By India McCarty
Can Disney World serve as a classroom for homeschooled kids? This mom and former teacher says yes.
“It kinda just looks a little bit like traditional schooling and a little bit like going to Disney,” Haley Sisk told Fox News.
The mom of three explained that the mornings are reserved for “sit-down, curriculum things,” but in the afternoons, “We head to the parks.”
“At Epcot, there’s a lot of geography and different cultures, so we’re talking about food and languages,” Sisk said. “Animal Kingdom, we’re learning about different animal habitats [and] conservation, and Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, we’re learning about creativity, performance, imagination and storytelling.”
Sisk pointed to the “hands-on” aspect of using Disney World as an educational component, saying, “It’s going to stick in their brains a little more than reading it in a textbook.”
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Sisk explained, “We’re not just doing rides and calling it school. They learn to regulate emotions, speak up for themselves and interact with others. That’s real learning too.”
Related: Homeschooling Increases 30% as Public School Exodus Continues
“Obviously it’s not traditional school, but I think that’s okay,” she said. “I think learning in hands-on ways is always going to be something that’s helpful for kids. It may not be for everybody, but for us, it works…as long as you are doing something that works for your kids…I think that’s great.”
Sisk concluded, “We’ll just take it year by year and see what works for everybody.”
She and her husband previously made headlines when they moved from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Orlando, all to be closer to the theme park. The couple loves Disney movies and even got engaged at Disney World.
“We wanted our kids to spend a lot of their childhood in the park. Disney is a place that feels very magical and happy and brings us so much joy as a family,” she told the New York Post, adding that, while it was a “sacrifice” to move away from her family, she’s always dreamed of being closer to Disney World.
Sisk added, “Whether we go to Disney World for one hour or a day we know we will feel happiness and peace. On top of that we get to see our kids’ faces light up when they see their favorite characters. That is what we love about it, the fact we can make memories with our children every day.”
Sisk’s Disney World homeschool curriculum might not work for everyone, but it’s indicative of a growing trend of parents who are looking in unexpected places for educational opportunities.
Read Next: ‘Extremely Engaged’: Homeschooling Doubles Over the Last Year
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
- Content: +3Share:
- Content: +4