Workbox System!

So you have seen this taking over on homeschooling sites and blogs you have been reading about homeschooling? It seems to be the craze right now and one that I can't wait to get started. A few weeks ago, Leslie introduced this small little book to us and it seems like light bulbs went off over so many of us there. As I sat and listened to her explain the system and how it was working for her, I couldn't help but to think how wonderful it would work for Kiersten. (and me!) It is all based on this book and the system that this mom created for her autistic son.

My reasons for using this system are:
1. To create INDEPENDENCE in Kiersten. I don't know if it because she is my only one or just her personality but she expects me to sit by her one on one for everything we do. Don't get me wrong, I love to sit by her and help her but there are times that she needs to learn to do things independently and I feel this system will help her do just that. At least I sure am hoping that is what it does!

2. TIME MANAGEMENT and to put an end to that question of "When will we be done?!" Now I have a system in place where she can actually look and see how much she has to do and she will have a little control over the flow of her day. Once she reaches her twelve box she knows that our school day is over.

3. ACCOUNTABILITY for me. I love to organize and keep things moving at a good pace but there are so many days where it just doesn't happen and we get off track so easily. I am hoping that this system will help me to stay focused and on track. It's a little more in my face than the folder I have been using that can easily just get left on the shelf and not seen. The whole out of sight out of mind kind of thing.

4. To make school more FUN! There are so many fun things that I just don't get around to doing because we are concentrating on just getting it done. This system will give me the ability to add in those fun things and allow me to see where to put them. I can't wait to explore all the fun stuff that I know my girl will just love and eat up!

We are officially starting on Monday and I'll be working this weekend on what I want to fill the boxes with and I'm really excited. I really think this is the answer to so many of mine and Kiersten's frustrations with school and I think it is going to be wonderful! From the wonderful things I have heard from so many on how it's changing their days in good ways, I can't think anything else about it!

And I am loving how versatile this is for so many and how people are making it work for thier families and their lifestyles. There seems to be no wrong or right way to do this and I love that!

Here are a few friends that are using this and how they are doing it....

Jessica: She was there in our group when we first heard about this and with her 8 children she would have to have 96 boxes!!! Now that is a lot of boxes to fit anyway! So she has developed what works for her and I think it's great. Check it out!

Kristina:
She has 2 kiddos and you can see on her blog how she is using the system

Leslie:
The one responsible for introducing this to us and I'm SO thankful for her!


If you want more info on this you can visit the Five in a Row message board and look at this thread for lots of ideas. There are many other threads there as well on this system and so many fun ideas!

We officially start this on Monday and I'll update here on how it's working for us and fun things I find to fill our boxes. :)