is truly well deserved!  On the show, Emily will share with us how she has incorporated the lessons that she has learned from Disney as well as what brings her inspiration from Disney into her classroom for her students. This ranges from how she has designed physical things in her classroom to how she uses inspirational quotes. For example, Emily helps her students handle failures they encounter in her class by using the quote,” Failure is not an endpoint but a jumping-off point.” She combines this quote with stories about how Walt Disney himself overcame many failures. We think you will agree as you listen to Emily describe her classroom that she is definitely inspiring her students to be innovators, just like Uncle Walt! We hope you enjoyed today's REPLAY episode and as always, we would love for you to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts. If you have any feedback or would like to come on the show, please email us at MyDisneyClass@gmail.com, and don't forget to join our Facebook community at Educators Who Love Disney.  

Welcome back, educators and Disney enthusiasts, to another exciting episode of My Disney Class! In this episode, hosts Ryan and Howie dive into the latest happenings at Walt Disney World for the new year. Join them as they explore the plusses and minuses of the various changes and share their perspectives. Additionally, the hosts discuss New Year's resolutions for education in 2024, providing insights and goals for the upcoming academic year. Howie and Ryan start by discussing the latest developments and changes at Walt Disney World for the new year. This includes new attractions, refurbishments, and other noteworthy updates within the parks. They look at each of these changes and give the positive and negative aspects of each. They also share their personal experiences and insights on how these changes might impact the overall guest experience.   To wrap this show and 2023 up, Ryan and Howie reflect on the past year in education and discuss the evolving landscape of our wonderful profession. They share their resolutions for the new academic year, focusing on innovative teaching methods, technology integration, and student engagement. They also discuss the importance of continuous learning and professional development for educators, like the magical P.D. Magic conference coming up this June.    We hope you enjoyed our episode today where we looked back at 2023 to help us look forward to 2024! If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with fellow educators. Stay tuned for more captivating episodes as we continue our journey through the world of education and innovation, Disney style!  

Welcome to another magical episode of My Disney Class! In this episode, co-host Howie DiBlasi's son, Mark DiBlasi, takes the stage to delve into the exciting gaming world in the classroom. Join us as Mark shares his insights on incorporating board games into educational settings and valuable tips on building a cost-effective game library for your students. Mark starts off the show with a brief introduction and gives us a quick background on himself which includes his connection to education and his passion for gaming. We then jump into exploring the benefits of integrating board games into the educational environment. Mark shares examples of how board games can enhance critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills among students and lists out some top choices he thinks would be good options for most classrooms. Mark also gives us some options for finding deals on board games that can help teachers keep the cost down of bringing games into the classroom. From cost-effective alternatives and creative solutions to groups that share resources for free, Mark has some great options for all budgets. He also shares digital resources and websites to help educators discover suitable games for their classrooms and ways to navigate online platforms to find educational games that align with specific learning objectives.  We hope you enjoyed our episode today with Mark DiBlasi and his great insights on board games in the classroom. If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with fellow educators. Stay tuned for more captivating episodes as we continue our journey through the world of education and innovation, Disney style! 

Wishes for Education  Today, Howie and Ryan are looking at Disney's newest film “Wish.” The movie unfolds in the kingdom of Rosas, where King Magnifico possesses the ability to grant wishes, collecting and protecting them until the time is right. As 17-year-old Asha aims to become Magnifico's apprentice, she discovers the king's deceptive practices and sets out to reclaim her family's wishes with the help of an anthropomorphic ball of light named Star. Howie and Ryan draw parallels between the film's narrative and their own wishes for the education system, emphasizing themes of inspiration, empowerment, and critical thinking. As Asha confronts betrayal, corruption, and the power-hungry Magnifico, the hosts analyze the lessons for educators in teamwork, empowerment, and reshaping the educational landscape. We hope you enjoyed our episode today looking at Disney's newest movie “Wish” and also our discussion about wishes for the educational system as a whole. Also, if you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

Today, Howie and Ryan are diving into the enchanting world of Disney as they celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company.  Ryan and Howie spend the beginning of this episode reflecting on the journey of the Walt Disney Company over the past century. They discuss how Disney has evolved, innovated, and continued to captivate audiences worldwide. They also look at Disney's notable moments, characters, and milestones that have defined the Disney legacy! In the second half of this episode, Ryan and Howie shift gears, as they transport themselves back a century to explore what education and schools were like in the early 1920s. They even dive a little deeper and go back 100 more years to the 1820s, just for good measure. Looking back, Howie and Ryan, make several comparisons between the education landscape then and now, discussing changes, challenges, and progress. We hope you enjoyed our look back over the past couple of 100 years of both Disney and the educational system!  Also, if you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!

Destination D Announcements Today, Howie and Ryan discuss the recent announcements made by the Walt Disney Company at their Destination D event in Orlando. Ryan and Howie look to the future as some of these events that have been announced are currently happening, and some won't happen for a few months to years.  While looking at these announcements, Howie and Ryan ask themselves how these changes may enhance the opportunities for enriching our classrooms that Disney already provides. They talk about things that you can bring into your classroom directly from these changes and also find inspiration in them to branch off into other contents and activities that would make for great lessons and activities in school. We hope you enjoyed our conversation about the latest Destination D event and the exciting changes that hopefully will come true in the near future!  Also, if you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

Today, we have a very special guest who's making a difference in the world of education, Heidi von Marbod. She's a dedicated special education teacher in the CCPT program in the Cheney School District in Cheney, WA. Heidi works with students who have met all high school graduation requirements and are 18-21 years of age. Her students have or are working toward independence in transportation skills and may require independent living skills. Her students participate in vocational opportunities to further develop skills and independence in community work sites.   Hedi talks a little bit about her background and her path in the educational profession. She also shares her heartwarming personal story that led her to be a voice for students with special needs. Hedi shares her unique challenges and opportunities that are part of her very rewarding work and of course, she shares how she brings the magic of Disney, specifically Walt Disney, into her classroom.    Hedi rounds out the episode by talking about her mission to work with Disney and companies on a national level to help them understand what they should be providing in terms of accommodations for people with special needs. She shares how she developed this mission during her four-day experience with P.D. Magic and how her interactions with cast members and her fellow educators on the trip helped her develop and grow her mission into something even bigger!   We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Heidi as much as we enjoyed talking with her. Also, if you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney, and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie continue where they left off looking back at all eight seasons of My Disney Class Podcast and picking some of their favorite episodes that they think would be a good listen at the start of the new school year.   Listen as they share which episodes they picked and why listening to them may help you in the wonderful new school year you are approaching or maybe even already started!  This episode we definitely also work in our excitement for the upcoming P.D. Magic professional development experience coming June 17-20 at Walt Disney World. If you don't know what that is, listen to this episode and then head over to our new webpage, Edmagineering.com to find out more details and to sign up. You definitely don't want to miss this opportunity.   We hope you enjoyed our look back at some of the past episodes we so thoroughly enjoyed recording. We hope you found a few that you may have missed and when you go back and listen we hope that you find some value in the episode and we really hope that you find the same joy we did making it.   If you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

In this heartwarming episode of My Disney Class, Ryan and Howie dive into the world of special education and autism programs. Our guest, Taylor Norton, is a dedicated special education teacher at South Mesa Elementary School in Pueblo, CO. With her expertise and passion, she leads the autism program for students from kindergarten to 5th grade. Join us as we explore how Taylor incorporates the magic of Disney into her teaching methods and creates an inclusive and nurturing environment for her students. The podcast starts off with a great story by Talyor introducing herself and talking about her journey to becoming a special education teacher at South Mesa Elementary School. Taylor truly has an inspirational story for becoming a special education teacher and staying in the education profession. She also provides us with an overview of her role in running the autism program for students in kindergarten through 5th grade as well as the other students with special needs that she takes care of.  To end our show Talyor helps us understand the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive environment for students with special needs, especially those with Autism. We also discuss what can be learned from Disney when it comes to inclusion and creating environments that work for all guests/students. Taylor also has her own Youtube page that she started during the pandemic to help capture the magic she was missing while Disneyland was closed. She expresses how this helped her during that time and how she now helps others with her videos of the parks and the atmosphere and magic they capture.  We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Taylor as much as we did and if you are looking to bring some magic into your classroom or home, check out Talyor's Youtube videos. They are great for playing in the background to bring you to your happy place when you really need a visit but can't get to Disneyland or Disney World.  Also, if you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Howie and Ryan start to prepare for the new school year. They went back and looked at all the My Disney Class Podcast episodes over the past eight seasons and thought, “Which of these episodes would best prepare teachers as they head back to school?”  Listen as they share which episodes they picked and why listening to them may help you in the wonderful new school year you are approaching or maybe even already started! Ryan and Howie also look forward to the new season of My Disney Class Podcast, Season 9. So many good memories and more to come for sure!     As we start year 9 of the My Disney Class Podcast, we want to thank all of you who are part of our listener community. Whether you started today with this episode or have been here since Season 1, Episode 1, we appreciate you joining in and helping strengthen this wonderful and supportive group.  Also, if you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney, and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!

Get Me Coding With Fred Aebli   In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie are excited to welcome Mr. Fred Aebli! Fred is an instructor and program co-coordinator of internships at Penn State University and is also the creator and owner of GetMeCoding.com. Fred also served as a Major in the United States Marine Corps for 11 years.    Fred has taught in the higher education world for almost two decades where he has applied a lifetime of experiences as a software and database developer, website designer, project manager, and entrepreneur. He is a huge Star Wars fan as well as Disney, Lord of the Rings, and anything that can awaken his imagination and help him become more creative.    On the show today, Fred shares with us his journey from his early years as a software developer to an exceptional and inspiring educator. He also describes how his passion for innovation, creativity, and Disney has helped influence his decisions and path choices along his journey. Which has also led him to create GetMeCoding.com. GetMeCoding.com was Fred's solution to witnessing a growing demand for information technology professionals, in particular software developers, and a decline in the number of young people considering this to be a career possibility. He created GetMeCoding.com to remove the mystery of exploring and learning how to code so that people become better thinkers and develop skills for jobs requiring solutions with software.   We hope you enjoyed our episode today with Mr. Fred Aebli as much as we enjoyed talking with him. Fred is obviously a strong light of good in our educational field, and we know that his passion and energy are going a long way to help instill confidence and creativity into his students!    Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join our fun and supportive community in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!    

Patriotic Disney   In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie embark on an exciting discussion about the most patriotic attractions at Walt Disney World and how they can be utilized in the classroom. Join us as we dive into the magical world of Disney, where history, storytelling, and education come together to inspire students.   Ryan and Howie begin by highlighting some of the most patriotic attractions at Walt Disney World, where the spirit of America shines through. Main Street, U.S.A.: Discover how the meticulously designed Main Street, U.S.A., pays homage to small-town America and sets the stage for the patriotic experiences to come. The Hall of Presidents: Explore this iconic attraction, where audio-animatronic figures of all U.S. presidents come to life, sharing their stories and contributions. American Adventure: Unveil the historical journey presented in this Epcot pavilion, showcasing pivotal moments in American history through a combination of storytelling, animatronics, and music. Liberty Square: Immerse yourself in the colonial era, where attractions like the Liberty Square Riverboat and The Haunted Mansion offer glimpses into America's past.   Flag Retreat Ceremony: Learn about this daily tradition at Magic Kingdom's Town Square, where a veteran is honored, and the American flag is ceremoniously lowered. These are just a few of the attractions we discuss in detail that we think scream red, white, and blue.    We hope you enjoyed our episode today about the patriotic attractions at the parks and how we can use them to inspire our students. Don't forget to share your experiences and lesson ideas with the My Disney Class community by reaching out on social media or visiting our website. Also don't forget, if you haven't already, to join our fun and supportive community in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Please rate and review our podcast on Apple Music, your support and feedback will only make us better!

