Workbox System?

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by daddys3chicks, Jun 25, 2009.

  1. daddys3chicks

    daddys3chicks New Member

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  3. sixcloar

    sixcloar New Member

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    I checked into it a while back and LOVE the concept. However, there is no way I can have 12 boxes times 4 kids in my house. There simply isn't room. I did purchase one box per day for my younger two and fill it with a whole day's activities, rather than just one activity per box. The concept it great, but the amount of space the sytems uses is not at all practical for lots of us.
     
  4. chicamarun

    chicamarun New Member

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    I bought the ebook yesterday and think I will try to do it for the kids this year. I have awesome lesson plans provided by Seton but they have ALL these workbooks/textbooks. I think it will be easier to put everything in boxes or something (I've seen people who use drawers) and that way I might be able to pretend I'm organized.

    ANother thought is if they don't get the work done and there is still major subject stuff in the boxes - I can just move them up and change the number and continue from there.

    Some boxes could have just a coloring page or even a video, flash cards....

    Ok - I admit I even bought the starter set of pre-laminated cards etc because I just didn't feel like doing my own ;)
     
  5. chicamarun

    chicamarun New Member

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  6. mamaof3peas

    mamaof3peas New Member

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    i have heard tons about it, and i actually use my own version of it. I have 1 magazine holder per child on the table. In each holder is 10 manilla envelopes, and i put each of the 10 assignements or fun things in each 10 envelopes. When i load my envelopes each night, i put a diff colored post it on each childs envelope. On the post it is a number that corresponds with the envelope, the instructions and if they need to do independent of with me. Once they get the envelope done, they take the post it off and put in table.

    my version is much simpler and cheaper, but i will tell you, it has helped me so much! i am accountable to keeping the envelopes filled each night. it has helped the kids be so much independant! they know they do # 1, then go to #2, etc. they can "see" what they have left to do. i dont use the see through idea, bc for my ds, it would be very distracting to be able to see the fun coming.

    i cant think of anything neg about it. it takes me a little time in the evening putting my envelopes together, but i save double that time just by the system. the kids have been twice as quick with school, less complaining, less stalling, i know what needs done, they know what needs done.
     
  7. homeschooler06

    homeschooler06 Active Member

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    I heard about them and looked into them. I am just using a plastic cart with three large drawers and four itty bitty drawers. Everyone has their own big and little drawer. I have a bookshelf that has school time only activies that everyone gets to play with while working with another child. It's mostly for my younger two my oldest has her own goodies in a backpack that she packs up every morning before 'school'.
     
  8. kbabe1968

    kbabe1968 New Member

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    The concept is interesting. But impractical for multiple kids, I think....that's a lot of boxes! :D

    Last year we used those folio holders that has 13 pockets in it and the flap's held closed with a special rubber band? Each subject had a fold that went in each of the 13 (okay we used 9 of them) pockets. The extra pockets were for thin book, coloring pages, extra 'fun" stuff. My kids would go each day and work through their pockets. My oldest complained on the container, though.

    I think this year I'm going to get them each their own filebox with the subjects in it. My hubby did (reluctantly) buy me a new bookshelf...so i'm hoping if we get reorganized this summer that I'll actually have room on the shelves to keep them there! LOL :D

    I made a planner for each of my kids, too. This year, I'm planning each subject independently, so I'll probably put the planner in each subject so they can check it off each day.

    Ahhhh...planning. This is why even when we arent' doing schoolwork, my house is a mess!!!!!
     
  9. Mrs. Mommy

    Mrs. Mommy New Member

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    What a great idea. DD has one year left and the off to high school. With her LDs I still have to be specific with her but I think that this could help her be more independent and still keep me in the know that she is doing what needs to be done.
    It would great for DS to just because he likes to get his work and go with it.
     
