bella_gitana Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 So this is what some mommas were talking about this morning. One mom was saying that the thing she did not like was that books stick out of the boxes, and workbooks get bowed out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann@thebeach Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 So this is what some mommas were talking about this morning.One mom was saying that the thing she did not like was that books stick out of the boxes, and workbooks get bowed out. That's why many are doing their own variations with things such as file folders, large envelopes, large ziplock bags, or the drawer towers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threeturn Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Someone asked about the planning grid. We have only used the system one week and I have preschoolers (am using it to keep ME accountable) so we only do read-alouds, crafts, and fun activities, but to me the planning grid was one of the best parts. I sat down this past weekend with a copy of the grid (actually didn't like the version from the web so I redid mine in Excel so I could type it up and copy and paste repeat activities) and planned out what to put in each box each day. I have one large basket where I put all my resources for the week. Each night it takes me about 15 minutes to look at the grid and fill the boxes. I think my fill time would be less, but there are two days my sitter does a few of the boxes with the kids, so I write more detailed instructions on post-its for her. I LOVE the idea someone mentioned about using an art bag, a clay bag, etc. I could see that cutting my fill time down too. Right now I am only filling one set. And after seeing how things went this week, I will probably cut our boxes down to 9. We haven't been getting through 12 with all the outside play and other play we do as well. They have been awesome for us. My three-year-old was asking to "do school" at seven this morning as I was making breakfast. Pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alana in Canada Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 The boxes I got were bigger than the shoe boxes that is described on the webpage so the bags fit just perfectly. I can't give you the size of the boxes cause, again, it won't help you. ;) It might help me, though! :D Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funschooler5 Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Has anyone tried to plan a week's worth of assignments this way, instead of a daily schedule? A month ago we switched over to a weekly schedule, where the kids' check off what they do as they go. If we tried this, I'd like to set up a week of assignments at once, but I don't know if that would work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 I've done something similar to this, just to keep me and dd organized. I had no idea there was a whole movement around it! I use this, and I put each subject in it. Dd has a daily assignment chart, so she knows what to do for each subject. I have a craft cabinet for all the art supplies, so she knows where to get those things. And, I have black drawers, because my living room furniture is black with cherry accents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted March 27, 2009 Author Share Posted March 27, 2009 I've done something similar to this, just to keep me and dd organized. I had no idea there was a whole movement around it! I use this, and I put each subject in it. Dd has a daily assignment chart, so she knows what to do for each subject. I have a craft cabinet for all the art supplies, so she knows where to get those things. And, I have black drawers, because my living room furniture is black with cherry accents. Just think, you could have written a book, and made some $$$! :D That looks really nice. Where did you get it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Just think, you could have written a book, and made some $$$! :D That looks really nice. Where did you get it? I know, I know, yet ANOTHER missed million dollar opportunity! :banghead: I got it at Target (but that picture is from the Walmart website). They often go on sale for $39.99. Our house is so small, we have to homeschool in the living room. I like living rooms to look like living rooms, not school rooms, so I had to find something that didn't scream "HEY, WE HOMESCHOOL HERE!" :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 I got it at Target (but that picture is from the Walmart website). They often go on sale for $39.99. Nice! Are those bins big enough to hold notebooks/workbooks w/out them sticking out the top? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 I would do something like that if it appealed to me (which it doesn't really, at this point) but there is no way I would pay for it. You could totally do that yourself and save a bundle of money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Nice! Are those bins big enough to hold notebooks/workbooks w/out them sticking out the top? Thanks! They do stick out a little if you stack them straight vertically. Otherwise, they could lean in the bin and not be seen from the top. These cubbies won't, however, hold binders standing up straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerryAtHope Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Just a FYI....someone has started a yahoo group for this concept: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/workboxes/ Thought others might be interested in joining and seeing what others are doing. Thanks for the link! I just ordered the book tonight & can't wait to get started! (I'm using a drawer-tower--I wanted things to lie flat too!). Merry :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkgumby Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 For those of you who started using the Workbox system - are you still using it? Is it still working for you? Is there anything you would change about it? I am an impulsive person, and soooo want to jump on the bandwagon and buy all the supplies and get everything set up, but I thought I should check in and see how people are still liking it first. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiegirl Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 I think it has been three weeks that we have been using them. I am an impulsive person as well so I was a bit leery about this 'new discovery.' That is why I didn't use the system exactly as it is described in the book (I use ziploc bags.) We love the workboxes! They are a resounding success! With the exception of the subjects that they do with me, my kids are able to do the bags independent, even my 6 yr old. The kids are occupied for our full learning time. My kids look forward every morning to see what is in their boxes for that day. I was having problems in filling the boxes. It was taking me a long time to fill them every day. But I found a planning sheet that works amazingly well. With the use of the sheet and a little more organization, it isn't taking me that long at all to fill the boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairie~Phlox Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 We are using work baskets after learning about the workboxes, and we LOVE it here. It's made school go so much more smoothly. Last weekend, I typed out a list of items that I have that can be used along with the stuff that we already do daily. We do Bible & history together in the morning. Bible My Father’s World Bible Reader Child’s Story Bible Faith Factor Reproducibles Maps, Charts Timelines & Illustrations Childrens’ Guide to the Bible (Robert Willoughby) Spelling & Vocabulary CVC Word puzzles (Scholastic) File Folders: Horseshoe Tossing (Final Consonants) Melony Consonants (Initial Consonants) Blended Jelly Beans (Consonant Blends) Freshly Popped Vowels (Long & Short Vowels) Snap together letter blocks Leappad Leap Frog games Look up words in the dictionary Silly Sentences Boggle I Can Spell words with 4 Letters Scholastic I Can Spell Words with 3 Letters Scholastic Painless Grammar Nitty Gritty Grammar Phonics Word Families book Spelling 4 Letter words Scholastic Spelling 3 Letter words Scholastic Word Play (Dollar Tree madlibs) Wrap & Learn Math Discovery Toys www.starfall.com (Caleb) Look up words in the dictionary High Frequency Word Bingo Math, Time & Money Flashcards Upwords 5-Minute Daily Practice Vocabulary www.freerice.org (vocabulary & grammar) Writing IEW Draw Write Now Books 75 Creative ways to Publish Students Writing Read Write! Publish! Teaching Elaboration & Word Choice Math Math Fact eggs Continuo Not Just a Math Game Not Just a Money Game Yahtzee Exact Change Racko Telling Time book Monopoly Timez Attack Science Into the Forest Not Just an Animal Game Insects, Dover Herbs Dover Wright Bros. Dover Insects Peterson 50 Favorite Birds Dover Field Guide to Birds Dover Great Inventors & Inventions Dover Sketching Outdoors in Summer Jim Arnosky Giant Science Resource Book ZooBooks Kids Discover http://www.anatomyarcade.com/ Geography Geography State Wrap Ups Five State Rummy Not Just a Geography Game Scrambled States of America Where is the USA is Carmen Sandiego? Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Great States Junior Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide (try and use this some way) Our 50 States History Lift-the-Flap Timelines American History Lots of books Crafts & Misc. Kids Discover Magazine Highlights Magazine Pattern Blocks You Can Draw Animals Painting Fun Draw Super Heros Complete Book of Drawing Usborne Origami Starting Needle Craft Pod Race Game (In a Star Wars Coloring book) Flying Models Airplanes Twirled paper Brain Quest 2nd Grade Brain Quest 3rd Grade Story of the Orchestra Games Battleship Sorry Book of Classic Board Games Chess Checkers Clue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 We are using work baskets after learning about the workboxes, and we LOVE it here. It's made school go so much more smoothly. Last weekend, I typed out a list of items that I have that can be used along with the stuff that we already do daily. We do Bible & history together in the morning. Bible My Father’s World Bible Reader Child’s Story Bible Faith Factor Reproducibles Maps, Charts Timelines & Illustrations Childrens’ Guide to the Bible (Robert Willoughby) Spelling & Vocabulary CVC Word puzzles (Scholastic) File Folders: Horseshoe Tossing (Final Consonants) Melony Consonants (Initial Consonants) Blended Jelly Beans (Consonant Blends) Freshly Popped Vowels (Long & Short Vowels) Snap together letter blocks Leappad Leap Frog games Look up words in the dictionary Silly Sentences Boggle I Can Spell words with 4 Letters Scholastic I Can Spell Words with 3 Letters Scholastic Painless Grammar Nitty Gritty Grammar Phonics Word Families book Spelling 4 Letter words Scholastic Spelling 3 Letter words Scholastic Word Play (Dollar Tree madlibs) Wrap & Learn Math Discovery Toys www.starfall.com (Caleb) Look up words in the dictionary High Frequency Word