Transitioning Magic To High School With Kevin Roughton.   In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie are excited to welcome back, Kevin Roughton. Kevin is a history teacher at Patriot high school in Jurupa California. He also is an educational speaker, and author of the book Teach With Magic. Use Disney Imagineering Techniques To Make Your Classroom The Most Engaging Place On Earth!   On the show today, Kevin talks to us about how he has been working to transition from the middle school classroom, which he had completely gamified and immersive for his middle school students, to the high school classroom. He shares what has worked for him so far with high school students and also shares things that haven't worked as well. Kevin talks about how he now engages high school students with a unit-to-unit model of gamification and even shares some of his best lessons from this past year. This includes themed breakout rooms using the Stranger Things series and even teaching economics through the life of Walt Disney.  Kevin also shares with us a little bit about his book that we dove deeper into on his first appearance, which was the Season 6 episode 20 show. So if you want to hear more about his book and his study of Imagineers and how their work can transfer to education, check out that episode!  We wrap up with Kevin discussing an educational conference he attends every year at Disneyland called the Courageous Creativity Conference.  We hope you enjoyed our episode today with the incredible Kevin Roughton and hope you check out all the great stuff he has in his book and on his webpage especially if you are looking to add a little bit or even a lot of gamification to your classroom.  Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join our fun and supportive community in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!    

In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie are again excited to explore Disney's magic through an educational lens. Howie and Ryan, delve into the educational opportunities provided by Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom Park which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.             Ryan and Howie begin by acknowledging the special milestone of Animal Kingdom Park and discuss the park's evolution since its opening in 1998. They also highlight the park's unique focus on conservation, environmental education, and showcasing the natural world. Of course, Howie and Ryan share some of their personal experiences and memories of the park over the years since it opened and emphasize its immersive theming and educational value.  The hosts then dive deeper and explore the educational potential of Animal Kingdom Park as a rich resource for teachers and educators. They emphasize the park's various themed lands, such as Discovery Island, Africa, Asia, and Pandora - The World of Avatar, each offering distinct educational experiences. They then discuss how teachers can leverage these immersive environments to create engaging lessons in subjects like Science, Biology, Geography, Cultural Studies, and Environmental awareness.   We hope you enjoyed our episode today about the educational possibilities offered by Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom Park. We hope we encouraged you to explore the park's resources, tap into its immersive environments, and use it as a catalyst for sparking students' curiosity, imagination, and love for learning. Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join our fun and supportive community in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!

In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie welcome back one of our favorite guests, the always-inspiring Jerry Johnson. Jerry is an Assistant Professor of Digital Media and Strategic Public Relations at Buena Vista University. Jerry has produced and directed various documentaries, short films, corporate videos, news specials, and promotions. Under his direction, the Digital Media students at Buena Vista have received many awards for their work in these areas. Many most importantly, Jerry is considered the on-campus Disney expert!              On today's show, Ryan and Howie have Jerry on to talk about his latest and greatest project, The Cobblestone documentary. This documentary that Jerry is leading a team of his students to create is about the historic Cobblestone, a unique music venue located in Storm Lake, Iowa that featured performances by bands from the Big Band era. Jerry talks about how his team of students is working as historians as they document, film, and interview the preservationist and former patrons of the historic Cobblestone. Jerry shares lots of stories that he and his students have gathered and how they build upon this to patch together the fascinating history of this iconic music venue. There is one thing that becomes really clear for Jerry and his students, and that is that everyone has a story about the Cobblestone!  We hope you enjoyed our talk today with Jerry Johnson about his latest student project and documentary. We also hope you are inspired to work with your students on a project that looks to preserve the past as well. As the Cobblestone served as the hub for the community to gather, there are many historic buildings like this one that need to be preserved, not just for their cultural and historical significance, but also as a way to connect us to our past and inspire us for the future.  Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join our fun and supportive community in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

            In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie celebrate that special holiday, May 4th. That's right, May the fourth be with you! Star Wars fans across the globe celebrate May 4th as Star Wars Day and on today's episode, Howie and Ryan wanted to celebrate too by sharing ways that you can bring Star Wars into your classroom.             In a galaxy not too far away, Ryan and Howie have some ideas on how to bring some of that galactic magic that Lucus films, and now Disney does so well with ideas on how you can incorporate Star Wars characters, worlds, and even foods into school lesson that help teach physics, language arts, geography, and many more subjects. Examples range from high-level physics problems used to figure out the speed of a TIE Fighter to more elementary-level ideas like designing your own Star Wars character to color and create a backstory for. We believe that even if you are not a Star Wars fan, you can find inspiration in the elaborate and imaginative universe that George Lucas created back in 1976.  We hope you enjoyed our celebration of May The Fourth Be With You Day and we can't wait to hear about all the out this-universe lessons you do or did with your students. Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join our fun and supportive community in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better! LINKS: www.educationworld.com › may-fourth-be-youMay the Fourth Be With You: Celebrating Star Wars Day in the ... www.teacherspayteachers.com › Browse › Search:may themay the fourth be with you lessons - TeachersPayTeachers  www.techlearning.com › tl-advisor-blog › may-the-4thMay the 4th Be With You: Best Free Star Wars Teaching Ideas https://www.starwars.com/video/artificial-intelligence-science-and-star-wars www.teacherspayteachers.com › Browse › Search:may theMay The Fourth Teaching Resources | TPT - TeachersPayTeachers  www.sciencebuddies.org › blog › may4-star-wars-stemStar Wars STEM Activities for May the 4th Be With You Science  www.playpartyplan.com › may-the-fourth-be-with-you51 Best Ways to Celebrate Star Wars Day - Play Party Plan  

