Teachers are Magical!
Now I may be a little biased because I was an elementary school teacher and I am currently a teacher with VIPKid, but I think especially now, EVERYONE will agree with me: Teachers are amazing, magical, miracle-workers! I am in awe of the work that teachers are doing on a daily basis. Whether it is in person, virtual, or a combination of both, teachers are being challenged everyday and are having to be even more creative than ever before.
For those who know me, I have always loved bringing Disney into my classroom. The Facebook page, Disney Loving Teachers, provides a space for teachers to share their ideas and love for Disney. It was here that I came across Jill Kersh. Jill is a reading interventionist at a Fine Arts integrated school in Texas. They have received grants for art installations and have a school theme of Wizard of Oz. They have embraced the rainbow and incorporate all the colors with their “houses” to foster a culture of community, modeled after The Ron Clark Academy. The teachers have been working to transform their environment into spaces that entice students to learn. Jill is a long time Disney admirer and Disney Vacation Club member. When she was given the green light to create her DREAM classroom, a castle theme was a logical choice! Take a look at her Disney-inspired classroom:
WOW! That is a dream classroom and I would never want to leave it…and it doesn’t stop there! Jill has begun to theme her classroom each month to create even more magic and creativity among her students. This month Elsa came to her classroom to sprinkle snow and build a snowman; Olaf can be seen at the front of her classroom. This theme is incorporated into the student’s daily learning. There is a wheel to spin with daily fluency activities, she is using the songs from the Frozen movies to inspire poetry writing, and she even mentioned to the student’s that Elsa may return to bring more winter-themed phonics games and books for January! Jill says “With the challenges this year has brought through teaching in person and online, I am looking for more ways to amplify the magic for my students, as well as myself! I have been inspired by many amazing educators and aspire to help create magic for as many students as possible”.
At the end of the day, regardless of the way a teacher’s classroom looks, teachers are still the most amazing people. Hats off to you teachers! Thank you for your hard work, passion and dedication to your students and for always bringing magic in your own special way!
