Revitalized, refreshed, renewed, revived, rejuvenated.....Sue Patrick's Workbox System has done all of these and more for our homeschool this year. And, honestly I am not exaggerating. I know that is a huge endorsement, but it is well founded. Our experience with The Workbox System has been a true success for myself, my children, and our homeschool.
Let me tell you why....
After a big cross-country move this summer, after house hunting, after finally moving into our own home, and getting the unpacking done, starting school seemed like it was going to be another big chore. It felt like we were doing the same thing that we've always done over and over and over again. This was the start of our 5th year. I was thinking burnout?...was it time for ours?? We needed something....something to bring the fun and excitement back to our learning. Then, thanks to my position as a TOS Reviewer, I received Sue Patrick's Workbox System User Guide eBook. I had begun hearing about this system times in the homeschool community lately, and was curious about it, but had no idea all that it entailed. I was really looking forward to trying it out for myself.
The Workbox System was created by Sue Patrick, a homeschool mom with a Bachelor's Degree from North Carolina State University. While in the process of pursuing her Master's Degree, Sue's oldest child was diagnosed with Autism. She created the Workbox System to originally help homeschool her child. Then, she decided to package her system to reach more families. And, from what I have seen on the web, this system is taking the homeschool community by storm. It will not work for every family, but it is being used widely in homeschools across the board. This system can be used by all children, including those without a learning disability, and those with different learning styles too.
To read more about Sue Patrick's Workbox System please visit her website. To view a video that explains Sue Patrick's Workbox System, please click HERE. You can also view sample pages of Sue's Book HERE.
How we are using Workboxes in our homeschool...
Although I understand why Sue's system is set up the way that it is, we do not have a school room, or desks, or the room to set up something like Sue suggests, so like many homeschoolers, we tweaked the system to fit our home and family's needs. I want to thank my TOS Crewmates for their wonderful suggestions that helped us figure out how to use the Workboxes efficiently in our home, especially my friend and TOS Crewmate Jolanthe from Homeschool Creations whose printable graphics I used for our setting up the Workbox System in our home.
***Sue Patrick strongly suggests that you try her method exactly as she states before trying to do your own version. ***
Here is what our set up looks like. We have 3 milk crates. I got them at Walmart for $2.50 each. Each crate is labeled with the child's name, and each one has 10 hanging file folders. This worked really well, because at the end of the week I could stack them up in our school closet and have our dining room clean and free for the weekend. They do not take up much room, as you can see here we just keep them in the dining room under the bay window where the majority of our schooling takes place. In the back of each box is each child's school binder where they put their worksheets, reports, etc. after they have been graded and 3-hole punched.
Each child's schedule cards:
Each child has 10 folders in their box. They are labeled in order. Every morning, when my children are ready to start school, they go into the school closet, grab their schedule cards from their hooks, and go straight to their box. They complete folder #1, then take that number from the schedule card and place it on a velcro circle that is next to the #1 on the folder, so now there will be 2 #1s on the folder so that I know it's completed. They then place the folder back in the box and move on to the next number, and so on. Each day includes some of the same, but also different assignments to keep the variety and keep them interested in doing something new. I plan out ahead for the week what will go into each folder with materials that are included with this eBook. At the end of the day, I take out their schedule cards, and go through and check each child's completed work, and re-attach the #s to their schedule cards. I then 3-hole punch their papers that they put into their binders next day. I then refill their folders with the following day's work. This does take me a little while, probably around 45 mins to an hour to check all of their work, and refill. But, I just take their boxes into the living room, along with a box that I created for myself with folders of all of their worksheets, index cards, teacher's manuals, etc. and refill each as I go through them. I can do this while listening to music or watching television, and I really don't mind the time it entails. It is a lot quicker and easier now that we are used to the routine. At first, it did take me a long time to get each child's box filled, but now I plan ahead with a planning form that Sue includes with the eBook purchase, and I just use that as I go. It has made filling the boxes a lot quicker for me. I highly recommend doing it this way to save you some sanity, especially if you are using this system with more than one child!
Usually I schedule their main subjects, and alternate them with fun, educational items. For example, yesterday, my 4th grader's Workbox went as follows:
1. Math worksheets (Skip Counting & Word Problems)
2. Play Great States Game on your own (15 mins) (I also include a timer label on the velcro circle if I'd like them to do something for a certain amount of time.) This helps keep them focused.
3. Reading (The Boxcar Children) (20 mins)
4. Teacher Book Bag September from CurrClick (Reading and map activity)
5. Winston Grammar lesson (Mom's Help) I include a "Mom's Help" card attached to the folder so he knows this is something that we will do together.
6. "When I Grow Up I Wanna Be a Veterinarian" Study from the TOS WannaBe Series.
7. Handwriting Without Tears Cursive
8. Read Sports Illustrated for Kids (15 mins)
9. Writing Prompt Box (He gets a card from the box with instructions with 1 0r 2 index cards attached to complete his writing assignment.)
