Does anyone do the workbox system? If so let me know your pro's and con's of it. I just learned about it.
We started our version of it this year. I love it- it keeps me on track and I accomplish more when I fill the boxes. The girls enjoy knowing how much work they have to do and love to finish each box! I start with two boxes that we do together as a family. Then we split up. My eldest has her independent work and I work with my youngest. When my youngest is done, it's about time for my eldest to work with me. Once my eldest finishes, I fill up the boxes for the next day. I feel more organized during the day and I do get more done.
I do something workbox like...but I fill them for the week and write out a schedule. they can do it in whatever order they like...but I have to see it all done. I use a file box and hanging folders, one for each subject...Language Arts has several folders. There are some subjects they do with me or together...but, they are very independent. I just don't have room to do a box system for each kid...also, they share some resources. I also can't load it every day. I like doing it by the week. Sometimes my oldest will speed ahead so she can take a day off!!! LOL.
We did workboxes last year and everyone thrived with it once we got used to it and adapted it to our way of learning. My little one (5 yo) had 2 sets of the big 3 drawer Sterlite carts stacked together -- she needed room for puzzles, games, and manipulatives. My older one had one of the large 7 drawer sterilite carts that had 3 big drawers on the bottom, 4 smaller drawers on top. I then put velcro circles on from the number that day. Her big ones were great for art supplies, science tools, and social studies projects. The smaller drawers were great for worksheets, journals, and books. I still kept a master schedule for the week to make it easier to know what was to be done each day. I made 2"x2" cards for chores, our daily activities, outside events, as well as numbers & images for each subject. I kept those on color coded wall charts for each child. There were activities such as computer time, outside play, etc that wouldn't be in the drawers and had to be incorporated. Pros: 1) easy to keep up with what needed to be done (including chores, activities, etc) 2) easy for mom to see what had been done and what needs to be checked 3) everything stayed in one place 4) all supplies for each project were set and ready to go... no more hunting for the red marker or the highlighter if that was required, just take out the drawer and go. 5) when we had an on-going project like a lapbook, everything stayed in the drawer until it was done Cons: 1) time consuming for mom to fill each night rather than having each child responsible for getting/keeping track of their own materials 2) shared materials became a problem 3) needed more supplies since we often stored glue, pencils, etc. with each project 4) we had to work out a better ordering system which allowed more child-led flexibility -- my little one -- 5 yo then -- needed the motivation of getting to do #3 fun activity if #1 & #2 drawers were complete, but my older one -- 8 yo then -- did better with being able to chose the order of her academics. 5) The Card schedule seemed more time consuming than it was worth. I ended up printing a version of my schedule for my older one and just keeping the visual card version for the little one. The drawers became a subject storage center for my older child, but it still kept her more organized since all the supplies for each project stayed together. When I asked them if they want to use the system again next year, both say yes.
I forgot the BIGGEST Pro: It also helped both of them know what they could work on next without having to interrupt Mom in the middle of working with the other child or completing her own work. They both loved that sense of independence.
Ok, can someone point me in a direction of explination on what these are? They sound interesting, and it might be something I could use to help my ds. Thanks
Just Google "Sue Patrick's Workbox System"... there are lots of explanations, adaptations and yahoo groups dedicated to her organizational ideas!
It is an excellent system. It's wonderful for younger children and children/teenagers that need this type of system to keep them motivated. Seeing a huge book or workbook can be overwhelming for some. But seeing a single to a couple pieces of paper in a box can be less overwhelming and can keep them on task. There are several videos on youtube that explain the concept well.
I've tried it since the Christmas break, and I'm loving it. I am much more organized, and we are getting more done! My DS loves being able to pick and choose the order of the day. I let him choose which one he does, but I use clear boxes, and he's only allowed to look, not touch! So far so good, I think we're going to keep this up! Oh, and I don't do the whole system as intended. I just take what works for us!
Well, I am trying something similiar to a work box, I think.......... I bought my kids a beautiful box for a local store. They just have one. I put the books in the box. After I check their work daily I put the dates on the pages for each one to complete. As the day progresses and I see how it's going I then make a check list. I decided then if I am adding things like History that day and typing. As far as chores for them. They have a list given to them every Friday. I check their chores before Friday dinner. They get paid for what they have done. If they didn't get something done then they just don't get paid.
We use a modified workbox method too. My daughter is 5 so this year I am still sitting with her a majority of the time and doing her work with her. My daughter LOVES workbooks and doing "real" school. She has 5 workbooks that she works out of and each day I just paper clip the next page she is supposed to do, and put it back in the workbox. She has 10 drawers, and 5 have the workbooks, the other five have games, play dough, number wrap-ups, a cooking recipe, a snack, a book we read together..etc. I like that we get a lot more of the fun things done. Things that I either would forget I wanted to do or didn't feel like hunting down all the supplies while in the midst of doing our school work. I get those things together at night and fill the boxes. My daughter can do her handwriting and reading on her own, and she feels very independent knowing she can go to her workboxes and everything is ready for her to start without me if needed. My older daughter does SOS and TT on the computer. She has a set of the workboxes where she keeps her Lifepac electives and nature journal.
