If our mission is our “why,” then our vision is our “how.”
Whether you are a new or seasoned homeschooling parent, it might be time to start thinking about your Homeschool Vision.
A Homeschool Vision is an important document that outlines how you want your children’s education to look like. It’s a great way to take your Homeschool Mission and put it into action.
What is a Homeschool Vision; and why it’s essential to have one
A Homeschool Vision is a document that outlines the specific goals and objectives for your homeschool. It should be written collaboratively with all members of your family since it is both educational and personal.
However, your Homeschool Vision is NOT the same as your Homeschool Plan. Instead, your vision is more like a clearly outlined list of expectations that align with your mission.
Homeschoolers who have an intelligible idea of what they want to do with their children’s education will find it much easier to prepare for the future than those without a vision. Your Homeschool Vision will be used to help make decisions about your child’s education and guide you through the process of homeschooling them.
Tips for creating your Homeschool Vision Statement
- Take a few days to think about what you’d like your homeschool to look and feel like. If you’re new to homeschooling, I recommend you research and read everything you can about brain development, learning, homeschool methodologies, and more (consider it professional development!) to help you create a vision.
- Assess the type of activities you would like to do. Ask if these activities mesh well with both your teaching style and your child’s learning style?
- Now write down 15-20 things you’d like to do in your homeschool. Review the list with your family and narrow it down to 8-10.
- Create a bullet point list (or a vision board!) and display it next to your Homeschool Mission Statement for easy reference.
Example of a Homeschool Vision Statement
For reference, here’s our Homeschool Mission:
- To raise critical thinkers who ask questions and listen (even if they don’t agree) to better understand.
- To foster a life-long love of learning in our children.
- To create a safe environment for our kids to develop grit and character, establish good habits, pursue their interests, and refine their life skills.
Now here’s our Homeschool Vision:
- We will encourage reading and asking questions.
- We will practice expressing our opinions and listening to others as they do the same.
- We will include diverse perspectives for better understanding.
- We will include hands-on activities and field trips for first-hand experiences.
- We will encourage play and physical activity.
- We will allow our children to pursue their interests and offer guidance when need be.
- We will be okay with messes and will teach good habits.
- We will each choose to do one hard thing each year.
- We will work on life skills that take us beyond childhood.
Your Homeschool Vision will be your guide in choosing the following:
- Rhythm and routines
- Curriculum
- Enrichment activities
Final Thoughts
Homeschooling is a long-term commitment, and your Homeschool Vision will change over time, so it’s essential to review it at the end of each school year. I hope you found the information in this blog post helpful in creating your family’s Homeschool Vision. Remember, you will want to write it based on what works best for YOUR family because we are all unique and no two homeschools are alike.
Do you have more questions about writing a Homeschool Vision Statement?
Feel free to drop a line in the comments 👇🏼
Xuan Klevecka is a Southern California-based homeschool mom, wife, and sometimes purveyor of vintage goods. She’s an Enneagram 5w4, a lover of good food, and a former middle school history teacher. You’ll either find her looking at road maps and daydreaming about her family’s next epic adventure or perusing recipes and cooking up a feast for the brood.