Design Academy-With Ryan

Remembering Rolly Crump             In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie reflect and remember the contributions of the legendary Rolly Crump. At the age of 93, Roland “Rolly” Crump passed away peacefully in his home in Carlsbad CA on March 12, 2023. Most of us Disney fans know Rolly through his contributions to famous classic Disney attractions like Small World, The Haunted Mansion, and The Enchanted Tiki Room but Rolly's unique and whimsical style and art can be seen in a variety of ways all around the world. He truly had an interesting perspective on the world and through his direct style of communication, he had no qualms about sharing his views and vision. This characteristic made Rolly one of Walt's favorite people and a trusted ally.              On today's show, Ryan and Howie share a little bit about what they know about Rolly's journey and the stories that he told about Walt, and the different attractions he worked on. Howie and Ryan share their love for his uniqueness and his love of having fun and pulling pranks. It certainly is fitting that My Disney Class Podcast is honoring Rolly on its April 1st show!  We hope you enjoyed our brief look at celebrating the life of the Disney legend Rolly Crump. We also hope you are inspired to search out those unique and different students in your classrooms and buildings and help support them in sharing their unique perspectives with the world. Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

Celebrate Soulfully             In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Howie and Ryan discuss Black History Month. They look at how it's celebrated at Walt Disney World and how and how it can be observed in schools. Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada and more recently has been observed in Ireland and the United Kingdom. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated in February in the United States and Canada, while in Ireland and the United Kingdom, it is observed in October.             On today's show, Ryan and Howie share how Walt Disney World recognizes Black History Month through distinctive opportunities throughout the parks and Disney Springs. Disney calls this celebration, Celebrate Soulfully! The unique and diverse offerings range from Black artists and performers to beautiful music and delicious food. There are definitely many options and opportunities for guests to experience at least a small sampling and exposure to the rich and diverse Black and African-American cultures. The episode wraps up with Ryan sharing several ideas with educators on how they can bring lessons and projects into their classrooms that can also help teach students about Black History. As well as expose them to the wonderful culture and people that makeup such a large part of our American history foundation. We hope you enjoyed our brief look at celebrating Black History Month and we hope we inspired you to celebrate and promote Black history in your classroom. Not only in February but all year long!  Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

Edmagineering Education Conference             In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Howie and Ryan welcome an old friend and a brand new friend to the show. Brian Collins is a former Imagineer who has worked with Ryan and Howie for almost eight years now and the three are uniting forces with an incredible educator named Erin King. Erin was on My Disney Class Podcast last year and she talked all about her passion for education and how she built a highly successful conference for teachers called The Happy Teacher Conference. Over the last year, Erin, Brian, Howie, and Ryan have been working behind the scenes to take the best parts of Erin's The Happy Teacher Conference and the best parts of P.D. Magic and create a super boutique conference that is personalized for a wide variety of educators from all over the globe.  This conference is now known as The Edmagineering Education Conference!              On today's show, the group will discuss why we thought this partnership was a great idea and what our goals are in creating this new experience for educators. We will also discuss what the four-day event will entail and what we hope educators will get out of this highly immersive experience. We also may talk a little bit about the magic that is sure to happen when you combine educators, the world of education, and the most magical place in the world! We will also talk about ways to approach your administration about paying for and supporting your learning experience at the Edmagineering Education Conference and offer our support as needed.  We hope you enjoyed our announcement about our newest offering and hope you are just as excited as we are about attending The Edmagineering Education Conference, in Orlando from June 19th through June 22nd, as we are!  Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

Best Educational Experiences At WDW   In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Howie and Ryan discuss some of their favorite educational attractions at Walt Disney World.  Most people when they think of Disney, think of a place that is just for fun but it also has many attractions and programs that are geared toward learning about other cultures, the arts, and the environment. Not to mention that a lot of parents wonder if taking their kids out of school for a Disney World vacation is a good idea. You can save a ton of money if you visit WDW when school is in session but are the savings worth the time and work missed in school? On today's show, Ryan and Howie will help tackle the question of whether or not you can find educational value in a trip to Walt Disney World. They will discuss several educational attractions and places you can visit that definitely have a solid foundation in all sorts of history, arts, communication, technology, etc. They will show that with some preparation and solid planning, you can easily justify the educational quality of a Disney World vacation primarily because Walt Disney valued children and especially their education and the company carries on that tradition.  We hope you enjoyed our discussion about educational attractions and things to do on your next Walt Disney World vacation.  Like we always say, on every trip to WDW you will learn and find something new.  Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

