Anyone have experience with the Workbox system? Need feedback.

[SashaBreeze]

So with the twins due to arrive in November I have been trying to re-think how we do school. I have been thinking seriously about starting the workbox system with my oldest two dc and then I will only need to do intensive one on one work with our 6 year old. The idea is to set up a room in the house that is baby proofed that I can stay in with the littles during the early months and then if/when the older kids have questions about assignments I would be available for clarification/help.

So sound like a good idea? Anyone use this system before? Did it greatly reduce the amount of coordinating from you during the day hours like it looks like it would?

Thank you for any input you may have.

[Closeacademy]

I use a modified form of the workbox system. I found 6 drawer wheeled carts at Aldi's this spring. I have one cart for each child. Each drawer is for a certain subject and everything we need for that subject is in that drawer for the week.

I have found that this is working very well for us because everything is right there and I don't have to hunt all over the house for this or that which is needed in the lesson. I do work one-on-one with each of my children and also give them some work to do on their own.

I have more some pictures and ideas on my blog of how I make this work.
http://closeacademy.blogspot.com/search/label/Workboxes This link will take you to all my workbox posts. If you click on the organization tab at the top of my blog, I have more links to resources about workboxes.

Hope this helps.

[annettemarie]

Everyone I've ever met who does the workbox system does a modified version, LOL! And that includes me. But it works pretty well for us. My six has workboxes and my nine has files. My eleven wants nothing to do with it.

For me, the hardest part is taking the time to fill the boxes each night. But I've found that it really helps to plan out a week at a time. That way, I don't have to think about it too much, I just follow the plan!

[elizawill]

our version was very modified too. we had 12 boxes numbered and when the box was finished, it got a smiley face. for us, the workboxes helped us include "fun" things that seemed too often to get overlooked or put aside. it served us well when we used them. i no longer use workboxes though (although they're still set up and used for storage, etc). we have our groove now, and i just don't need them anymore honestly. they are a great idea though & imho do help with organization and putting a rhythm to your day.

[SashaBreeze]

Thank you ladies.
I have been doing a lot of looking around since you guys said that there are so many modified versions out there. I found one that the homeschool mom used cereal boxes that she then cut the tops off of and decorated the outsides with scrapbook paper. They looked great and fit really well on a bookshelf that would take up a lot less space so I am leaning towards that. What I would really like to do is have my dh build a really sturdy short and deep bookshelf and put wheels on the bottom of it like closeacadamy has on her shelves. That way I can keep it in the baby proof room when not in use and wheel it out when it is time for the older kids to do their thing.

Although nothing makes homeschool necessarily "easy" there is so much out there that can make my life easier. I really do believe that this will be on of those things that help. Thank you all for your advice and thoughts on using the system.

[CariOfOz]

I agree.. almost all workbox systems are modified I just started using one this week actually, for my 6 & 8 yo boys. I got a metal framed drawer unit with 12 drawers and they only have 6 each, as we do our history & science together. The kids enjoy knowing exactly what is on for the day and I'm always available to give them instructions as to how to do whatever's in their drawers. They aren't COMPLETELY independant, but it's only been 4 days

Annette is spot on, I really think you have to sit down and plan for the entire week (there is a yahoogroup for workboxes as well, lots of printables and such there), that way I can be sure I have anything printed out that needs it and have any library books we need.

[*Jessica*]

I tried a modified workbox system and found it infinitely more work on a daily basis for me than I had been doing previously. I can't imagine finding the time to fill all of those workboxes every day with twin babies in the house!

However, I'm going to try this File Crate System this school year. If you had everything for the week planned out and in the folders they could just be tossed in the workboxes. That might even be a good job for the 13yo! Each subject could be paper-clipped together with a post-it note stating subject or workbox # on top. It would be more work now, but with twin babies in the house I'm thinking you would want as much of the work done now as possible!

[meetoo]

We used workboxes and they really helped us! We did not use them like that book suggests though. My 1st grades had 7 and my preschooler had 4. We used sterilite drawers. I did not refill ever box every night. My DD did her work gave it to me to check, then it went right back into the same drawer. I only needed to change out a few drawers on a daily basis. I should also add that we live in a smallish house and do not have a school room/playroom. For us workboxes also doubled has storage for school supplies. YMMV

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by SashaBreeze

So with the twins due to arrive in November I have been trying to re-think how we do school. I have been thinking seriously about starting the workbox system with my oldest two dc and then I will only need to do intensive one on one work with our 6 year old. The idea is to set up a room in the house that is baby proofed that I can stay in with the littles during the early months and then if/when the older kids have questions about assignments I would be available for clarification/help.

So sound like a good idea? Anyone use this system before? Did it greatly reduce the amount of coordinating from you during the day hours like it looks like it would?

Thank you for any input you may have.

i have a dear freind who had twins last Sept. this is totally what she did.

they baby proofed the main living area of the main floor -- open by a arch to the kithen and front hall up the stairs. they gated the two "open doors".

she planted herself in there with the babies and their toys and 2 bouncy seats .. and more as time has moved on. the kids (6 homeschooling last year, 7 this fall) have their work and do it in their rooms or at the big dinning room table. each night the mom, while an older child has the babies or the babies sleep, taken the completed work, checks off where they are, makes sure they have stuff for the next 2 days ... they use an "boxed curr" and she has made detailed checklists for each subject for each grade -- they have been useing hte same boxed curr for years and years ... and so on. while the twins sleep she spent one-on-one time with the 2 younger who needed more direction -- or they (younger kids) would take turns schooling with mom vs entertaining baby if they would not sleep as newbies or as they grew and were awake more.

She had to learn to relax a little .. but al in all it worked really well last year ... same plan in place for this year (twins will be one in Sept) -- big baby proof room with a baby gate ....younger kids school in the dinning room -- she can talk to them and they see her and she see them -- but there is speration.