Homeschoolers: Make a Sweet, Huge Magnetic Chalkboard on the Cheap

“I am not a teacher, but an awakener.” -Robert Frost

It’s that magical time of year again—back to school! That said, we know that many homeschoolers and unschoolers don’t really have a yearly curriculum, but hey, anything that helps the budget and the education the kids are getting is worth it whether it’s June, September, or anytime in between.

When you make your own chalkboard the sky is the limit! You can choose to designate an entire wall of your home as the chalkboard by simply using magnetic paint, but if you do want some parameters and would like to hang a chalkboard that you can take with you when you move or to other rooms as learning needs change, check out the YOUHANGIT method.

• Find a large piece of framed artwork from the thrift store (or an existing piece you have sitting in the garage), pop the artwork out, and hang on to the frame—you’ll need the old artwork in a bit here.
• Finish the frame in whatever color you and the kiddos like, or leave it bare, whatever suits your taste, budget, and needs.
• Use the old piece of artwork that was once in the frame as a way to measure for a piece of Masonite you’ll use to create your chalkboard: you can take it with you to most hardware stores and they will help you cut a piece to fit the frame at little to no additional cost.
• Paint the Masonite black BEFORE putting it in the frame—if you’d like it to be magnetic as well, you can get magnetic black paint from Magnamagic Magnetic Receptive Wall Paint—this is one of a very few magnetic paints for chalkboards that is nontoxic, so it’s safe for your little ones to be around.
• Use the YOUHANGIT wall hanging system and use strong screw anchors. If not already fitted with double keyholes (this is what you want to ensure the safest and most steadfast hold), that’s the route you want to go for these heavy-framed chalkboards that will surely be leaned on, run into, and otherwise bruised and battered by homeschooled hooligans. Click here to review a video on how to make keyholes on the back of a frame.

If the kids are using it, you’ve done it right! Make sure you don’t pick a frame that’s too small for little hands to work within, and keep in mind that for your littler learners, sidewalk chalk is a better way to start, not unlike getting used to holding writing utensils is best started with jumbo crayons.

Carry on you fun-loving home educators; we’ve got your back when it comes time to hang anything right the FIRST time here at YHI!