Walt's Pilgrimage with Christopher Tremblay   In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie welcome Dr. Christopher Tremblay to the show. Christopher currently serves as Director of Admissions & Recruiting for Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan. He earned his doctorate of education in educational leadership from the University of Michigan in 2014 and has a post-master's certificate in enrollment management from Capella University. Christopher has also conducted national research on certifications in the fields of enrollment management, college admissions counseling, financial aid, and college access. He is also a Walt Disney scholar and teaches a college course based on the life of Walt Disney. Christopher has also published several books on the life of Walt Disney. These include Walt's Pilgrimage, Walt's Pilgrimage JR., The ABC's of Walt, Walt's Ancestors, and Walt of the Day.  On today's show, Christopher will talk with us about his love of Disney and specifically his passion for the journey Walt Disney took to create the world of Disney we know today. We learn about what lessons can be learned from the drive and determination Walt had and how we can turn that into lessons for ourselves and our students. Christopher will also talk with us about his college course that takes students across the country following Walt's footsteps until they reach the pinnacle of Walt's journey, Disneyland! Christopher ends the show discussing his personal train trip that will recreate Walt's journey and he also shares some answers to a quick round of Disney favorites questions.  We hope you enjoyed our chat with the amazing Dr. Christopher Tremblay! He really is following the footsteps of the great Walt Disney, in more ways than just the physical steps.  Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney, and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie talk about the future of Disney now that Iger is back and making changes in the new year! We all make resolutions this time of year and Disney is no different. Howie and Ryan discuss some of these future predictions for the Disney company in 2023 and talk about why these may happen and what caused the need for the possible change.             On this show, Ryan and Howie dive deep into the articles that have been recently written and published about Bob Iger returning to his role as CEO of the Walt Disney Company. They also discuss how Bob Chapek fairly or unfairly gets blamed for the needed return of Bob Iger to right the Disney ship.              When you think about the CEO of a company and the Board of Directors that makes all these sweeping decisions that trickle down through the company, it's not hard to draw a parallel connection to how a Superintendent and the Board of Education work. There are two basic approaches to the style of leadership that a CEO or Superintendent can take. The first is a dictatorship, where the CEO can isolate themselves from the board and try to make all the decisions themselves, or the second choice is where they take a more democratic approach and work with the board. I think we all know which way tends to work best in our school districts and it's not really that different for major companies like Disney. Ryan and Howie speculate on how Mr. Chapek's approach and Mr. Iger's approaches to their management style differ and what that has led us to today in the Disney community and world while also influencing what might come from it as well. They will also share their personal hopes and wishes for 2023 to wrap it all up. We hope you enjoyed our evaluation of Chapek and Disney's 2022, as well as our look to the future in 2023! We also would like to take this time to personally thank each and every one of our listeners and supporters. You made 2022 a year to remember and we can't wait to experience the magic of the My Disney Class community in 2023.  Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney, and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie welcome back our favorite former Imagineer and education disruptor, Brian Collins! Brian was a Disney cast member since the early 1990s and helped create magic daily as he worked both on the front line of customer service at the Contemporary Resort and as a Disney Imagineer. During his time at WDI, Brian was a show writer and worked on classic attractions like Jungle Cruise and The Great Movie Ride, to name a few. This is Brian's 6th time on the show and if you are looking for more of his background story then you definitely want to check out episode 20 of season 2 or episode 12 of season 3. If you want to hear about other educational ventures Brian has committed his talents, check out episode 22 of season 7.              On today's show though, Brian is here to discuss his recent European trip. Though this really wasn't a European vacation, like the Grizwalds took in the 80s, he did find some time between two speaking engagements to create some havoc and have some fun. One of the areas we focus on in today's show is Brian's time in Demark, where he spoke to 15 and 16-year-olds at a school. Brian's focus there was to help them understand the pursuit of the American dream and answer their probing questions about the U.S. culture. As you will see though, Brian shares with us all that he learned about them and their culture, as we compare the two countries and their values and thoughts on education and their careers beyond. We hope you enjoyed our chat with the incredible Mr. Brian Collins! Just like Walt modeled, there is always something to learn from our travels and definitely the opportunity to refocus our perspectives.  Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

Iger With Your Nose So Bright!             In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Howie and Ryan discuss the recent return of Bob Iger in his role as CEO of the Walt Disney CO. Bob Iger returned to The Walt Disney Company as Chief Executive Officer on November 20, 2022, shocking most all of us. He previously served as CEO and Chairman of The Walt Disney Company from 2005 to 2020, then Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board through 2021.             Over Mr. Iger's 15 years leading Disney, he was the steward of one of the world's largest media companies and some of the most respected and beloved brands around the globe. His strategic vision focused on three fundamental pillars: generating the best creative content possible; fostering innovation and utilizing the latest technology, and expanding into new markets worldwide He, for some of us, most notably enhanced Disney's storytelling with acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox.             Ryan and Howie will discuss what they think this means for the company and how leaders can sometimes take the fall for things that are out of their control. They will also discuss what this potentially doesn't mean for the company and how working with our own school and district leaders can show parallels to what Disney is experiencing with the rehiring of Bob Iger into his previous role as CEO.  We hope you enjoyed the discussion and opinions we had about the recent announcement of Mr. Iger returning to his role as CEO of the Walt Disney Company. There is always something to learn from Disney that we can bring to our professions as educators and how they handle their leadership positions is no exception.  Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney, and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Howie and Ryan compare two of their recent trips. Howie went to Universal Studios in Orlando, yes you heard us right, Howie went to that place that shouldn't be mentioned! Just kidding, we love Universal too and as you will find out in this episode, Howie is warming up as well. On the other hand, Ryan traveled to Wisconsin to visit two schools that are implementing personalized learning with their middle school students and are doing quite innovative things.               Howie talks about his recent trip and compares the attractions at Universal and those at World Disney World. He talks about the costs, lines, theming, and much more. Some of you may be surprised at what he reveals that he believes that Universal is doing better than Disney. Ryan then ends this episode by sharing what is in the works at his school in the terms of choices his students will have next year in the different styles of personalized learning they will offer in four distinct academies at his school. To help him gather data and see successful systems already in place in schools utilizing the personalized learning approach, he traveled to two schools in Wisconsin. Both these schools are several years into this personalized learning journey and there are definitely some cool things happening at these schools. We hope you enjoyed the comparisons made today in both theme parks and schools.  Don't forget, if you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney, and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!