Bingo Math, Time & Money Flashcards Upwords 5-Minute Daily Practice Vocabulary www.freerice.org (vocabulary & grammar) Writing IEW Draw Write Now Books 75 Creative ways to Publish Students Writing Read Write! Publish! Teaching Elaboration & Word Choice Math Math Fact eggs Continuo Not Just a Math Game Not Just a Money Game Yahtzee Exact Change Racko Telling Time book Monopoly Timez Attack Science Into the Forest Not Just an Animal Game Insects, Dover Herbs Dover Wright Bros. Dover Insects Peterson 50 Favorite Birds Dover Field Guide to Birds Dover Great Inventors & Inventions Dover Sketching Outdoors in Summer Jim Arnosky Giant Science Resource Book ZooBooks Kids Discover http://www.anatomyarcade.com/ Geography Geography State Wrap Ups Five State Rummy Not Just a Geography Game Scrambled States of America Where is the USA is Carmen Sandiego? Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Great States Junior Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide (try and use this some way) Our 50 States History Lift-the-Flap Timelines American History Lots of books Crafts & Misc. Kids Discover Magazine Highlights Magazine Pattern Blocks You Can Draw Animals Painting Fun Draw Super Heros Complete Book of Drawing Usborne Origami Starting Needle Craft Pod Race Game (In a Star Wars Coloring book) Flying Models Airplanes Twirled paper Brain Quest 2nd Grade Brain Quest 3rd Grade Story of the Orchestra Games Battleship Sorry Book of Classic Board Games Chess Checkers Clue Great list! Thank you! We've been using this system for 2 or 3 weeks now, and we all love it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixpence1978 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 We've been using it for 2 weeks now. My kids love it and it really is helping me to get some of those fun extras into the day for them. They get so excited when they start school and see that a puzzle or game is awaiting them here and there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkgumby Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 I love the idea; I'm toying with some combination of open clear bins (for crafts and games and such) and tall magazine holders (for workbooks and stuff - I just know it would BUG me to have to flop big books in a bin that didn't fit!). Thanks for the feedback - I'm definitely going to have to buy the book and give this a try! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkgumby Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Not being a person to do things halfway when I am enthused, I have read everything I can find about workboxes - including all 37 pages of the discussion over at FIAR! I've decided to do what is pictured here: http://ginger-snap-shots.blogspot.com/2009/02/workboxes.html and dragged the family along to Walmart to stock up on some $10 Sterilite drawers. (I'm starting with 6 drawers per kid at the moment - I can always add more later, and my husband was already eying the basket full of drawers askence.) Anyway, thanks again for those of you who have provided feedback and info about this. I'm so excited to get started! And I can't wait to actually get my book about this from Amazon! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 We've been using them for 2-3 weeks now, and we are really liking them. It doesn't take me long at all to set them up. I go through our daily checklist and put the required books in the box, and supplies for whatever projects. And then I add a couple fun extras. It takes about 10-15 minutes, maybe, depending on how much hunting I have to do for project supplies. I originally wanted to do this for the youngest (3 yo), who always wanted to do "school" while I worked with his sister, but anything I brought out (teddy bear counters, puzzles, etc.) was rejected. "Not dat! Sumfing else!" So I thought this would help him - if he wanted to do school that's what he had to do for the day. But it totally turned him off from school, so he's taken to playing while his sister works. (Fine by me - he's not asking me every five minutes what he can do, and I'd rather he play anyway.) 5 1/2 yo really likes the boxes. She likes seeing what needs to be done in the morning and in the afternoon, and she likes being able to choose the order in which she does things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 This is our 2nd week using them & it has worked well for us. It helps keep *me* more organized (a critical component, imo). I didn't buy the workbox book, but did read pages of the thread here, the FIAR forum, and all the blog links people put up about them. Instead of buying anything, I wanted to try the system using milk crates that we had. I just line up their books or supplies in order they will need to do them (w/ a post-it on front listing what to do). If there are loose or multiple pieces, I'll put them in a large ziplock. If there's no 'item' (i.e., just a note to do PE w/ some laps, situps, & outdoor play time), I put a post it on a bright piece of cardstock that lists what they need to do. Both dc have worked pretty complaint-free w/ this system. I think they like knowing (and seeing) how much they have to get done before they are on their own time for the day. Plus, they're enjoying the 'fun' stuff & some of the subjects that we've been able to fit in (like Mark Kistler's online drawing lessons). For planning, I made a master list of all our subjects I want to cover & how often. If you're doing 12 boxes a day for the week, you have 60 boxes to fill. So, I created a list (numbered 1 to 60) of