Making Workboxes Work

We began using workboxes two years ago. This is a picture of our first go at it. I read THE book by Sue Patrick and tried my best to use it the way she suggested. However, her way did not fit our needs and caused our school days to be longer than normal. I was recently asked to share how we use workboxes, so instead of telling you all about why our first system did not work, I will share how we have tweaked this system to work for us. This is how we do it.
My Schedule

 First of all, I use Simply Charlotte Mason’s Planning Guide to get the year planned out. Then I get it all sorted out by weeks and put everything for each week in a file folder (but that’s another post..we are gonna stick to workboxes right now). Next, I make a plan for what subjects we will do on certain days of the week. For example, we may have history on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We may only do art on Fridays or music on Tuesdays…you get the idea. Then I divide the subjects up into three categories: Family, Workboxes, and Mom & Me. Family subjects are the ones that we do together (memory work, history, art, etc.) Workbox subjects are the ones that each child can do on his own (reading, Bible cards, handwriting, etc.), and Mom & Me subjects are things that Mom will need to help with (language, writing, math, spelling, etc.). I then list all the Family subjects a the top of my page (color coded in red) and scheduled on the days that we will do them. Next, I list the Workbox and Mom & Me subjects for each child (also color coded according to child). I have my schedule posted by my desk and each child has their own schedule on their bulletin boards by their desks (theirs are much cuter than mine…I may have to fix that this year 🙂

Kids Schedule
Having these schedules posted on the wall makes it easy to see what to do each day and to see what to put in the kids workboxes the night before. We begin each day with our Family subjects and then one kiddo works on their Workbox subjects while I help the other one with his Mom & Me subjects. Then we switch! ( I suppose if you have more than 2 kids, you could have several work on workboxes while you have Mom & Me time with others.)
We only use 6 workboxes per child. Five of the boxes have their Workbox work in them and one has all of the Mom & Me books, papers, or things in it that they will need for those subjects.
I got our boxes at Target and I really like the larger size better than the shoe box size. These are large enough for a text book to lay flat in the bottom and not wrinkle up the pages. These boxes also stack on themselves so I did not buy a shoe rack like Sue Patrick suggests.
We started out using the numbers that were velcroed on the boxes and tags, but gave up after a week or so. The kids found that to be redundant. The boxes are numbered, so they just go through them in order everyday.
I hope this has been helpful and not too confusing! I know that there are a million different ways that these awesome little boxes could help organize your school day! I hope you find the best way to make your workboxes work! (I’d be glad to answer any questions anyone has! Just leave a comment below!)

8 Responses

  1. jabyro
    |

    First of all, hey!=) We’re a homeschooling family about to venture from pre-k into our foundation year using a cm based curriculum!

    I love the idea of the workboxes, thanks for breaking it down.

    Do you just refill each drawer of the workbox each night before school the next day according to the next days plan?

    I’m assuming it’s an every day thing you switch out and not each day has it’s own workbox, correct?

    Thanks, and blessings!

  2. Bridget
    |

    Thanks for sharing. I love the workbox idea!

  3. Amanda
    |

    Jabyro,
    I do refill the boxes every night after the kids are in bed. To begin with I thought that was a burden, but it actually helped me be more prepared for the next day! I also forgot to say that the kids have an “I’m Done Box” where they stick things that they are finished with for the day.

    Hope you have a wonderful first year!
    Amanda

  4. Amanda
    |

    Bridget,
    You are very welcome! I have to say that we would not function well with out our workboxes.
    I hope others can see the method to my madness!! It looks complicated after I go back and read my post LOL 🙂

  5. Cindy Colley
    |

    I love you, Amanda. What great and organized hs mom you are!

  6. Amanda
    |

    Aww…I love you and appreciate your sweet comment! You are a great example to so many and I am ALWAYS encouraged by you. 🙂

  7. SPatton_PreachersWife
    |

    LOVING this!! Thanks, Amanda!!

  8. Betty S.
    |

    I really like how you broke it all down 🙂 I am trying to do a very similar thing and this is my first yr for it all!! lol workboxes came first and then CM and we are almost hlf way through the year kinda wingin it…I would like to read you article mentioned at the top about breaking down the lessons into wks after the yr plan from SCM…the link is broke 🙁