Esterland with Maria Esterline.  In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie welcome back to the show, Maria Esterline. Maria is a very passionate educator that has been in education for 20 years. She has worked in various roles but is always on the mission to better education for all stakeholders, especially our children.  Currently, Maria is working for the University of Florida teaching a few online classes with a future in-person class that she developed for the spring. She is also a full-time teacher at Kanapaha Middle School in Gainsville Florida. At Kanapaha, she is teaching 6th-grade math and loving being back in the classroom.              In this episode, Maria catches us up on her educational journey and how she is bringing the magic of Esterland to life for her 6th-grade students. She shares with us the power of building trust and community in a classroom and how that has impacted her classroom both academically and behaviorally. Maria gives us some insight and tools to create this magical environment in our classroom like the one she has developed and named Esterland for her students. You will also hear Maria's passion and heart for her students and education in general, which drives her to be the best educator she can be. Maria models this passion for excellence by continuing her learning at the University of Florida in classes that help her develop her teaching toolbox. She models what it takes to be a life-long learner by sharing the challenges and successes she has in her classes with her students. We believe you will feel Maria's love for her students and the educational system in today's podcast and we know that Maria will inspire you as much as she inspires us!  We hope you enjoyed hearing from our friend and incredible educator, Maria Esterline today.  She definitely represents all that is good in education today. Don't forget, if you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney, and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

 In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Howie and Ryan discuss the upcoming Halloween season and how Disney and Universal help guests celebrate this spooky season. They also talk about how they celebrate the season personally and Ryan shares his experience with Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. They wrap up by comparing the Disney Dress code with various school districts and their dress codes for teachers.                  Ryan and Howie share what their experiences have been with dress codes at their schools and they also share some pretty outrageous teacher dress codes from districts across the country. These conversations also lead them to discuss and consider gender-specific dress and respecting students' and even teachers' personal gender decisions. While both of them admit to being fairly naive to these types of situations, they both express the need for inclusion for all students and teachers.  We hope you enjoyed the tips and practices shared in today's episode and we definitely hope you have a safe and treat-filled Halloween!  Don't forget, if you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney, and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

 In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie welcome back to the show Jeff Bradbury. Jeff Bradbury is an ISTE Award Winning (2021) and globally-recognized educator, educational broadcaster, public speaker, and entrepreneur whose powerful message has inspired thousands of educators through the TeacherCast Educational Network. Jeff Bradbury is a Technology Integration Specialist and the creator of the TeacherCast Educational Network.  Jeff currently works in Norwalk Public Schools where he created and teaches a Broadcast Journalism and Technology curriculum that introduces students to marketing, app development, podcasting, and live broadcasting at West Rocks Middle School.  On this episode though, Jeff isn't here to just talk educational technology or even about his wonderful Teachercast Network. Instead Jeff is here to talk to us about the DAS program that he recently used on his family trip to WDW. The DAS program is designed for people that have a disability to ensure they have an equal opportunity to enjoy the parks just as much as someone without a disability can.  Even though most of this episode is about DAS and Jeff's family trip, we are educators, and we couldn't resist the opportunity to talk a little educational shop with this incredible educator. So we ask Jeff to catch us up on what he's been up to in his educational life and we also talk a little innovation with him as well.  We hope you enjoyed catching up with Jeff as much as we did. If you would like to connect with Jeff, check out the link to his website in the show notes below. Also if you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney, and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!

 In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Howie and Ryan discuss ways that they and their students stay in the creative idea zone!  If you look up the definition of creativity, you will indeed find something that references using your imagination to create a new idea. Most of the time this creation is something artistic in nature. While this is true for artistic endeavors, a definition like that doesn't seem to do creativity justice to the actual broadness and scope that it entails. After all, creativity is found in far more places than on canvas, within the pages of a book, or across the keys of a piano. Creativity drives us to not only create but to innovate. Ultimately, that is what we do on a daily basis as educators and it's what we want our students to do as well.           In today's episode, Ryan and Howie will share some tips and practices that they use both on themselves and with their students. A lot of these practices are either taken from Imagineers that have shared them in various places and books or they are ideas that Howie and Ryan have come up with themselves that personally help them stay in the creative idea zone.  We hope you enjoyed the tips and practices shared in today's episode. We hope that there is at least one or two that you will find useful for yourself or your students, maybe even both!  Don't forget, if you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney, and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!

Starting The Year The Edmagineering Way!  In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Howie and Ryan welcome back our Disney partner in crime, Brian Collins! Brian has been on the podcast many times and for good reason. He is a former Imagineer, he is an educator, currently works in several fields bringing innovation to a multitude of problems, and well, he's our friend.          On today's show, Brian is here to give us some inspiration and ideas on how we can bring innovation  and creativity into our classroom this year. He not only gives us great ideas but does so in his typical  Imagineering way, through fun and great stories!  We hope you enjoyed our visit with our favorite former Imagineer. We here at My Disney Class Podcast, wish all of you an incredible and wonderful school year and like always let us know if we can help make your year anymore wonderful, we love to help bring magic to education! Also if you haven't already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney, and don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better!  

  In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Howie and Ryan are again coming to you from Walt Disney World. Ryan, Howie, and Brian have wrapped up another successful P.D. Magic experiential learning trip with some incredible educators from all over the world. They spent five days visiting all four parks and doing a monorail edu. resort crawl with the group. They immersed themselves in the magic and discovered how to take that magic back to their districts, schools, and most importantly to their students.  In this final episode of season 7 of My Disney Class Podcast, Howie and Ryan are sharing with you their final thoughts on the trip, as well as sharing with you are participants' reflections from the last day. On our final day, the group has a farewell lunch to say our goodbyes, reflect, and share our final takeaways and inspirations that we are going to take back to our schools. These reflections were recorded during this time at Sauti's Canteen in Animal Kingdom, so please excuse the background noises.  We hope you enjoy today's show as we share the thoughts and reflections of our incredible educators that joined us on our 2022 P.D. Magic trip. If this sounds like something you or your teacher friends may be interested in doing next year, make sure to check back on our webpage for details starting in the fall.  Also remember, if you like the show and want to help us spread the word about it and build our already fantastic community, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!  

