Rethinking Wonder in Education

Why I started Teaching With Disney

As a high school history teacher in a small district, I’ve noticed something tragic as I watch students grow and develop:

Many begin to lose their inner child.

This isn’t to say that all students are depressed, angry, or visionless. Quite the opposite — many of them mature beautifully. They’re learning to tune in to their emotions. They’ve got dreams, even if those dreams are still forming like outlines on a foggy mirror. They’re not broken. But something is fading.

When they step into our classrooms, those four walls usually feel like one of two things:

• A tolerable station on the way to something better
• Or a prison cell with fluorescent lighting and assigned seating

From day one in the classroom, I’ve asked myself:

“How can we make learning magical again?”

“How can we make it feel like wonder is still possible?”

🎓 The Purpose of This Blog

The purpose of this blog is to encourage educators to:

• ✨ Understand the power of storytelling in the classroom
• 🧠 Apply true and tested methods of narrative education
• 🎵 Incorporate music as a tool for emotional and intellectual learning
• 💡 Create lesson plans that inspire, not just instruct

 But Why Disney?

You might be asking: “Okay,… this all sounds poetic and nice, but what does this have to do with Disney?”

To be honest?

Why not Disney?

Like most people breathing on planet Earth today, I’ve been shaped — deeply — by the power, creativity, and emotional intelligence of Disney films and music. These stories raised me, challenged me, and at times, healed me.

As someone who only experienced the parks as an adult, I can tell you:

The magic? It’s real.

The joy? It’s palpable.

The immersion? It’s life-changing.

And while I don’t pretend to be an expert on every corner of the Disney universe, I do know this:

I understand how storytelling works.

It is my dream to see teachers everywhere embrace the art of:

• Narrative
• Drama
• Atmosphere
• Emotional connection

…and use those tools to build classrooms that feel less like lecture halls and more like living stories.

Storytelling, Culture, and the Human Spirit

Just imagine:

• Helping students step into another culture as seamlessly as we step into the glowing world of Pandora through VR.
• Using a 5-minute clip from The Hunchback of Notre Dame to explore medieval heresy, power structures, and the Inquisition.
• Analyzing Zootopia to discuss bias, systems, and social reform — in a way that connects, not lectures.

Wouldn’t that be more powerful than a worksheet?

 The Goal

Let me be clear:

The goal of this blog is not to simply create a mini lesson plan for every Disney film.

It’s also not just for history teachers (though I am one, and I’ll probably sneak in plenty of historical goodies).

The goal is to explore the content and methods of Disney — and other studios too — to bring something magical into our learning environments.

Something emotionally intelligent, culturally aware, and deeply human.

This is the beginning of the journey. I don’t have all the answers. But I know this:

Let’s teach with purpose.

Let’s teach with magic.

Let’s teach with Disney! 🎬