subjects we do each week, including their frequency. For example, we do math every day (#1-5 on the list), we do poetry/memorization work every day (#6-10), something fun like a craft or activity every day (#11-15), read-alouds four times a week (#16-19), etc.... I arranged my list from most frequent to least frequent times per week. Next, I created a list for each day of the week w/ 12 numbers. I put math in the #1 spot on the list for every day, poetry was in the #2 spot for every day, a fun activity in the #3 spot every day, then read-aloud in the #4 spot of four of the days. I continued filling in for the week until I had spots filled for every day. I did a sheet like this for each child. This is my 'master' list of topics to cover that day of the week, but I can vary the order & some of the items w/in a category. After that, I printed a weekly planner page from here: http://heatherpreckel.blogspot.com/2009/03/workbox-planner.html (click on the image of the planner page to open a .pdf file). I pencil in the list for this week, varying the daily order of subjects. Because I have my 'master list' to refer to, it is pretty quick & easy to fill out this week's plan. Once the plan is put down, it's easy to use it as my reference each night when I refill our crates. Also, I have a crate for myself where I put in any books or supplies that I will need for the day, such as read-aloud books, copies of the poetry they will be reciting, any sort of teacher guide or notes I'll need, .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkgumby Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Stacia, thanks for the link to the planner page! I printed it out and it's helping a lot! This is only our fourth Workbox day, but it is working like a charm! The kids love it, and I love feeling organized and that we're finally getting things done the way we should! I've posted lots of pictures of the way we have it set up in drawers at our blog: http://gwgumby.blogspot.com/ Hope that helps someone. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted April 16, 2009 Author Share Posted April 16, 2009 Stacia, thanks for the link to the planner page! I printed it out and it's helping a lot! This is only our fourth Workbox day, but it is working like a charm! The kids love it, and I love feeling organized and that we're finally getting things done the way we should! I've posted lots of pictures of the way we have it set up in drawers at our blog: http://gwgumby.blogspot.com/ Hope that helps someone. :001_smile: Maria, That looks awesome! I am thinking about using those drawers too. I really want to be able to lie things flat. We've been using decorated cereal boxes because I didn't want to invest a lot of money at first. But it is working so well, I am planning to go all out with it. The cereal boxes are cute, but they aren't big enough to hold somethings and they are flimsy. Where did you get the drawers you are using? I've seen some, but not with 12 equal size drawers. Thanks for posting!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Thanks for bumping this up Maria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkgumby Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Thanks, Nakia! The drawers are actually 4 separate 3-drawer Sterilite containers from Wal-Mart. They were $10 each just last week. I LOVE the drawers and being able to lay things flat. Let's see, if I were to add up the cost of this so far, it would look something like this: 4 containers at $10 each - $40 Laminator and sheets - $42 12' roll of Velcro (I have plenty left) - $12 Printer ink, cardstock - no idea, I already had it Cute box I had from Hobby Lobby - $4 Organizer for folders and completed work - $19 It would have cost a lot less if I'd taken my stuff to be laminated at Mardel or something, but I really loved being able to sit and watch TV and do it at my leisure - plus now I have a laminator for future use! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I just ordered the book through Amazon... Sylvia is always at a loss for what to do, and this sounds like a great way to give her things to do and let her feel involved. I can also give Becca some more independent tasks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelanieM Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Bumping this up! I'm thinking we'll implement something like this within the next week. I'd love to hear any updates on how it's going for everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeekingSimplicity Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 This looks rally interesting. I already have milk crates, so I think I'll pick up some big ziplocs and give this a try. Those of you doing this for preschool, what does your list look like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkgumby Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 We're still loving workboxes around here! I'm going to still do certain subjects throughout the summer, and it will be great for that. I think I'll take half the boxes away to emphasize the lighter load. :D One thing I've started doing, now that the kids understand the system, is let them take turns loading the workboxes once in a while. Sure, there always needs to be math and such, but when it's their turn to fill the boxes, they get a lot more say in what they'll do that day. (My younger son had us doing a library trip, field trip, gym time, recess time, free time and Lego time all in a row after the academics!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.