Having a Vision

Last month my BLOG focused on the importance of helping children formulate SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound).

One way to begin to formulate SMART goals is to create a vision board. What's a vision board? It's a collection of images that exemplify what a child is trying to achieve. The images can be drawn right on the board or can be single words, phrases or meaningful quotes. Images can also be cut and pasted from magazines or other materials.

Some children will create a collage; others will separate their goals into distinct categories. Still others will create two different boards, one for personal goals and one for academic ones. It's a personal choice. The important thing is to have children think about their goals and make them visually come to life.

Vision boards are a fun activity with a clear purpose. I used to do them with my 4th and 5th grade students but they are a successful tool to help teens and adults clarify their goals too.