  10. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    you know the more I think about it II actually did this in my younger grades! We had the file boxes with eachh kids stuff in one. they would take the life pack out and do it each day, then pile it for me to check and grade and return it to their box.
    Last year I got two boxes for in and out, and I have tried the office stackables for assisgned and turned in stuff, but it just gets piled with EVERYTHING in my house lol.
    I think the one wo mentioned with the drawers sounds great too!
    We have a cuubbard and we have had desks and we have the last year or so had the Ikea styel table ,had a glass top with a spot to put what we were studying about ie pledge of alegance, the constitution etc, and photots or pics or projects etc, under the table ( coffee sized) are two roling carts, we put our school things in there and called them the desk this year. Worked well but we got a new couch and the table has to leave the room, I am looking for a spot for itin my den to take up some of the books Ihve in a crate annd stuff, so... after trying them in ds' room where it does not fit either, I am trying to find a way to do this too...
    But boxes wont work for me. Not with just one kid, and not alot of space to play with...
    The file folders thing is what I am thinking on but still not possitive. It seems I am always trying to make something work
     
  11. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    Dana thanks for posting thiss link! THis would work for me!
    I even think I can fit one of those carts in my space... and it rolls so I could roll it in den for the weekend , where I could sit and redo for the next week.... hmmm.... Scope for imagination! I needed this today! You are awesome1
     
  12. kbabe1968

    kbabe1968 New Member

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    WOW....the drawer tower thing is an AWESOME idea/version of it!!! (the one on chatterbee's site).

    THAT would be really really neat!!!! I think that might be a neat way to go...hmmmmm I'd only need 3 boxes...and if I can get my schoolroom redone this summer like I want/need to....they would definitely fit in there!!!

    WOW!!!
     
  13. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    hey Krista I checked that out and they are even reasonabley priced at Walmart or Target!
    I I couldnt bring them up on K-mart they ddint understand the "plastic drawer" lol
    but they re within 30 dollar average range and some big ones in fancy colors are on sale at Wally world!
    I am going to check them out there later today because I could get my den organised as well at the sale price!
    two drawer storage bins are much beter than a crate and a box and another box and stuff piled on top! HA!
     
  14. daddys3chicks

    daddys3chicks New Member

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    I am thinking this might be more organized than all the stuff piled on the bookshelf and kitchen table!
     
  15. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    cheryl totally eh? the many piles I keep getting would be so much betterif I could just put them in drawers and guess what? I FORGOT TO LOOK AT THEM AT WAL MART!
    I really want one that I saw at kmart online, it has drawers, mid sized and up about waiste level it stopps and does file folder sideways like shelf thing, and then smalller drawers above that! its abou t a hundred dollars but I really COULD do it?
     
  16. kbabe1968

    kbabe1968 New Member

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    Thanks!

    We have so much to do! We can't redo the school room until we redo the girls room. We have to find bunk beds, etc. to redo their room (not to mention I have to tear down the wallpaper on one wall and paint. AND we have to redo their closet. They're getting the "toy organizer" thing from school room (since my youngest will now be schooling I am to get all the toys out of that room! They'll still be allowed to play in it, but they'll have to bring the toys down and take them back up...I know it sounds silly, but it works with my kids! LOL :D).

    The book shelves (old one and new one) will go where the toy organizer is (I think) and the towers will go where the bookshelf is now. We have an art caddy thing too - I think I might just get rid of that....not sure. Hmmmmm.

    Sigh. I need a mothers-helper for a few weeks, I think. My oldest is in gymnastics camp the week after the 4th. I might see if I can borrow my friends daughter for a day or two that week to keep the young ones occupied so I can get some stuff done.

    AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!
     
  17. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    Metoo! I need someone to come here and do everything for me, I was just watching the Design U show andthinking YEah I need a design U person to come do my boys room!
    Den may do well becoming main school room this year because only one child will make things so easy for me that way.... Thanks for that idea! We just redid that room and if I get the two drawers that I saw online I could put a desk top for him there and put a map up on the wall andmake that HIstory class at least!
    Science will be on his computer or m,y lap top
    and maybe the rest in that cafe at church.. I am even figuring how to let dd do MUS there and I will stay in the cafe for the kids to watch the videos on the two days... it can work!
     
  18. cara

    cara New Member

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    We are doing workboxes, I love it. DS likes it too.

    There are a few yahoo groups for workboxes, there is a thread at FIAR and there is a forum at Homeschool Share.

    Also if you google workboxes and blogs you will find a ton of info.

    Homeschool Lounge also has a workbox group.
     
  19. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    this really is a cool concept, I am going to makeup my own variation of them thanks so much for this thread!
     
  20. cara

    cara New Member

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  21. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    Thanks these are great!
     

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