Workbox System!

Mar 20, 2009




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. :)
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24 comments:

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Wow, these look great. I've read lots of threads lately about workboxes on various forums, and I love what you've done. Thanks for sharing the photos -- it provides great inspiration for me.

    Stacia

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Heather, I just love your workboxes and the rack that you have them on. May I ask where you got yours?

    I went to Wal Mart tonight and they didn't have anything that I liked and there were no shoe racks there at all. Our Wal Mart carries so little these days, I sometimes wonder why I even go there anymore. Sighhhh.

    Anyway, I was hoping to start our system this week, but now I guess I have to wait a little longer, but in the mean time I am looking at others and 'stealin' ideas :).

    Robin H in VA

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Hi Friend,

    I'm thankful for you!

    I love have you have personalized your boxes - and am trying not to be jealous of how pretty they are!!! They look great!

    I love all that you have shared and am so glad your having fun with this too!

  1. debbiewall@albertacom.com said...:

    Hi Heather,

    I love your workboxes. Can I ask where you got them from - I searched through your posts and couldn't find anything. The scrapbooker in me loves the way you put it all together and I am thinking I may have to case yours! I too have just one child - a 9 yo daughter! I can totally relate to her needing Mom to sit beside her.

  1. Maureen Spell said...:

    Heather! I saw you post this on the Yahoo group. I'm heading to Target later this evening to see what I can find. I need some organization in our hs day. It was nice to see your name again---and kind of weird to not see it on a scrapping board--lol! I'm subscribing to your blog.

    ~Maureen

  1. Sarah said...:

    Hello! I'm just catching the "Workbox Fever" ... I LOVE love LOVE how you've made yours! Super cute!

    May I ask how you made the numbers? They are just adorable. If I'm going to have these things around for all 4 of my children, it just HAS to be cute to look at for me. ;)

    THANKS so much!
    (sarahtowne@juno.com)
    Sarha

  1. kw said...:

    Holy canoli! Check your system out! I am just starting ours and I can only dream that it is as pretty as yours!

  1. staceykingman said...:

    I am going to be thinking about how this can work for me - especially for my younger kids. :) Thanks!

  1. Lori said...:

    HI! I am just getting started on workboxes and came across your blog. I love your boxes. I was wanting to use colored ones as well. Our school room is done in primary colors. Can I ask what type and size your boxes are? Where did you find your rack?
    Thanks,
    Lori
    homeschooolblogger.com/pearcefamily

  1. Leanna said...:

    Love your workbox system and how cute it is? Where did you find yours at and how did you make the numbers and attach them to the baskets?

    leejeagle@hotmail.com

    Thank you,
    LeAnna

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Can you please share where you got your materials, baskets/rack, and how you made your number board? It is such a nice system

  1. Megan said...:

    Hi There!
    It looks like everyone has already asked the question, and I'm sorry if I just missed the answer somewhere, but I'm wondering where you found your shoe rack? I can't seem to find one that size! Thank you!

  1. Michelle said...:

    Please tell me where you bought the shoe rack and the bins. I have been searching online and cannot find them.

  1. Brenda said...:

    Well I know one thing for sure. I am ripping off those blue cardstock, contact paper covered numbers on my boxes and gettin' sumpin purdy!!!!

    Yours are gorgeous! And your reasons are great too. Just what I'm hoping will happen for us.

  1. Jodie | Velour said...:

    I love your system! It's nice to look at! :)
    I'll be homeschooling this year, for the first time, and I'd love to know:
    1. Where'd you buy your shelf/rack?
    2. Where'd you find your bins?
    3. How do you get your numbers to stick to your bins and your corkboard?

    Please advise!! Thanks!

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Are you still making the workbox numbers card for people? I cannot find the post anywhere to link to from my blog. I'd love to give you the credit and send more people your way.

    Blessings,
    ~Mrs.Cuddles

  1. Erica said...:

    It seems like the popular question here is "Where did you get that shelf?" This will be our first year doing workboxes, and cannot wait to start. Please end my curiosity...

    Sincerely,
    Erica
    ericalowther@comcast.net

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Your workbox system looks GREAT! Would you please be so kind and tell me what company makes the boxes you use. I would greatly appreciate your help!

    Thank you!!!

  1. Unknown said...:

    I am not the owner of this blog, but have purchased these exact same bins at my local Target for 3.99 each. I don't see them on the Target website, however...

    Sheri

  1. Swift Family said...:

    Are you still making workbox number/cards? I would love to get them made for my two children.

  1. Unknown said...:

    My daughter is getting close to age 5 so we're getting ready to introduce a little more structure and I love what you've done with this. Can you please tell me where you found the green bins, etc. for your workboxes? Sorry if you've posted it somewhere and I've missed it. Can you email me at loribethmarshall-lmt@massagetherapy.com. Thank you so much.

  1. ~S. said...:

    LOVE it! you inspired me to use my cricut scrapping machine to make the numbers and name chart! My 5yo is going to love this! And my 1yo will have a few of her own boxes too!

  1. Tiff said...:

    Ran across your blog while looking for workbox number's to print out...saw your daughter's name is Kiersten...my only daughter's name is also Kiersten...so thought I would say Hi! :O)

  1. TawnyNicole001 said...:

    I love your numbers on your workboxes! Do you have a pdf file of these numbers you could share?

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