I think I have finally found the answer to my wishes to be more organized with our time and materials----and to stay on top of all of the creative ideas and projects we'd like to get to around here. I purchased and read Sue Patrick's Workbox System User's Guide after reading about it on several message boards. (I purchased it from CurrClick for instant download capabilities.) As one of the great benefits to homeschooling is individualizing, we are making small changes in how we implement the system and why (I need it more than JB, LOL).
Here is a picture of our boxes and a sample of one of our days (About 2 hours worth of lessons/work, but it will be spread out over the course of the day. Not every subject is done every day, and some days fewer boxes will be used.):
1. Science experiment--Usually I put our Bible/devotion time materials in box 1, but this science experiment requires seeds to soak for at least 3 hours, so the science is in box 1 for this day just to get that one part going.
2. Catechism review and devotion book (I've debated NOT adding this to a box, but just continue having our Bible reading/devotion time as our first thing (we usually read together over breakfast)----but for now, it is also going in a box.
3. RightStart Math lesson
4. Mom and Dad Dialogue Journals (JB is really enjoying these. She wanted a separate book for both her father and me. We write a short note to her and she writes back. If we continue this over a long period of time we will have quite a keepsake!)
5. Math review (using art dot paint markers, count by 2s to 100)
6. History reading and notebook work
7. Art project (the materials are all here and ready for a variation of this project)
8. Book to read for book review
9. Read aloud chapter book
10. Latin
11. Sewing project (to work on for at least 10 minutes----or as long as she'd like. I could have taken everything out of the packaging to put in the plastic shoe box, but I decided to stand it on the floor.)
12. Check on/finish science experiment
Although this is a structured system, I am finding there is so much flexibility to it; and that it is a wonderful tool for added creativity to our days-------both in "the basics" as well as planning for time to get to projects on our "want to do" list. A few of the best things about it for me (so far) are that it does not take up much space, everything is all together and ready to go for the day, the shelf is easily transported if necessary, and there is a big sense of accomplishment in filling up the boxes and having them empty as the work is completed for the day. I can also see at a glance the balance of hands on work, book work, and paper pencil work.
I was thinking about using hanging file folders and a crate or something similar before I read about the box idea-----and I was sold on it almost immediately because I could put game pieces, art supplies, glue sticks, etc. down in the boxes and not worry about losing them or having them damage something else. (The books in piles on a table, art supplies here, science experiment supplies there, tote bags/storage boxes that did not have enough room, etc. were not really working out for me....LOL I still have the bulk of supplies housed in different areas, but I can pick out what I need for any given day and put it in the boxes and be ready to go.)
If you'd like to see how others are using this system in their homes, you can find some wonderful posts on the following blogs to start with (----I'm sure Google will be picking up many more in the upcoming days and weeks):
Walking By the Way-Posts here, here, here, and here
Joyful Mother of Six
Color Me Orange
Ginger Snap Shots
There are some really thoughtful conversations going on at Homeschool Share's message boards as well as at the Five in A Row message boards as to the pros and cons of such a system.
