You’ve probably heard of vision boards, but just in case you haven’t: A vision board is a collage of pictures, phrases, and words that represent what you want to be, do, or have in your life. The idea is that your imagination can trick the doubting, sometimes too logical, part of your brain—the part that makes you doubt yourself and keeps you from reaching for the life you want to have.

Vision boards are not merely a jumble of pictures and words; a vision board is an inspirational, motivational, aspirational tool to propel you toward your goals, dreams, and aspirations!

How do vision boards work?

By creating a visual representation of your vision, it helps bring positive change into your life by serving as a motivator. Looking at your vision board serves as a reminder of your goals, attracting what you desire by keeping the focus on positive thoughts and the energy needed to achieve those goals.

According to Psychology Today, “Vision boards may also help us imagine what a positive future could look like for us. Imagining a positive future is a helpful way to increase positive emotions and optimism. And positive emotions often create opportunities and increase the chances of success.”

For decades, sports psychologists have trained athletes to use visualization techniques, visualizing every aspect of their sport, including the feelings and sensations of winning. The same principles apply to vision boards—use them daily to visualize the future you want and treat it as if your vision has already come to fruition.

Transfer to the Classroom

After creating vision boards myself, I thought it would be fun for students to do the same. I’ve made vision boards with my students at various times in the school year, such as at the beginning of the year, after winter break, and even at the end of the year as students transition to the next grade.

To make the process easy and enjoyable for students, I’ve created a mini-unit, now available for sale on my website and on TPT: Making Vision Boards With Your Students.

The Process of Making Vision Boards

Day 1

• Ask students to envision their lives in five or ten years, considering personal aspects like health, career, spirituality, and relationships.
• Distribute brainstorming handouts to facilitate thinking about their significant visions.
• Show students sample vision boards for inspiration.
• Create a relaxed atmosphere with background music as they work.

Day 2

• Provide the “Open the Door To Your Vision – Journal or Jot” sheet.
• Explain each section, offering examples if needed.
• Encourage flexibility as students browse magazines or online sources, allowing for changes to their initial visions.

Day 3 & 4

• Have students revisit their brainstorming sheets to guide their image selection.
• Distribute magazines, scissors, and glue sticks.
• Instruct students to arrange words and images before gluing.

Day 5

Encourage students to share their vision boards in small groups or the whole class if comfortable.
Remind students to place their vision boards where they can see them daily for motivation.

Whether students choose to share or not, conduct a reflective journal piece to capture their remarkable responses.

Tips for Success:

• Invest ample time in the brainstorming sheets, providing numerous examples.
• Share sample images to give students an idea of what their vision boards can look like.
• Create your vision board to connect with students and emphasize that teachers have goals and aspirations too.
• Ensure a diverse selection of magazines, including those from dentists, doctor’s offices, and hair salons.
• Remind students that consistent reference to their vision board will help keep their goals in mind, motivating and encouraging them to reach for the stars!

Praise From Teachers:

Finally, explore some testimonials from teachers who have purchased Making Vision Boards With Your Students. The first review is particularly touching!

Final Words…

Making vision boards with your students not only makes a positive impact on their goal-setting and future considerations but also provides a fun opportunity to deepen your connection with them.

I encourage you to give Making Vision Boards With Your Students a chance! Both you and your students will love the experience. To purchase this resource, visit my TPT store or access it via Catch the Buzz Teaching.


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Are you looking for some picture books with a global perspective to read aloud to your students? Look no further! This list of eight beautifully illustrated books will cultivate your students’ curiosity about the world and its people. Discovering the world through literature sparks curiosity and encourages readers to seek further knowledge about different countries, customs, and histories.

The books are linked to Amazon (I don’t receive any compensation from Amazon) so you can take a closer look. You really must see the illustrations!

Keep reading to discover these eight beautifully illustrated books that will captivate young minds with global wonders.

If the World Were a Village by David J. Smith, Illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong

“If the World Were a Village – A Book about the World’s People” is an informative and thought-provoking picture book written by David J. Smith and illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong. The book creatively presents complex global statistics and demographics in a way that is accessible and engaging for young readers. By imagining the world’s population as a village of 100 people, it simplifies the vast diversity of humanity and allows readers to grasp the distribution of languages, religions, access to resources, and other essential aspects of global demographics. Through colorful illustrations and concise text, the book promotes cultural awareness and understanding, encouraging readers to appreciate the rich tapestry of people and traditions that make up our global community. It serves as an excellent educational resource to spark discussions about global citizenship, empathy, and the importance of cooperation in addressing global challenges.

If You Lived Here: Houses of the World by Giles Laroche

“If You Lived Here: Houses of the World ” is an illuminating non-fiction picture book written and illustrated by Giles Laroche. This beautifully crafted book takes young readers on a global journey, exploring various types of houses and dwellings found in different cultures and regions. Through intricate paper-cut illustrations and concise descriptions, the book celebrates the diversity of human habitation, fostering an appreciation for cultural differences and architectural ingenuity.

Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney, Illustrated by Qin Leng

“Me on the Map” is an educational and interactive picture book written by Joan Sweeney and illustrated by Annette Cable. The book introduces young readers to the concept of geography and cartography by guiding them through the process of understanding their place in the world, from their home to their neighborhood, city, state, country, and continent. With engaging illustrations and simple explanations, the book helps children develop spatial awareness and an appreciation for the larger world around them.

