Workbox Revamp

When we moved from SC to GA we moved into a smaller house.  I don’t have a separate space for homeschool, so I really had to condense down what I had and what I was doing.  The first thing that had to go was the space the workboxes took up, and to be totally honest, we were not really using before, so this worked out.  So I totally revamped how we do our workboxes and it has worked really good for us.  I know there are numerous ways that you can do this but I thought one more idea wouldn't hurt, right?!!!

We use BJU mostly for our core subjects, so what I did was I took all of the worksheets out of the workbooks and put them in binders.  During the school year when she is finished with the worksheet and it has been graded I put the finished worksheets in the front with a divider between the finished and the unfinished.  Make sense?  With our bible, they have song sheets and maps, I actually put those in page protectors because she will be handling them throughout the year and I didn't want them getting messed up. 

How I changed the workboxes was with these:

(sorry for the horrible lighting)

I bought these at Walmart.  They are the “@ the office” brand and it is the organizer with 8 pockets. I actually had to buy a lot of them because they only had 8 pockets and I wanted 12, but really I didn't need that many, oh well.  Anyway, I unbound the 4 pages and added 2 more pages to give me 12 pockets.  So I have one for each day (Mon-Fri).  I labeled each on front with my labeler and on wrote it on the spine.

In the front cover, I use this for make up work or work that needs to be corrected.

Each page is labeled with a tag.

I use the pockets only if there are specific directions that need to be followed or vocabulary words….and such.

In each folder I also keep some lined paper for handwriting or scratch paper, if needed.

The back pocket is where the finished work goes and also where I keep the extra tags because some of the subjects we do every other day or per semester.

So that is my crazy method.  It works good for us and my girls love this way best.  I do also because it keeps me accountable for correcting papers right away or at least by the week.

Here is a picture of my planning sheet.  I designed it for our specific needs but you are welcome to copy it.  I keep it in a protective sleeve so it doesn’t get ruined and when that week is over then I just hole punch it and put it in my mom binder (which is really nothing special right now, or organized!)

Thanks for stopping by.

Sue Patrick's Workbox System

After much consideration, "planning", talking with my husband and prayer I have decided to purchase "help" for me get on track. Well, what a blessing I received! I searched a couple of blogs and they were recommending this Workbox System. I thought it was going to be too much for me, especially purchasing 12 clear shoe box bins. But I did it and I am so glad I did. Although we haven't started it yet, I have it up and ready (well, almost, still have to get a couple of components together, but it is ready for her to use) and Natalie will use it today. I am really excited and I know she will be excited also. Mainly because she can see what she has to do for the day and she can feel accomplished for finishing all her boxes. I will post those pictures later, but for now, what I have is:
Natalie's Desk Set up:
To the left of her desk are her workboxes. She has 12 of them, but I did not use all 12 today.
On her desk is her schedule strip, help cards, vocabulary box, pencil drawer, and a tray for her finished work. Anything that is put underneath her desk is just there because I put it there, don't pay any attention to that mess!!!


So, basically for the workbox system each child will get 12 plastic bins. For each bin you will put in one assignment or workbook or whatever it may be for that lesson. On the bins are numbers that will correspond to her schedule strip and work with mom cards or other activity cards.

Here you will see a close up of bin number 6 (oops, outta order) on the top right is a "work with mom card" basically self explanitory, when this card is on the bins, then I will be working with her.


Here are two bins with an activity card on them. The one on the right tells her that it is time for a snack, and I have included that snack (hers and her sisters, in the bin)
On the left is one that tells her that she can play for 30 minutes.

Here is her schedule strips. The numbers are velcroed and she takes them off as she works on each bin. I am going to put another velcro dot on each bin probably on the number so she can match the numbers to the bins.

These are her help cards. She only gets 3 per day. And this will help minimize the need to always ask me how to spell a word instead of sounding it out.



This tray will be for her finished workbooks or other paper work.




I definitely recommend this to any one who can use it. And will happily answer any questions you have, but I do suggest you purchase her book or ebook to read.

Here are a few blogs that have inspired me to get started.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LeslieNelsen/662628/
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/walkingbytheway/667481/
http://1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com/

Blessings,
Aureila