I absolutely love Pinterest.

I love its visual element. I love that I can file inspirations into neat little categories.

I love how it allows a community of potentially isolated homeschoolers and teachers to share their ideas and knowledge.

There has never been a time like this in our history. People know what’s going in your home and classroom; you know what’s going on in other people’s homes and classrooms.

Through platforms like Pinterest, parents encourage other parents. Teachers help other teachers. Teachers help parents. What’s an absolute novelty is that parents are also helping teachers through the astounding array of activities they create (often better than teachers themselves! Sorry, teachers!)

Pinterest needs to be used with caution especially as the comparison game begins:

• I’m not as good as he is.
• I don’t do as much as she does.
• My learners can’t do any of that.
• My student only has meltdowns when I show him paint.

You will find yourself with 87 boards but never attempting anything. When you do, you are faced with huge disappointment.

That’s because Pinterest is not the curriculum.

Start with a curriculum, even if it’s one you design yourself.

Start with a plan.

Begin with developmentally appropriate goals that make sense for the learners.

Make learning meaningful.

As a result, the Pinterest activities you need will soon begin to find you.

Find my Pinterest account here.