how we homeschool: our version of workboxes

well by now if you are a homeschooler and haven't heard about sue patrick's workbox system, you are probably not on the interwebs.  :D  the idea sounded good to me but i just didn't want to devote that much money or space to such a set up, so i adapted the idea to the space and materials i have, which is not fancy but makes me so happy.

instead of the boxes, i'm using these cool expanding pocket folders, they are like file folders but they are closed on the sides, and they expand to 2" wide.  things don't fall out and they will hold bigger things than just papers.  each morning i fill the folders with the day's work.  i'm using only 9 folders now, instead of 12 like in the box system, but i think this is plenty for a first grader.  i'm not a big fan of creating busy work just for the sake of something to do.

i haven't labeled or numbered the folders--i didn't want to get stuck on perfectionist mode so i just started filling folders and i'll edit or refine the set up as we go.

to give you and example of things i'm putting in the folders, today in the language arts folder was this new high five magazine (it is really a few months old but she hasn't seen it yet).  the folder in front of it has her craft project, it is a quilt for her baby doll dalui. today she colored in the design sheet then she learned how to draw and cut the template, how to trace around it on the fabric, and how to cut the pieces.  as i write this she has started sewing the patches together by hand.

in the math folder i put a domino number game.  she draws a domino and then writes the number of dots on each end into the equation "___ + ___", then she adds them together.  next time it will be subtraction. 

today she got another math activity but i put it in the games folder, this is a set of tangrams i got at the dollar tree (i love that store). 

in today's P.E. folder i put the wii sports disk because we've been flooding here in middle tennessee but today there has been no rain so we were able to go out and didn't need this after all.

when i want to assign something that is too big to fit into the folder, i put in a card with a picture of it instead.  for example, when we listen to a book on CD, i put in this knitting card and we can sit together and listen to the story while we work on christmas presents.

in her bible studies folder is a tracer sheet with the bible verse of the month.  this also serves as her handwriting practice.  she traces this same verse every day, and at the end of the month she has memorized the verse AND can print it from memory too.

when ella completes an assignment she puts the finished work in this homework dog house which we found at the parent/teacher store.  this way she can say, "the dog ate my home work".  :D  the empty folder goes to the back of the basket.

 

 

things not shown are her home ec folder which had a picture card of the floor sweeper and floor steamer, the field trip folder which had her library card in it, and the science folder which had magazines for her to cut out of things to paste on her her solid/liquid/gas chart.

this set up is working great for us!  i chose not to dictate the order of the folders should be done in, and instead i let ella choose which ever one appeals to her as she goes thru the day.  in another post i'll list some of the other things i'm putting in the folders, but in the meantime i welcome your suggestions!

Comments

[Helen J.]

WOW you have inspired me to do something like this for Ivan, he is a little older than Ella but quite far behind his age group (not that we follow any of that) I just worry from time to time so like coming back here to re-ground myself and remind myself of the important things. Thank you Rowena for your inspiration :) H x

[Rachel]

Great ideas. I have been looking for a way to organize my boys' preschool projects.

[Stephanie Bateman]

I am using these same folders for my boys, and while I am still trying to discipline myself to fill them when I am supposed to, I really like it!

Thanks for sharing :)