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Sep. 15, 2009
We're trying a new homeschool organizational system
Yesterday we started the Sue Patrick Workbox System in our homeschool. We've made some modifications because we have a very full home, no separate school room, and a large family. Sue Patrick recommends a metal shelf with 12 plastic shoe boxes on it, per child. The only space in our home where we could fit 5 shelves with a total of 60 shoe boxes is if we lined the narrow hallway with them. We chose not to ... partly because they're less effective when out of the school room, and partly because we knew the 1 year old and 3 year old would empty them constantly.
Instead, we are using one milk crate for each child. I put 12 hanging file folders in each crate, except 14 yo A's. As a 9th grader, she has lots of heavier books and notebooks that didn't seem to work well with the crate/file method. Her crate is holding all her textbooks and notebooks, but on top of the crate we are keeping a 13 pocket plastic expanding file. We're placing any papers I have for her and 3x5 note cards with assignments on them in the pockets. I have one for each of her main curricula, and others like computer time and exercise that I mix in. Some of her lessons are alternated (spelling and grammar), and there will be other times I put in Pen Pal Letter or Family Craft into one of her pockets.
I still need to get my number tabs and schedule strips prepared this morning. With the workbox system (is ours more of a work-crate system?) the kids will work through their 12 files each school day for a mix of educational fun, schoolwork, activities, and review items. Time to turn on my thinking cap to give them a variety of activities and lessons each day. This will be different than them just working through their text books one lesson at a time, since we'll be adding in the other activities and review materials. We don't normally have 12 items on their daily list, but I am including computer time, outdoor activities, reading, and other things they usually do each day in their pockets. It helps to break up the lessons and keep them looking forward to the next file. I'll be filling work-crates each night rather than completing an assignment chart at the beginning of the week.
5 year old M has the least curriculum of all, so his files include things like 1 story with Mom, 1 short movie (is that one allowed?), puzzles, legos, play dough, coloring pages, ride bike, computer time, and listening in on the family chapter book.
I'm hoping that putting computer time in the files will help them know they are each going to get a turn on the computer, so they won't all try to watch the other person play on the computer. They'll need to keep working through their own files until they come to their turn, or they won't get a turn. The other thing I'm hoping is that it helps me to use some of the supplemental materials I have but often neglect.
The first day went well yesterday, and the kids are all excited about their work crates. It seemed to keep the 8 year old and 5 year old better occupied and happier than our usual method. I like that their milk crates look neater than the plastic dish pans we were using to hold their school books. The dishpans were often overflowing and messy looking.
We're reviewing the system and the e-book for TOS Homeschool Crew, and I'm very thankful we were chosen to do so. I've been hearing about workboxes since Spring, and was going to try them this year anyway. Once I found out it was going to be a Homeschool Crew vendor, I decided to wait and see if we were chosen before buying the e-book. We were ... so you can look for my full review in late October.
Trusting In Him,
April
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Sep. 25, 2009 - Untitled Comment
However I am sure one benefit is that more gets done!
I will look forward to seeing how this goes for you. Well, I hope!
Blessings, Eva