      In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie are coming to you live, well not really live, but they record this episode on location at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. About halfway through PD Magic, Howie and Ryan ask Brian Collins and Daniel McComb to join them after their third day in the parks and do a round table discussion about the day's events. The table will share some of their favorite moments from our PD Magic tour of the Magic Kingdom and they will also talk about what they learned and how they plan on utilizing those inspirations in their classrooms next year. There is definitely a lot that can be learned in the fertile imagination space of the Magic Kingdom!  We hope you enjoy today's show "live" from the Magic Kingdom! Remember, if you like the show and want to help us spread the word about it and build our already fantastic community, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Howie and Ryan welcome their good friend Brian Collins. As most of you know by now Brian works with us to help bring magic and pixie dust to the world of education. Some of you might not know that Brian continues to branch out into many other areas of education and technology with several different companies and groups. These groups with Brian are doing so many innovative things that we had to have him on to share all the exciting things coming down the pipe. One of those organizations Brian is working with is called the Enzo Institute and Brian and representatives from that company took a trip to Dubai recently to take part in a global conference called Expo 2020. Brian will discuss this trip in today's episode and share what his takeaways were as well as share what he feels is the future of education based on his global view.  For those of you that don't know Brian, come on what's that matter with you, just kidding but here's a quick background on Brian. Brian was a Disney cast member since the early 1990s and helped create magic daily as he worked both on the front line of customer service at the Contemporary Resort and as a Disney Imagineer. During his time at WDI, Brian was a show writer and worked on classic attractions like Jungle Cruise and The Great Movie Ride, just to name a few. This is Brian's 5th time on the show, sixth if you count a Retro Replay of one of his earlier episodes, and if you are looking for more of his background story then you definitely want to check out episode 20 of season 2 or episode 12 of season 3. We hope that you enjoy our conversation with Brian and if you have any questions or want to connect with any of us, including Brian, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.  

Looking Forward To Summer Magic! In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie discuss what they are looking forward to this summer. To say that this school year has been a tough one is a major understatement and looking forward to reenergizing and filling the tank back up is not something that an educator should be bashful about. In fact, this time of year for educators is a vital part of helping them be the best educators they can be in the upcoming Fall.  Howie and Ryan will both share their top 5 things, plus or minus, that they are looking forward to and hoping to accomplish this summer. You will of course hear about their upcoming Disney trips, P.D. Magic, as well as things other than Disney that they do to help them unwind. They even share a few hopes they have to learn a few new things to better themselves and grow in their time off.  We hope you enjoy today's show about Ryan and Howie's hopes and dreams for this summer and we hope that you too will find time to relax and unwind. We all know you deserve it and need it!  Remember, if you like the show and want to help us spread the word about it and build our already fantastic community, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!  

In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie welcome Devan Lewis to the show. Devan is a middle school STEM teacher at McFarland School that really strives to foster the principles and passions found in most Disney Imagineers.  Devan shares with us where her passion for Disney and specifically Disney Imagineers comes from and shares why she feels this passion is key to create a classroom of creatives. Devan also shares the story of how and why her Principal allowed her to actually create a whole class and curriculum based on Disney Imagineering and how that class has grow and developed into several classes now.  Devan also shares with us several of her projects that she's done with her students including a visual storytelling project that ends with the students creating a diorama that tells the story completely about a character by only using the visuals in the diorama. This is a really awesome project and wait until you hear about one little girls project and the details she used to tell her story. Devan also shares a few other projects she's done or is planning on doing. We are sure you will find them as inspiring as we do and maybe you too will be encouraged to bring some Imagineering into your classroom. We hope you enjoy today's episode and as always, we would love for you to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts. If you have any feedback or would like to come on the show, please email us at MyDisneyClass@gmail.com, and don't forget to join our Facebook community at Educators Who Love Disney. 

In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie discuss how Walt motivated his Imagineers and other staff. Of course we all have some experience with either needing motivation, having to motivate, or wishing for believers in our work in education. In our discussion today, let's look at some of the traits that has been reported about Walt Disney and see if we can make some connections and grabs some inspiration for our own schools and staff! In this episode, Howie and Ryan will share what they have found in their research and readings about Walt. They share first hand accounts from legends like Bob Gurr and Rolly Crump about what they observed Walt doing that embodied great leadership and motivated the best out of his employees. Ryan and Howie will also share their personal stories and thoughts on motivation and embracing change as well. We hope you enjoy today's show about learning to inspire through a reflective lens of how Walt Disney lead.  Remember, if you like the show and want to help us spread the word about it and build our already amazing community, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie welcome Lisa Funke to the show. Lisa is currently working for the Glenview Public School District as the LRC Director. LRC Directors are in charge of planning, organizing, and directing all activities for the Learning Resource Center at schools. This is the evolution of what we used to call libraries at schools but now offer our students so much more than books! Lisa works specifically at Glen Grove School which is a 3 through 5th-grade intermediate school. One of Lisa's favorite parts of her job is getting to create and facilitate lessons about various topics for students.  On today's show, Lisa will share with us her journey in education which includes starting at a Community College for two years before transferring to Bradley University which led her to her educational learning home National Louis University. Lisa also shares with us where she developed her passion for Disney and how she utilizes what she loves about Disney to help enrich her students' learning.  Lisa is also joining Howie, Ryan, and Brian at P.D. Magic this summer and she shares why she needed to go and what she is looking forward to. She shares what her biggest hopes are for the trip as well as what she plans to do with the inspiration she gains the following school year. We can't wait to have Lisa back to share with our listeners what she's learned and what she's doing with all the learning she gained from the trip. Look for her return in Season 8 with all the details!  We hope you enjoy today's show and find Lisa as amazing as we do! Remember, if you like the show and want to help us spread the word about it and build our already amazing community, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!  

