Workboxes - I love them!!!

Just last week, I ran across the Workbox phenomenon, based on this idea by Sue Patrick. I read all 37 pages of a thread about it here on a homeschooling forum, and was hooked!

The basic idea is that you have shelves with open plastic bins labeled 1-12, and every day you fill them up with things for your child to do during the course of your homeschool. As they complete each box, they peel the Velcro number off it and put it on a chart, and move on to the next. There is a very visual progress throughout the day and sense of accomplishment, as well as it providing routine and structure. It also ensures that the "fun" projects and subjects have a place in the day.

I have adapted this idea for how I think it will work for my family. I prefer drawers over shelves and open boxes, especially since this is sitting right in the middle of my living room. I also prefer drawers because they can actually hold a textbook or papers without bending them. It's not a finished product yet, as I am waiting for this to arrive from Amazon - it will hold completed work from each child, as well as folders for 6 of their subjects/projects for the day.

Oh, and doing this gave me an excuse to buy a laminator! I spent a happy evening laminating everything in sight for this. (: I made about 28 different categories of cards with titles and clipart, as well as labels for the drawers for each kid, and "with Mom" or "with Bro" labels for the drawers where they will be doing something with me or each other. Here is a picture of the cards that aren't in use today, along with a kid who likes his picture taken:

And here is where I store them for the moment when they're not in use (I love these cute boxes from Hobby Lobby!):


Here are pictures of how our workboxes are set up for today. The drawers are doubled up for now, but won't be once I have folders set up on top of the drawers. I'm just picturing Colin's, since Spencer's is very similar (some differences in the books and items I put in - for example, his cooking has measuring cups instead of a cake mix, but essentially the same).

Drawer 1 (Reading time with an assigned book and a timer set for 60 minutes; Gospel Study time with a worksheet and reader; since this is the first drawer of the day I also put a pencil and Colin's reading glasses.):

Drawer 2 (First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind, Writing with Excellence, and All About Spelling):

Drawer 3 (student pages from SRA Real Math, and time to do an educational game on the computer):

Drawer 4 (A science experiment kit that Colin gets to choose a project from for us to do; and a reminder to practice their piano):

Drawer 5 (We're making a cake for Greg's birthday celebration tomorrow; recesss; and wrapping birthday presents and making cards):

Drawer 6 (Reading time from Sonlight Core 1 and Story of the World; for Lego Time they get to go play in their Lego closet):


This system has worked SO well for us (even those of us who are easily distracted) that I'm strongly considering making cards for myself to put on my computer desk to visually prompt me through the things I should be doing: "Make a phone call you've been putting off!" "Pay bills!" "Update blog!" "Call a friend!" "Go exercise!" . . . you know, it just might work! (: