Create a Family Homeschool Vision Board + Free Printable

One of my favorite things about homeschooling is that our homeschool days don’t have to look exactly the same from year to year. Sometimes they don’t even look the same day to day!

Our kids change just as their interests changes, just as our schedules change. And, let’s be real, sometimes the things we thought would be AMAZING in August are absolutely not working by October. #guilty

This is why I love the idea of starting a new homeschool season by creating a family homeschool vision board together. Instead of focusing only on curriculum, assignments, or everything we have to accomplish, a homeschool vision board gives everyone a chance to think about what they actually want their homeschool year to look like.

What do you want to learn? Where do you want to go? What books do you want to read? What new skills would you love to try?

Let’s put it all in one place, shall we?

What is a Family Homeschool Vision Board

A family homeschool vision board is a visual collection of the things your family hopes to learn, experience, and accomplish during your school year. Because we’re living the homeschool life, there’s no strict rules or requirements for what needs to go on it!

Your board might include:

• subjects or topics you want to learn about
• books you want to read
• places you want to visit
• field trips or family adventures
• skills you want to try
• hobbies you want to try
• family goals
• photos or drawings
• inspiring words or quotes

The important part – the only requirement – is that everyone gets to contribute.

This isn’t Mom making a beautiful homeschool plan and presenting it to the kids. Oh no. Gather everyone together at the kitchen table and let them help create it!

In fact, this is exactly the kind of activity I love including in our homeschool because hands-on learning gives kids the opportunity to be actively involved instead of simply being told what they’re going to learn. Let’s give the kids a bit of ownership over their education and goals, y’know?

Create Your Family Homeschool Vision Board

Start by talking about the homeschool year ahead.

Also – disclaimer – even though this project is part of the September Family Learning Adventures, you could totally include the Family Homeschool Vision Board as part of your New Year celebrations & lessons.

Ask everyone questions like:

• What would you love to learn about?
• Is there somewhere you’d really like to visit?
• What’s something new you’d like to learn how to do?
• Are there any books you’d like to read?
• What would make this an awesome homeschool year?

You might be surprised by some of the answers – I know I always am! Then, start filling out the board. The kids can draw pictures, write words & ideas, cut pictures or words from magazines, add photographs, use stickers, or decorate the board however they’d like.

If books are a big part of your family’s plans, you could even use some of those ideas to start a Family Reading Bucket List and keep track of books everyone wants to read throughout the year!

If documentaries are a big part of your family’s plans (my 12yo especially loves historical documentaries!), take this activity a step further by including my documentary journals in your homeschool days!

This is not meant to result in an aesthetic, Pinterest-perfect vision board, so let the kids color outside the lines and decorate the Family Homeschool Vision board however their hearts desire. It’s the meaning behind the project that counts and not necessarily the visual appeal.

The goal is to create something that represents your family.

Make It Simpler

If you have younger kids, don’t worry about having them write out a bunch of goals. Instead, have them draw!

They could draw a place they’d like to visit, an animal they’d like to learn about, a book they’d like to read, or something they’d like to learn how to do. You can also ask them questions and write their answers on the board for them.

Explore Further

Older kids can take a little more ownership of their portion of the family homeschool vision board by encouraging them to think beyond individual subjects and consider experiences or skills they’d like to pursue.

Maybe they want to learn photography, improve their cooking skills, visit a historical site, read a certain number of books (I can almost guarantee my kids wouldn’t make this a goal, but maybe yours will?), start a small business, learn another language, or finally understand something they’ve struggled with in the past. Maybe they even want to get a head start figuring out a future career?

One you’ve finished your vision board, you can take the next step and set specific family learning goals for some of those ideas.

Free Family Homeschool Vision Board Printable

Of course, I made you a printable! My free Family Homeschool Vision Board printable gives your family space to dream about:

• Things We Want To Learn
• Books We Want to Read
• Places We Want to Go
• Things We’re Excited About
• Skills We Want to Grow
• Family Adventures
• and more!

Print the pages, put them together to create one larger family vision board, and then make it your own.

You could add drawings, cut out pictures from magazines, or print photos! Maybe include stickers, inspiring words or quotes, or even ticket stubs! Be sure to include anything that represents the adventures your family hopes to have.

There’s no right way to fill it in…and no wrong way!

You’ll find this printable along with plenty of my other free homeschool printables in the Printable Playground, so be sure to check there whenever you need something new for your homeschool days.

Family Learning Adventure #1

Creating a Family Homeschool Vision Board is Family Learning Adventure #1 in our September Family Learning Adventures!

Family Learning Adventures are screen-free, hands-on activities created to help homeschool families learn, explore, create, and make memories together. I couldn’t think of a better way to start the entire series than by asking one simple question:

Where do we want our learning adventures to take us?

Once your vision board is complete, hang it somewhere your family will see it throughout the year. Then, revisit it every once in a while.

You may accomplish some of your ideas. You may completely change your mind about others. You may even discover new interests you couldn’t possibly have included when you first created the board! That’s part of the adventure!

Your homeschool days don’t need to follow someone else’s vision of what learning should look like! Dream big, make it yours, and have some fun together.

Happy Homeschooling!

Until next time, stay safe, & enjoy quality time with your family,