Workboxes - Updated

[Note, this picture is NOT our workbox.... I'm not sure whose it is..]

So, before we started school in September, I setup Homeschool Workboxes for us. It was a slight modification to the system, but for the most part, it was working ok.

However, it took up a LOT of my needed shelf-space, and for other reasons, we aren't able to use the homeschool room for a number of months, so I needed something a lot more portable.

So, having seen other people's variations, I tried out a different variation for the family..... portable file boxes. I got Delta (and after a while Echo) a portable filebox, with hanging file folders. The fileboxes have handles on them, so they can be moved easily.

Now, I put each "workbox" item into a file folder, and put them all in the box in the order we are going to do it. I added the schedule grids onto the outside of the box, and put file numbers and activity cards on that for them to remove. (Note, I've noticed they often didn't remove them, so for about a week I haven't bothered putting the numbers on - no complaints.... hm....) Their name is on the front of the box. They each have a pencil case on the inside of the box with their pencils and other items. Unfortunately, things don't fit into a file folder a little more often than they wouldn't fit into a box - so they get more notes of things to do..... but it still isn't that often.

The one thing that doesn't really fit is some of the math manipulatives.... I am using one of the old workboxes to hold those. Although I can usually tuck them into the filebox when needed.

I actually think I like this system better.... we have been using it for about 3 months now. Shortly after starting this system, I had to take the car in unexpectedly to get looked at. I had them grab their boxes, and we did homeschool with no problem in the waiting area. This stopped them from getting bored - and it took me no time to get stuff together, as it was already in a portable container. On a day that we probably would have missed out on school.... Homeschool was saved! The other thing I like is that we are now doing most of our homeschool on our couch.... much more comfortable.

Workbox Wednesday

Well, for what it is worth, here is what we did today in our workboxes. (Sorry, I didn't take pictures) - I'm not sure I've got the order the same as we did it....

Delta (Year 1)

1. Math Lesson
2. Scriptures reading
3. A Pioneer Story reading
4. Plastic Canvas [this ended up not working, as the plastic needle I bought didn't fit through the holes! OOPS!] - changed it to cutting practice on the fly
5. Burgess Bird Book reading
6. Cursive First
7. Polite Moments reading
8. Treadwell Primer (Reading instruction)
9. Stamp Collection
10. On the Shores of the Great Sea reading
11. Leap Pad
12. Practice Skipping (outside) - for Otter badge

Echo

1. Mosaic (pegs in peg board)
2. Colouring worksheet
3. Maze
4. Reading Instruction
5. Literature - Winnie the Pooh book
6. Make Lunch with mom

There was a bit of waiting by both kids for me - some days it works out better than others. Today there was a LOT of reading that needed to get done. Over-all though, it still went very well.

I wish I had more items setup for Echo however. She gets done very quickly - and nothing I have entertains her very long. So far she has been pretty content to play near us - and sometimes watches what we are doing. (She loves to watch the math, for instance.)

I do think that the workboxes work out very well, as I haven't yet heard "Are we done after this?"

Homeschool Tracker and Workboxes

I have decided to use Homeschool Tracker (the basic version is free) to keep track of what we are doing each day. Fortunately where I live requires very little tracking - but we want to keep track more anyway. This seems like a simple way to plan, and track, very inexpensively. Sure, we end up ignoring the grades section - but so far it seems to be working quite well.

While I was figuring out next weeks workboxes, I had a great idea. I've put in all the assignments for each day into Homeschool Tracher.... but I've been having a fun time trying to keep track of what fun stuff to do.

So - here is the idea. Add a "Fun Stuff" subject into H.T. - and for the various ideas, make a resource! So I have resources like "Maze", "Jigsaw Puzzle", "Play Dough". etc. Then if I want to be specific, when I assign it, I use the page/chapter/etc to specify. The cool thing is the resources only show up when I say I want a fun resource. (And when printing reports later, I can choose to exclude the fun stuff subject too)

Basically, I look at the schedule for the day - count how many box activities there are, and then figure out how many fun boxes I need - then pick out that many assignments from the fun stuff subject.

I can later print out the planner sheet for a week - and add in the box numbers. Then each night - fill the boxes as usual.

First Day & Workboxes

The Workboxes

Well, we had our first day of Grade 1 (and I guess preschool) - and we did do workboxes. And I have to say, the workboxes worked well for us. The only upset was that I only filled 9 boxes instead of all 12!

Delta had 9 boxes - I think they were...

1. Scriptures
2. Math (MEP)
3. Puzzle (a fun box - he loves puzzles!)
4. Read Along - Canadian History
5. Handwriting
6. Read Along - World History
7. Picture Study
8. Read Along - Geography
9. Stencils (a fun box)

Filled Workboxes

Echo only had 4 boxes (partly because that was the space I had....) She had

1. blank paper and crayons (brand new ones!)
2. Magnext
3. Reading Cards (phonics)
4. A worksheet (I bought a few worksheet books for stuff for her to do) - basically colouring

She zoomed through them pretty fast though - I guess there was nothing that different from what she usually does. I need to put in some items she isn't used to, and some more. She played fairly quietly with us.

Echo's Workspace

Delta's Desk

Workboxing

Just heard about workboxing and am doing some research....

http://singleparenthomeschool.com/discovering-workboxes/

http://vegaadoption.blogspot.com/2009/03/this-is-best-system-ever.html

http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-were-using-workboxes.html

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/workbox.php

http://forum.homeschoolshare.com/viewforum.php?f=19

http://docs.google.com/View?docID=dwstdgn_447mphsmf8&revision=_latest (lots of pics and links!)

http://wayzleyacademy.homeschooljournal.net/2009/07/31/my-workbox-system/ - system I think I want to use...

http://thepreciousmind.blogspot.com/2009/08/so-many-workbox-blog-links-your-mind.html - good summary of many pages