Are any of you useing workboxes?

[Eli&SkyesMom]

If so, I'd like to hear from you. I am considering setting them up for our family for next school year. I'd like tohear what you do and don't like about them. The best the worst, the in between. Do you use 12 boxes? Do any of you use a different number? It seems to me like I'd have to come up with a lot of work to fill 12 boxes. What about days when you are going on a field trip or a park day, do you fill less of the boxes? Whatever comments you might have, I'd like to hear them. Thanks in advance for your time and help.

[heatherdeg]

I use a variation on workboxes. My son is 5yo.

I bought 3 3-drawer Sterlite units. Each drawer is 12"x12" by about 2" deep. The units stack on one another so I have 9 drawers.

Each drawer has a 2"x2" laminated square velcro'd to the front of the drawer on one side. Six of them have each of the colors of the rainbow and the bottom three have "Work With Mommy" squares (laminated).

On the top of the unit is a regular 8-1/2"x11" laminated sheet with the soft velcro on them. There are labels for where to put the rainbow colors (such that they form an arc) and the "Work With Mommy" squares.

Each work day, I fill as many boxes as I want him to work on his own and/or with me. The drawers with work to be done get their little velcro square attached to the front of the drawer. The rest of them stay attached to the sheet on top. The goal is to complete the sheet on top. So if I fill ALL of the drawers, he has to go through ALL of the drawers worth of work so he can move the little squares to the top sheet and fill it up/complete it. If I fill three drawers, he only has 3 drawers worth of work to do to complete the chart on top.

Is this making sense?

At the moment, I'm using this for him to do some fun stuff as well as some work. It's more directing his play so he's not engrossed in Legos ALL. DAY. than anything else. I have some 0-10 and 0-20 connect-the-dots and worksheets; but I also have stuff to color (he needs the OT work) and books to read (that he LOVES) and sometimes I put an instrument in there with a note to "make 3 different sounds with this instrument" or "make a song with this instrument and then come sing it to Mommy".

It's really working well for both of us. I'm finding that I have a really bad need to plan which makes it REALLY hard for us to do anything on-the-fly. But this way, I can plan the night before and put everything in the workboxes--so they're ready when we are. Everything's right there. It's seriously changed the way we operate in a great way.

And the rainbow idea came from my son. He'd been obsessed with the colors of the rainbow and the colors being in order. I just took advantage and it stuck.

My only gripe is that the 2" deep drawers don't always fit a puzzle box or an instrument. They DO fit the LeapPad. But that's really the only issue I've had with my system.

[mommy2abigail]

We use a VERY modified version. The reason I started to use them was because many times I'd remember AFTER we learned about something that I had a puzzle/game/book/craft that would have fit in perfectly! I have everything put away because of dd2, so it's out of sight. It just wasn't getting used, and because I was kinda disorganized as to pulling relevant stuff out. So, I decided to use a workbox system *for me* to, once a week, go through our stuff and pull out new and interesting things for dd1 to do during the week.

Here is what we do...
I got a unit from IKEA

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S19848442

ours has 5 shallow boxes and three deep boxes...you can make it in any combo to suit your needs. The 5 shallow boxes are for each day of the week. The deeper boxes fit puzzles and games or other bigger manipulatives.

DD1 is only 4 and we are doing kindy, so her daily 'work' is a few books to read, some worksheets (she loves those) a puzzle/game/craft and that's about it. So, for example, right now we are doing alphabet lapbooks, we started with the letter A today. I put a file folder, some magazines (to cut pictures out of) some print outs of A words (alligator, alpaca) and a box of crayons/markers/glue and scissors. I also put in our bible story book, and a couple of other fun reading books. An index card for her to practice her handwriting (just a capital and a lowercase A) and some pencils. I didn't see a need for multiple boxes for each day, at least not at this age. At this age, so much of her learning is verbal and experiences anyway, we don't do much by way of workbooks. These boxes are big enough to put most everything in, even bigger books.

There is no reward or anything for completing them, in fact I don't care if she gets to it at all, but at least I know *I* have set out interesting things and it's up to her whether she uses them or not. Generally though, she jumps right on it when she sees it on the table.

I'm thinking of getting a smaller Trofast system from IKEA to use for dd2. We made some Montessori-type trays for her to do while in her highchair so I can work with dd1 for a few minutes at a time. The Trofast shallow trays would be a perfect size.

[A Mom's Love]

Interesting. I had never heard of workboxes before.

[Eli&SkyesMom]

Thanks so much for the info. I am wondering if any of you are using this system with children a little older. My son will be in third grade this next school year.

Here is a link to a blog that talks more about workboxes incase you want to find out more.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/wal...theway/666754/

[heatherdeg]

I'm almost positive there are people who are using this with older kids here somewhere.

Check this thread:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1055152

[AngelBee]

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