How workboxes work for us

I was inspired recently to actually remember that I have a blog when a fellow homeschool mom announced that she had found workboxes. I got excited! Workboxes are the ONLY way to survive homeschooling, in my humble opinion. As we enter our second year using them (and- wow- 7th year homeschooling!) I simply wouldn't homeschool without them!

This morning I took some pictures of our workboxes to give you an idea of how we use them.

Here are Logan and Kelsey's workboxes. They each have their own style of numbers so it's easy to see who it belongs to. The numbers are velcroed on. The subjects are the same, in the same order, for everyone. That consistency helps us always know where to find what we are looking for (the consistency is mainly for me- I know to grab drawer 6 for science, no matter whose workboxes I am working with).





Logan's math drawer. I only allow one drawer out at a time. Everything they need for that subject will be in the drawer. When they are done, it all goes back in and the drawer gets put away before pulling out the next one.



They each have a large 3 ring binder that I customize, which holds all their completed work. I remove and check their work from the drawers and file it in their notebook.





Grant's workboxes. We keep books that are used daily and are too big for the drawers, on top. It works well for us. Logan and Kelsey have HUGE saxon teacher manuals that I use daily so they stay right on top of their workboxes. I can easily grab them when it's time for the math lesson.




The kids at work. Grant is on the computer because he uses Alpha Omega SOS this year. So far so good. He still uses Saxon math and IEW writing and Phonetic Zoo spelling with me though.

There's Logan working on his math. Notice his math drawer and that monstrous math teacher's manual next to him.



Kelsey is doing Language Arts. The pink drawer is hers. I sit in between them and field questions and issues.



I fill the workboxes on Friday or over the weekend, for the entire week. I used to fill them daily and it very quickly became drudgery! I have an excel file that I use to print out weekly assignments and place that in their first drawer, so they know what to do for the day, but all their printables, books, worksheets, etc are in there for the week. I try to go through daily and pull out and grade completed work, but if I don't, it's not a big deal. They know to put completed work on the bottom so it doesn't get in the way.

As they finish with a drawer, they remove the number and throw it in the drawer. That is a big deal for them. They like that tangible sign of progress. I put them back on at the end of the day to be ready for the next day. I am not bogged down during the week because their assignments, etc are all ready for the week. I do spend 2-3 hours on the weekend prepping for the following week, but it is worth it to me to avoid the daily drudgery of having to setup for the next day.

Our first drawer is Bible and we try to always do that first. After that, I schedule subject according to who is going to need my help. Grant does Bible, History, Science, and Language Arts on the computer, though he needs occasional help. It is mostly juggling the 2 younger ones needing me, and Grant with Math. We do read alouds in the afternoon, and Kelsey reads to me in the morning from her Bible reader and again in the afternoon from her choice, usually a reader from the library or a Sonlight grade 2 reader. Logan always reads our devotional out loud.

I am using Institute for Excellence in Writing's Writing program for all 3 of them this year. I love them so far. Grant is doing the student writing intensive and the others are doing a lower elementary program. We are also using their spelling, phonetic zoo for Grant which I mentioned earlier and All About Spelling. Fabulous programs.

We are using Lesson Pathways (a free program) for the first time this year for History and Spelling, plus supplementing our Language Arts, for L and K. I think it is a really thorough program and I love it so far. We have found tons of great books at the library to enhance our studies. The library system here is fantastic. I can easily go online and reserve any book I need then pick it up in a day or so. Perfect for Lesson Pathways. I plan to have what I need about a week in advance, since we can keep the books for 3 weeks. We have learned so much already!

I'm going to wrap this up as I am rambling off topic now LOL. Don't get me started on curriculum! I could go on all day!

Happy Homeschooling!

Homeschooling

One of the reasons I set up this blog was to share some of my homeschooling ideas that are working for us. Since we are in the full swing of the new school year, I am going to share 2 of my favorite ideas to make our homeschool experience easier and better organized.

The first one I came up with totally on my own, and I'm rather proud of it. It is a lifesaver, argument preventer, and major task helper. I have grabbed it to bring along to doctor appointments, grandma's house, or just about anywhere that we want to do school on the go. This one item, along with my canvas Sonlight tote bag filled with a few books or worksheets, is all we need on the go. At home, it sits in the middle of the dining room table where anyone can reach it.

It's our supply caddy. (link is similar but not exactly the same as mine).Purchased from Walmart a year or so ago, I have also seen it (for more money) at Michael's. It is advertised as a scrapbooking caddy. It has held up to our abuse remarkably well and has no shortage of pockets, both flat and zippered, as well as internal elastic pockets which I use to corral the markers and colored pencils.

Without further ado:



On the side we store all of our scissors (plenty to do crafts with friends and no fighting over scissors!) and pencils.


On this side we keep all our dry erase markers and erasers. We use these alot for handwriting, clock practice, and for fun. We have several tablet sized dry erase boards, with and without lines, that fit right in the middle section of this caddy for on the go fun.


Elastic pouches inside each section corral markers and colored pencils so it's easy to grab the color you are looking for. On the other side there is room for glue and glue sticks, and it comes with a velcro pouch to hold erasers. Rulers go in the middle.


Math manipulatives like protractors and small rulers fit in here.


There is even a big zippered compartment for index cards, small post it notes, and card games.


My other favorite favorite homeschool help is workboxes. We just started using them this year, and it has transformed our homeschool. I just simply don't know how I coped before they came into the picture. Well, I know I was much less organized. Here is one quick picture of our workboxes. I will add more in another post:)