Putting the F back in education In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie are discussing how to put the FUN back in education! This is no April fools joke, these last couple of years have been really tough in the educational world, tougher than are normal challenging years. This is why Howie and Ryan thought on this April fools day it was fitting to discuss the importance of having fun in school for both the students and the teachers. They also share ways and techniques that can help educators create a fun environment as well as fun activities and strategies that can be used.  Ryan and Howie are pretty sure we can all agree that the Disney parks are extremely fun. They are wildly immersive and for the most part, all the attractions tell a great story that can live on in our lives long after the thrills of the rides have faded from our memories. Further, Disney seeks to entertain and educate, so not only do guests get these amazing experiences they remember for a lifetime but after they leave there is almost always something about their visit that inspires them.  We hope that this show can also act as an inspiration for you and be that spark that helps you continue to create fun and engaging lessons for your students and staff. We hope you enjoy today's show about some of the different ways you can bring the magic of fun into your classroom or buildings.  Remember, if you like the show and want to help us spread the word about it and build our already amazing community, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!  

In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Howie is turning the tables on his partner in crime, Ryan.  Ryan Boeckman, who started this wild ride of an adventure with Howie almost 8 years ago, is a middle school science teacher in St. Louis Missouri. He has been recognized as an outstanding science and mathematics teacher by the St. Louis Science Center and has been teaching in public schools for a little over 20 years. Obviously, he loves Disney and has been working most of his 20 plus years in education incorporating what he has learned from studying the Walt Disney Company and the man Walt Disney himself, into his classroom practices.  On today's show, Howie will be asking all the questions and Ryan is answering them, all about his past, education path, love of Disney, and how he met Howie and started this crazy dream of helping education as a whole by bringing the magic! Though this episode hits a lot of the high points and interesting markers of Ryan's career, there is obviously a lot more to his story. On today's show, we just scratch the surface in hopes that this will help you our listeners, some long time and some brand new, get to know one of the hosts just a little bit better.              We do really hope that you enjoy hearing a little bit more in-depth background on Ryan and of course remember, if you like the show and want to help us spread the word about it and build our already amazing community, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!  

In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie are discussing various lessons that Howie has created for our P.D. Magic experiential field trip. These lessons were developed to help our participants familiarize themselves with the Disney terminology and some of the systems that Disney uses. This familiarity allows them to get comfortable with the concepts and educational ties that we will be using on-site at Walt Disney World. We then take that foundation and start to develop our participants' ability to see the world of education through a different lens.  Howie and Ryan spend the majority of this show going through different lessons topics and sharing how they would approach answering and using this information in their educational lives. They also share a lot of their favorite hidden details and magic that Walt Disney Imagineers have hidden in plain sight. They really love to share the Disney secrets that they have discovered and you will definitely pick up on that in this episode as they dive deep into some of these awesome details you can find in the various parks! We hope you enjoy today's show about some of the different lessons and details that the online classes for P.D. Magic cover.  Remember, if you like the show and want to help us spread the word about it and build our already amazing community, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Design, Disney, and Library Anthropology with Sarah Beals Sager   In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie welcome Sarah Beals Sager to the show.  Ryan met Sarah through a mutual Disney friend, Dr. Cody Havard, a couple of years ago. They both sat on a panel that discussed Marvel and fandom for Dr. Harvard's University of Memphis class. After hearing Sarah talk about her fandom for Marvel, her passion for Disney, and the work she does as a library anthropologist, Ryan knew he had to ask her to come on the My Disney Class Podcasts. Today she graciously made time in her busy schedule to talk with us. Speaking of her busy schedule, listen to this! Sarah recently completed two masters' degrees at the same time from the University of Denver. One in library and informational services and the other in anthropology. Sarah already has nine years of creative branding and marketing experience that she roots firmly in research.  She originally was trained as a digital artist and has a passion, that she admits to having adopted from her dad, for the importance of organization.  Sarah has worked for Disney, at Walt Disney World, twice. Once through the college program and then later she came back to work in custodial and in cosmetology. She currently is an entrepreneur and is currently being contracted out by Disney to work her library anthropology magic!   On today's show, Sarah will share with us her passion for Disney and wanting to work in the creative side of theme parks as well as her journey from the Disney college program to working as an independent contractor for Disney. She will also discuss the importance of choice in creating learning environments both in museums, theme parks, and classrooms. Sarah will also discuss how she does and would use her background to help make theme parks more engaging!   We believe you are going to love hearing Sarah's unique journey and perspective on learning environments, organization, engagement, and fun! Remember, if you like the show and want to help us spread the word about it and build our already amazing community, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!  

Play Me Some Disney Music!   In today's episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie continue where they left off spotlighting the importance of music to tell and drive a story. Remember educators are master storytellers and the great ones are able to excite and utilize all the audiences' senses. Music can be very motivating and emotional for audiences and educators can use that to their advantage just like Walt Disney and the Walt Disney company do in their movies, t.v. shows, attractions, and pretty much everything it puts out.    On today's show, Howie and Ryan will cover the music in the two other main Disney parks down in Orlando Florida, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. They will both share what some of their favorite music tracks are from these two parks and also share some hidden Disney magic that you can find with these songs as well.    They wrap up this two-part series, sharing ways that you can utilize Disney music or any type of music in your classroom to help engage and teach your students. Remember music is a big part of driving the story for Disney and music can be a big part of driving your storyline in the classroom!   We hope you enjoy today's show about the power of music and find a few ways that you can utilize that power in your classroom.  Remember, if you like the show and want to help us spread the word about it and build our already amazing community, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!