One Well: The Story of Water on Earth by Rochelle Strauss, Illustrated by Rosemary Woods

“One Well: The Story of Water on Earth” is an eye-opening and informative picture book written by Rochelle Strauss and illustrated by Rosemary Woods. The book sheds light on the crucial role water plays in sustaining life on Earth and the delicate balance of the global water cycle. With clear and concise text complemented by captivating illustrations, the book emphasizes the need for responsible water usage and environmental conservation to protect this vital resource for future generations.

One World, Many Colors by Ben Lerwill, Illustrated by Alette Straathof

“One World, Many Colors” is a vibrant and multicultural picture book written by Ben Lerwill and illustrated by Alette Straathof. The book celebrates the diversity of cultures and traditions around the world, focusing on the colors that represent each unique heritage. Through lively illustrations and concise descriptions, the book encourages young readers to appreciate and embrace the richness of human diversity and the beauty it brings to our global community.

This Is Our World: From Alaska to the Amazon ― Meet 20 Children Just Like You by Tracey Turner

“This Is Our World: From Alaska to the Amazon―Meet 20 Children Just Like You” is an enlightening and culturally enriching picture book written by Tracey Turner. The book introduces readers to a diverse group of children from different parts of the world, offering glimpses into their daily lives, traditions, and customs. Through engaging text and photographs, the book promotes empathy, understanding, and a sense of global interconnectedness among young readers.

Woven of the World by Katey Howes, Illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova

“Woven of the World” is a beautifully illustrated picture book written by Katey Howes and illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova. The book weaves together a tapestry of cultural diversity by exploring various textile traditions from around the world. With lyrical prose and intricate artwork, the book celebrates the artistry and craftsmanship of different cultures while highlighting the universal value of creativity and human expression through textile arts.

The World Around Me by Charlotte Guillain, Illustrated by Oliver Averill

“The World Around Me” is an engaging and educational picture book written by Charlotte Guillain and illustrated by Oliver Averill. The book explores the wonders of the natural world, introducing young readers to various ecosystems and the fascinating creatures that inhabit them. With descriptive text and captivating artwork, the book fosters curiosity about nature and inspires a sense of wonder and awe for the planet we call home.

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SUMMER HAPPENINGS SELF-PORTRAIT:

This is one of my all time favorite activities because when I put the finished portraits on display, the students LOVE studying their peers’ portraits. I too pore over their artwork so I can get to know the students better. Funny enough, their self-portraits often do look a lot like the artists that drew them!

The goal is for the students to create a simple self-portrait with text boxes to help explain the things they did over the summer. What I love is that the descriptions can be super-simple because not everyone is able to go on grand vacations during the summer break. I first saw this activity on Art Projects For Kids website. Her directions and sample have changed, but her super easy directions are available on her site. (Her original sample, “Kathy” is shown here.)

WHO AM I? WATERCOLOR POSTER

Another one of my favorite art projects for the beginning of the year is a Who Am I? Watercolor Poster. The simplicity of the project means that with a little guidance, everyone is successful! Each of the images represents something having to do with the artist. In this image, for example:

– the KRW is the artist’s initials
– the umbrella represents April, the artist’s birth month
– the lighthouse symbolizes North Carolina, the artist’s birthplace
– the jack o’ lantern represents fall, their favorite season
– the image in the upper-right hand corner shows their two favorite colors

Click on the link to check it out in my TPT store!

I hope you and your students enjoy these two fun art projects for back to school! Please reach out if you have any questions.

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A couple of years ago, I read this headline: Want Kids To Be Better Readers? Teach Social Studies. I was gobsmacked. This was a title from an article by Natalie Wexler (author of the Knowledge Gap) published in Forbes’ website on September 26, 2020 and it lit a fire under me. Finally! someone said what I’d known for years: If you want to improve student reading, teach them social studies!

For years I watched with dread as social studies was pushed out of the elementary school day. Those that have been in this game for a while know what I’m talking about. In the not so distant past, social studies and science were taught every single day in every classroom. But then No Child Left Behind came along. And then the push for STEM came along. Pretty soon social studies was relegated to once every other week for 45 minutes, or some other paltry number. “The focus needs to be on reading,” we were told, “and you must use this book, and every grade level needs to be on the same page at the same time.”

My colleagues and I fought our principals and district administrators against this trend. We had meeting after meeting and tried to convince them the importance of reading real books, and integrating social studies into language arts and vice versa. During the meeting, we emphasized the importance of teaching social studies and how it would hook the kids into reading more about the topic. We fought and fought. We fought so hard a teammate was involuntary transferred to a different school … the year she was to retire. I stayed teaching at the elementary level for one more year after that and then I transferred to middle school to teach … social studies.

So… after I read Want Kids To Be Better Readers? Teach Social Studies I immediately sent it the superintendent who had pushed back so hard years before. Do you know what she said? “Yes! There is all this new research out now. Here’s another article.” I wanted to scream. We tried to tell you that 10 years ago ma’am!

What’s the point? The point is that now that I’ve left the classroom, I want to help teachers teach social studies so that they can help improve their student reading. I will share ideas and resources that will make it so easy to incorporate social studies into their day that they will be excited about it. I want to help transform elementary classrooms to help teachers make their students better readers by teaching social studies.

(If you want to read more from Natalie Wexler, I highly recommend The Knowledge Gap. Here is a link for her book.)

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