Posted in Planning and Registration
Last week I stumbled across a Blogger who was using Sue Patrick's Workbox System and I was intrigued. After browsing around the net I just had to buy the book to find out more. (Oh how I love ebooks and instant downloads, not to mention the savings on international shipping). That night I devoured the whole book with plans to try this system out.The next day I went out and purchased the items needed to create the physical environment - a 4 tier shoe shelf and twelve plastic dishes that would fit nicely on the shelves. Oh and for two children that 2 shoe shelves and 24 plastic dishes so I did have to shop around to make sure I had found the best bargains possible. Each system cost me $50AU which was better than I had initially expected.
"What on earth do you do with shoeshelves and empty boxes?" you ask.
I fill them of course...with our workbooks and additional fun things to total twelve individual tasks.
I fill them of course...with our workbooks and additional fun things to total twelve individual tasks.
"But why?" I hear you question.
The basic idea is that the children can see exactly what is expected of them for the day. They know how much they will be doing, in what order, how much longer until their favourite activity and that mum is not slipping extra stuff in there every time they turn their back
(No, I would never... 
).
"Surely there's more to this concept than that..."
The children work in order from box 1 to box 12. This is a brilliant plan for my boys who are naturally inclined to select the fun and easy stuff to complete first only to be left with their least liked and most draining work to do at the end. Sure, I could just tell them which to do first and share my years of experience in knowing why my way is best but well...you know how that story would end. For some reason the boys don't feel compelled to break out of the numerical order enforced by a simple number on a box.
The basic idea is that the children can see exactly what is expected of them for the day. They know how much they will be doing, in what order, how much longer until their favourite activity and that mum is not slipping extra stuff in there every time they turn their back
(No, I would never... )."Surely there's more to this concept than that..."
The children work in order from box 1 to box 12. This is a brilliant plan for my boys who are naturally inclined to select the fun and easy stuff to complete first only to be left with their least liked and most draining work to do at the end. Sure, I could just tell them which to do first and share my years of experience in knowing why my way is best but well...you know how that story would end. For some reason the boys don't feel compelled to break out of the numerical order enforced by a simple number on a box.
"I still don't see why you need boxes and shelves to achieve this"
Ah, well this is the two-pronged clincher. First you can put everything you need into a box and eliminate all those last minute wanderings around the house looking for things. Your child pulls out their box, takes it to their seat and everything they need is in front of them. They also have a lovely little box to put all their resources back into. BUT they don't put their complete box back on the shelf. This is the second part of the clincher. The completed boxes get stacked beside the shelf.
Ah, well this is the two-pronged clincher. First you can put everything you need into a box and eliminate all those last minute wanderings around the house looking for things. Your child pulls out their box, takes it to their seat and everything they need is in front of them. They also have a lovely little box to put all their resources back into. BUT they don't put their complete box back on the shelf. This is the second part of the clincher. The completed boxes get stacked beside the shelf.
"Why do you put them on the floor?".
By not returning the boxes to the shelf the boys can easily see how much work they have completed and more importantly, how much they have left to do. There is something very motivating about seeing your work disappear in front of you.
"Sounds like extra work for mum".
Yes there is a little more work invovled but boy will it be worth it if my boys (one in particular) can work at a consistent rate with minimal procrastination.
It's also making me more accountable. There are areas I'm more inclined to skip than others and by setting these out on display for all to see there's no way I can skip over them or just quietly cross them out on my planner as so often happens. (Ever had conversations with yourself like this?..."Painting...eeek...don't feel like that today.")
I've also found a use for all the great additional resources that have been sitting gathering dust in my cupboards. The boys don't have TWELVE workbooks so once I've alloted their workbooks boxes I get to fill their other boxes with all sorts of goodies - file folder games, hot dot pen activities, card games, educational dominoes, activity kits etc. All of these things are great review, lots of fun and very motivating.
(Brayden reviewing initial sounds with his hot dot pen and cards)
(Ethan playing money dominoes which I created)
(Brayden matching letter blocks to word cards. Rest assured he changed that "t" for an "f" for fence AFTER the photo 
)
By not returning the boxes to the shelf the boys can easily see how much work they have completed and more importantly, how much they have left to do. There is something very motivating about seeing your work disappear in front of you.
Yes there is a little more work invovled but boy will it be worth it if my boys (one in particular) can work at a consistent rate with minimal procrastination.
It's also making me more accountable. There are areas I'm more inclined to skip than others and by setting these out on display for all to see there's no way I can skip over them or just quietly cross them out on my planner as so often happens. (Ever had conversations with yourself like this?..."Painting...eeek...don't feel like that today.")
I've also found a use for all the great additional resources that have been sitting gathering dust in my cupboards. The boys don't have TWELVE workbooks so once I've alloted their workbooks boxes I get to fill their other boxes with all sorts of goodies - file folder games, hot dot pen activities, card games, educational dominoes, activity kits etc. All of these things are great review, lots of fun and very motivating.
(Brayden reviewing initial sounds with his hot dot pen and cards)(Ethan playing money dominoes which I created)(Brayden matching letter blocks to word cards. Rest assured he changed that "t" for an "f" for fence AFTER the photo )"But what if it doesn't fit in a box?"