10. Lapbook (Amphibians by Journey Through Learning) This is one he chose to do for fun. Last month he complete a Baseball Mini-Book by Fortunately For You Books.
For my 2nd grader:
1.Math (Horizons Workbook)
2. Play I Spy Memory Game on your own. (15 mins)
3. Reading (Happy Birthday, Molly ~ American Girl) (20 mins)
4. Writing Prompt Card
5. Explode the Code Workbook
6. Teacher Book Bag September (Reading and Map Activity)
7. A Reason for Handwriting
8. How to Draw lesson from Nature Friend Magazine
9. "When I Grow Up I Wanna Be a Veterinarian" Study from the TOS WannaBe Series.
10. Lapbook of her choice (American Girl from Homeschool Share)
For my 8th Grader:
1. Math (AAA Math - Free Online)
2. Fly Pen Journal or Brain Teasers
3. Reading (Mara, Daughter of the Nile) (2o mins)
4. Bible Sudoku
5. My Access Writing Program
6. Current Event (I include the local paper with a Current Event report sheet for her to fill out, then attach article to.)
7. Applications of Grammar
8. Geography Word Search
9. Mavis Beacon Typing
10. Lapbook (Horses from Homeschool Share and Homeschool Helper Online)
Along with the numbers on their cards, other cards are included as well in between, such as "Snack" and "Lunch". After my children have gone through their numbers on their schedule cards and applied them to each of their 10 folders, there are also other cards for "Bible" "History" "Science", or even "Spelling" or "Reading" which would most likely be independent reading of their choice or a read-aloud that we do together, depending on what we're covering that day. Usually these are for the basics that we do together or something that I wanted to add, but did not put in their box. Sometimes, I will add a "Board Game" tag for fun on Fridays, and we will end our week on a fun memorable time together.
Using the Workbox System has eliminated the "What are we doing next?" and "Are we almost done?" questions from my children. I simply love that! This system has fostered their independence, and they know what to expect each day, and what is expected of them. We are getting in more learning than ever before. Before using this system, I used a printed assignment sheet for each child that they would check off as they would complete their subjects. Although this worked fine for us at the time, the Workbox System keeps us more focused because included in each folder is not only their worksheet or book that they need, but a pencil or a tape runner, glue stick, calculator, Fly Pen, or whatever supplies they need to complete their work too. Time is not wasted looking for things, and that has made a big difference at our house. I thought I was organized before using this system, but not to this extent, and it has made a world of difference in our homeschool. Our days are fuller with more fun learning activities, and this has also eliminated the amount of time they spend playing on the computer or watching television. I like knowing that they are getting a more structured, full day of learning. We are also finally getting to use all of the educational games and toys that I purchase but never seem to find the time to use. Now, I get to include them as part of our school day, and my kids love it. We are really enjoying what started out as a not so exciting year.
Sue Patrick's Workbox System User Guide eBook is available on the website for $19. Once you purchase the eBook, you will be given access to additional (planning sheets, forms for making your own schedule cards, centers, etc.) downloads to use with the Workbox System. Sue makes it very easy to get started by listing everything you need to start using this system right away. You will have to make an additional purchase of the materials you will need to set it up in your home, including the boxes needed, as well as plenty of paper, cardstock, and ink to print, or lamination materials if you so desire. Sue also does speaking events as well as consulting services. More information is available on the Workbox System Homepage.
Included in the User Guide is a "How To" of setting up the system, as well as Sue's learning and teaching philosophies. Some things I agree with, and some I choose to disagree with, however, I think that tends to be the "norm" among homeschoolers. We are all unique in our own way, and we like to teach how it best fits our family, and what works in our home.
Sue has some great advice in this eBook on setting up "Centers" for learning, which I had never tried before. My kids really enjoyed doing this, and now it is a regular thing in our homeschool. By borrowing items from our local Learning Resource Center, I was able to set up this Science Center for mine a few weeks ago, as well as this Writing Center.
Here is our Science Center:
And our Writing Center:
All of my children's folders vary depending on what they're studying and what their interests are. I have a list that I keep of fun Workbox "fillers" for my students. I keep it handy when I'm making my schedule for the week. I also keep a basket and some drawers filled with fun educational fillers and games. We enjoy using board games, file folder games, fun workbooks, hands on activities, art projects, etc.
Here is our school closet where I keep all of our Workbox "fillers" and supplies together to find and drop into their folders each day.
Overall, using this system has brought the fun and excitement back into our homeschool. On top of that, our day is more structured and organized. My children are working more independently as well. When they get up in the morning to start school, they know exactly what they should be doing. They look forward to looking in their boxes to see what fun things I have included for them that day. The Workbox System may not work for every family, but I am very happy with the results that our family has attained with this system in our homeschool.
To learn more about Sue Patrick's Workbox System, please visit her website. To read more reviews by my TOS Crewmates, please visit the TOS Page for Sue Patrick's Workbox System.
**Results not typical**
*The author’s review and opinion is entirely her own. This product was provided to the author for free as a member of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Homeschool Crew. No further compensation was received.*
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