How to Make a Homeschool Memory Book
Do you ever wonder what you were like as a child? I don’t have many mementos from my childhood. I’m not sure if my parents didn’t keep things, or if my things got lost over the years. Either way, it’s disappointing not to have some written documentation that reflects who I was as a child.
I want my kids to have the pleasure of pouring through a box of things they made when they were younger. Most of all, I want them to get a peek into what their personalities were like as children. What was their favorite book? Who were their friends? What did they accomplish that they were proud of?
Keeping pieces of our children’s artwork each year is great, but keeping a homeschool memory book adds that personality piece. A homeschool memory book includes details of their life story that can’t be found in a simple drawing or math paper.
Creating a homeschool memory book can be as structured or unstructured as you like. You know your children and can decide what approach is best. Some kids are naturally creative and self motivated, so you could just casually mention the idea of a homeschool memory book and let them run with it. You could brainstorm what they would like to include and help gather materials. Then your work is done.
Other kids will benefit from structure. The rest of this post outlines how to walk a child through making a homeschool memory book.
Gather Materials for Memory Book
Gather all the materials you want to use to create a memory book. Here are some items you may need.
- Cardstock
- Photos from the year
- Markers, colored pencils, pens
- Stapler
- Small holepunch
- Ribbon or string
- Laminator and film
Print a Copy of My Homeschool Memory Book
If you’d like to use the exact memory book I created, sign up on the form below to be added to my subscriber email list. After you receive an email confirmation, you’ll get a link to download the memory book for free.
Reflect on Memories From the Year
I find my kids have much better memories than I do. Even so, I like to review the year together before my daughter makes her memory book. You can flip through textbooks, workbooks, photos from the year or consult your calendar to remember all the great learning that took place during the year.
Fill in Memory Book Pages
If you have a young writer, you may want to reduce the amount of writing by asking her the questions and filling in the information yourself. The fill-in-the-blank pages may be easier for her to complete independently.
There are 6 pages in the memory book:
- My Favorite Things
- A Photo of Me
- What I Learned
- Memories
- My Friends
- Looking Ahead
Some writing prompts include:
- Something new I learned about myself this year…
- My greatest accomplishment this year…
- What I’ll miss most about this year…
- What I learned in math…
- What I learned in history…
- My favorite field trip…
- My favorite after school activity…
- Next year I hope…
Add Finishing Touches
Glue on photos, decorate, color, laminate, and assemble into a book. Voila, it’s done!
In Conclusion
Making a homeschool memory book will preserve memories that you and your child won’t want to forget. Don’t procrastinate and print out your free homeschool memory book today. Add it to your end of the year routine this year and every year. It may take some time to put together, but the time you invest is worth every minute.
Your Turn
Do your children make memory books each year? What do you like to include?
