Getting Organized With Workboxes!
It's been a week since we started using Sue Patrick's Workbox System, and I thought I'd post some pictures!
She strongly advocates using shoe-box style bins, but we didn't have the space for that, so here's what I opted for instead:
That's in our kitchen! The tower drawers can be easily added to, another plus for me! We have 8 right now, but I think we really need 10-12 to be able to break things down sufficiently, yet still throw in some fun stuff :-). (After all, the fun stuff is what motivates!)
Here's a close-up of the drawers fully loaded and ready to go:
I debated whether to go with the velcro numbers--I was afraid my 12-yo might think they were a little childish. But, since the drawers are not easily-removable like bins would be, and the visual of seeing that work is getting done and being able to tell at a glance where you are & how much is left is an important part of the system. I had to at least try! So I was VERY careful in how I introduced the concept to him. I said, "Wouldn't it be nice if you could just look at the drawers and know without opening a bunch of them where you were working and how much you had left to do?" (Gee, Wally, that sure would be swell!) Well, he was sold then!
Here are the drawers in action:
So here's what they do--As they complete each drawer, they have to turn in any written work to a box on the kitchen table, and return any books or supplies (like their Bible or a reader, or their personal whiteboard markers & erasers for AAS!) to the drawer it came out of. THEN...and ONLY THEN, is that drawer finished. That's when they can remove the numbered velcro sticker and put it on their progress chart for the day--here's Zach's chart in progress:
The charts stay on top of the carts, which conveniently are a divided tray that fit their pencil boxes too. I chose to put a few extra velcro stickers in 2 of the little boxes. We have stickers for:
Clean room/make bed (they do this before breakfast)
Music Practice
Exercise
Family Service (assigned chores they do each day).
Here are Anna's stickers:
We've had a schedule for years, so this really hasn't enabled us to get more done in less time like it might for some. But I started it because we had occasional missing books, and because the kids would forget to turn in work sometimes (and I would forget to tell them, or I would forget to correct work that day...). So I really like this system for the accountability and organization it's given us, and I'm hoping it will be a good, long-term solution.
All done for the day!
She strongly advocates using shoe-box style bins, but we didn't have the space for that, so here's what I opted for instead:
That's in our kitchen! The tower drawers can be easily added to, another plus for me! We have 8 right now, but I think we really need 10-12 to be able to break things down sufficiently, yet still throw in some fun stuff :-). (After all, the fun stuff is what motivates!)
Here's a close-up of the drawers fully loaded and ready to go:
I debated whether to go with the velcro numbers--I was afraid my 12-yo might think they were a little childish. But, since the drawers are not easily-removable like bins would be, and the visual of seeing that work is getting done and being able to tell at a glance where you are & how much is left is an important part of the system. I had to at least try! So I was VERY careful in how I introduced the concept to him. I said, "Wouldn't it be nice if you could just look at the drawers and know without opening a bunch of them where you were working and how much you had left to do?" (Gee, Wally, that sure would be swell!) Well, he was sold then!
Here are the drawers in action:
So here's what they do--As they complete each drawer, they have to turn in any written work to a box on the kitchen table, and return any books or supplies (like their Bible or a reader, or their personal whiteboard markers & erasers for AAS!) to the drawer it came out of. THEN...and ONLY THEN, is that drawer finished. That's when they can remove the numbered velcro sticker and put it on their progress chart for the day--here's Zach's chart in progress:
The charts stay on top of the carts, which conveniently are a divided tray that fit their pencil boxes too. I chose to put a few extra velcro stickers in 2 of the little boxes. We have stickers for:
Clean room/make bed (they do this before breakfast)
Music Practice
Exercise
Family Service (assigned chores they do each day).
Here are Anna's stickers:
We've had a schedule for years, so this really hasn't enabled us to get more done in less time like it might for some. But I started it because we had occasional missing books, and because the kids would forget to turn in work sometimes (and I would forget to tell them, or I would forget to correct work that day...). So I really like this system for the accountability and organization it's given us, and I'm hoping it will be a good, long-term solution.
All done for the day!
Tags: organization, sue patrick, workboxes
Comment
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Comment by Tricia Postma on January 31, 2010 at 7:08pm - Can you tell me how you label each drawer? A neighbor is gifting me with two roller carts and I love this idea! Just need to know how to label them! Thanks!
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Comment by annette keeler on January 14, 2010 at 4:12am
- Absolutely love this simple idea! I have been struggling with how to provide my son, who has Asperger's , with a method of self-guided work tasks that won't overwhelm him. I think this will work !! Thanks a bunch.
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Comment by Merry on January 13, 2010 at 11:20pm - Hi Tiffany--I posted on your page too--they are from Staples :-)
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Comment by Tiffany Cones on January 13, 2010 at 9:35pm -
I love this. Where did you get your tower of drawers? I have seen these and a cubby I liked alot. I just dont want to spend 70. for the tall cubby.
Can you let me know if you have the chance. Thank you. God Bless you. Great System!
http://coneshomeschool101.blogspot.com/
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Comment by Jaime Gravitt on November 5, 2009 at 6:35pm -
I have been learning about the workboxes and have finally added them to our school! :) I opted for the shoebox containers and racks...but are doing a similar thing. I started taking pictures and posting info on my blog (that I haven't used in like a year!!). I'm having lots of fun getting great ideas from others like you guys here at AAS and on the internet. I still haven't read Sue Patrick's book but I think I'm going to order the ebook and read it through! I posted some examples of what I'm putting in my boxes on my blog if you want to see.... We are just starting out but I can see already TONS of benefits! We truly do get more done! I am WAY more focused on our school during the day too! Thanks for your ideas...this was one of the first places I learned about workboxes! :)
Blog: homeschoolstory.wordpress.com
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Comment by Who Me? on August 28, 2009 at 4:49pm
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Merry,
This is awesome! I love it and going shopping for my drawers this afternoon!!!
Shannon
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Comment by Merry on August 12, 2009 at 2:18pm
- BTW, we school about 8:30-1, and then do literature read-alouds before bed at night.
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Comment by Merry on August 12, 2009 at 2:17pm
- Hi Heather, Well, "officially" our schedule says that they do these other three things after lunch. We do a late lunch at 1pm, and if they are diligent, they can have all their other school subjects done by lunch, and just have these left. If they finish school early, they will do one or more of these things before lunch. If we have something planned (such as playing at a friend's house), I usually let that be their exercise for the day. On a rare occasion, they might get frustrated with a school subject & then can do one of these as a break & a way to get out some of that frustration, and then return to their school subject. But...mostly they just do their drawers in order & then these other 3 things after lunch. HTH!
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Comment by heather dunham on August 10, 2009 at 7:09pm
- Quick question about your Clean room/make bed; Music Practice; Exercise; and Family Service stickers.... I notice they have separate 'slots' at the bottom of the chart. Do they do those "whenever" or is there a particular schedule? I know you said the clean room one is done before breakfast. This is kind of what I'm struggling/experimenting with in our own adaptation of the workbox idea... I like to schedule in chores and music and breaks, but I'm not sure how to manage it best, how rigid to be vs how flexible.
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Comment by Robyn Watts on August 8, 2009 at 10:41pm - Nice! I'm excited to get our year started! I like the drawers... fits books better.
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