Stuff for Special Ed Class? About This Page:

[Joy J]

My son and I are going to Disney World for two weeks in August. He teaches a primary/junior special education class. He was thinking that perhaps he could find some materials and information during our trip that he could then use for his class during the next school year. Are there any teachers out there who have come across stuff of this nature while at WDW? Or perhaps anyone who has seen something that could be usable? I know that Wilderness Lodge has children's coloring/activity books so he's going to see if they will let him have some of these for his class. BTW, it's a small class (7 students). We were just wondering if there might be more stuff like this down there that he could pick up for his "kids."

Joy

[Marv]

I was a special ed teacher for 10 years before DS was born and have made several trips to WDW in the last few years. What is the developmental age of the kids? I'm not famiiar with the term primary/junior special ed.

[Joy J]

This class is called a "communications" class. It is made up of children aged 6 to 8 with grade levels from one to three. These kids have learning disabilities that hamper their ability to learn to read.

Joy

[Marv]

Are you looking for free or cheap things or will he purchase the items? Are you looking for items to give each of them or like for a reward box (it would be cheaper if you only needed one vs. 7 items)? Let me know and I'll do some more brainstorming.

Also, just to let you know, I have a son who is 6 and for the most part, he won't have anything to do with the character things like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck. He'd be afraid they were too childish. (When he got into first grade, he seems to be really into worrying what peers would think.) He'd be more into movie relate items like Atlantis and the more "boy" things like the villians. This would narrow your field quite a bit. I think perhaps girls would be easier to buy for, although I don't have any daughters! I just bring this up because it would be too bad if your son went to a lot of expense and then not have the kids appreciate it.

Some ideas off the top of my head are Disney themed pens, pencils, erasers, refrigerator magnets, stickers, the soaps you get free if you stay in moderate or deluxe hotels, mickey mouse shape straws, there are little squares that turn into washcloths when you put them in water, key chain things, the store in Japan carries these little good luck cats which are only about 1/2" but only cost about .30 cents (each different color brings you a different type of luck) - both of my kids thought these were really cool, you could get the pressed pennies from the different pavillions in Epcot (cost: .51 cents each) or from the different parks, MK has a store that carries firefighter themed merchandise, in MK there is a store outside of pirates of the caribbean ride that has pirate themed things, in AK you could find a lot of animal themed merchandise. Also, if you have a color printer, a free thing would be to make each child some Disney themed stationary that is personalized with their name on it. There is a lot of Disney clip art available. They wouldn't have to know he didn't get it there!

[ 04-05-2003, 08:12 AM: Message edited by: Marv ]

[Suzie]

EPCOT used to have a place for teachers to get info above the shop that is now the Disney Gallery (next to Spaceship Earth). I haven't seen anything about it for a while, but you might ask at Guest Services cause I bet they could get you some stuff.
Suzie

[timon]

I thought each country in World Showcase at EPCOT had a special 'passport' section for children where they could do crafts that reflect the country represented. If he was to pop into each station he might be able to get some ideas and info from the CM's!

[Fortissimo]

First, your son will be able to write off part of his trip on his taxes. My husband and I are both teachers and I always take pictures, buy CDs, or other materials to use in my classroom. I also design a worksheet packet for students to do as make-up work when they go to Disney without me (Yes, it's punishment because I'm jealous!)

Now, back to your question - Epcot and AK both have "Passports" to have stamped in each country. Kids of all ages love to have their "Passports" stamped. He may also want to hang out at some of the "Kid Stops" in both parks and watch the activities they offer for the young children. Some of the activites at these stops are actual activities a child would do in the CMs native land. This would be a great way to teach the children about a country without a lot of reading or writing.

Downtown Disney has a 2R's Reading and Riting store which has activity books.

He could purchase small toys in Epcot to show what children play with in other parts of the world.

As your son walks around the parks he will come up with tons of ideas to use in his clasroom.

[Joy J]

Thanks everyone for all the wonderful ideas! My son is now all geared up to see what sort of goodies he can unearth for his students while we're down there, using all of your terrific suggestions.

Joy