No problem. Some people leave a note in the box telling their child to collect the item, or leave it beside the shelves. Myself, I have photographed parts of our school routine that are either too big or that they have to take turns with, and turned them into small cards which I velcroed onto their schedule strips.
No problem. Some people leave a note in the box telling their child to collect the item, or leave it beside the shelves. Myself, I have photographed parts of our school routine that are either too big or that they have to take turns with, and turned them into small cards which I velcroed onto their schedule strips.
"Huh? What's a schedule strip?"
The schedule strip/booklet tells the child what they have to do and when to do it. It includes things like breaks, snacks/lunch and group activities. It's also where they put their completed box numbers as they progress.
The novelty of pulling off the velcro box number once their work in that box is finished, and putting the number on their schedule was just another thing that kept the boys moving and not procrastinating. To be honest I may begin to find the shuffling of these velcro cards annoying but I'm prepared to work with it if it means smooth sailing school days.
(Ethan completing his Explode the Code workbook with his schedule booklet in front of him. When he finished this workbook he added the number 10 from the front of his workbox to his schedule booklet. )
(See the velcroed green number on each box. These pull off and are placed on their schedule strips).
The schedule strip/booklet tells the child what they have to do and when to do it. It includes things like breaks, snacks/lunch and group activities. It's also where they put their completed box numbers as they progress.
The novelty of pulling off the velcro box number once their work in that box is finished, and putting the number on their schedule was just another thing that kept the boys moving and not procrastinating. To be honest I may begin to find the shuffling of these velcro cards annoying but I'm prepared to work with it if it means smooth sailing school days.
(Ethan completing his Explode the Code workbook with his schedule booklet in front of him. When he finished this workbook he added the number 10 from the front of his workbox to his schedule booklet. ) (See the velcroed green number on each box. These pull off and are placed on their schedule strips).
"Sounds like I need to hear more about this."
If you are looking for more order in your homeschool day than perhaps this system is the thing for you. There's a lot more to it than just the physical structure which I've shared with you. Sue Patrick shares her educational philosophies and plenty of neat tips in her book. I better not outline them all for you or you won't go and buy her book.
Of course if you do head over and purchase her book she'll see ideas like my new nifty chore charts. The boys LOVED them.
Okay, so it's only day one of the system in our house. But if today is any indicator we'll certainly be keeping the workbox system. Ethan plowed steadily through his workboxes all day and his speedy little brother (who upsets him daily by finishing at least 30 minutes before him) was kept busy with the hands on acitivities that took more time to complete than his usual preschool workbooks.
Having to get up and walk back and forth to the shelf to retrieve and return workboxes also seemed to help with the fidgets. Having hands on activities spread throughout the schedule also helped Ethan focus more on his workbook activities when their turn came around.
It could have just been the novelty of the first day but I'm certainly hoping it's not. I want that same focused and motivated Ethan back again tomorrow.
(Why haven't I mentioned Brayden when discussing how the system worked for us...because he was totally out of his tree. Who knows what planet he was on today. I was mentally running through what he'd eaten to try and point the finger at the cause but when he went to bed happily at 8.15pm and was asleep by 8.30pm I had my "ahha" moment. So we'll erase Brayden's first attempt at the system and give him a second first attempt tomorrow.)
Here are the boys' review of our new system:
Ethan: "It was funner" (Mental note - add more grammar to his curriculum)
Brayden: "You made me work harder" (Not sure if that's a good or bad thing. His frown said "bad" though. I'll quiz him again tomorrow.)
So there you have it....our new homeschool organisational system. I'll keep you updated on our progress.
If you are looking for more order in your homeschool day than perhaps this system is the thing for you. There's a lot more to it than just the physical structure which I've shared with you. Sue Patrick shares her educational philosophies and plenty of neat tips in her book. I better not outline them all for you or you won't go and buy her book.
Of course if you do head over and purchase her book she'll see ideas like my new nifty chore charts. The boys LOVED them.
Having to get up and walk back and forth to the shelf to retrieve and return workboxes also seemed to help with the fidgets. Having hands on activities spread throughout the schedule also helped Ethan focus more on his workbook activities when their turn came around.
It could have just been the novelty of the first day but I'm certainly hoping it's not. I want that same focused and motivated Ethan back again tomorrow.
(Why haven't I mentioned Brayden when discussing how the system worked for us...because he was totally out of his tree. Who knows what planet he was on today. I was mentally running through what he'd eaten to try and point the finger at the cause but when he went to bed happily at 8.15pm and was asleep by 8.30pm I had my "ahha" moment. So we'll erase Brayden's first attempt at the system and give him a second first attempt tomorrow.)
Here are the boys' review of our new system:
Ethan: "It was funner" (Mental note - add more grammar to his curriculum)
Brayden: "You made me work harder" (Not sure if that's a good or bad thing. His frown said "bad" though. I'll quiz him again tomorrow.)
So there you have it....our new homeschool organisational system. I'll keep you updated on our progress.
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