Workboxes Post #2

So here is the post that I was so excited to tell you about.  These are the workboxes.  I found the idea on this blog  http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/search/label/Organizing

I was looking for some ideas on how to teach multiple kids, at different grade levels, at the same time, without going completely crazy, which is what was happening to me.  And this is what I stubbled upon.  And I am SUPER excited about it.  

The workbox system was created by Sue Patrick.  The program helps you structure your day more efficiently and present curriculum in a way that helps children learn more independently.  Her program calls for twelve bins per child.  I felt like this was a bit excessive.  I have tailored the system to fit our family better.  Hailey has 8 bins, Emma has 5, and Carson has 3.  Well, actually Carson has 2 because Target didn't have enough bins when I went shopping there, so I will have to go back later and get 1 more.  

So here is what you do with the system.  Do you see the picture with the tags that have the kids names on them?  Each one of those numbers coincides with a bin that has the same number.  So each day, the kids will grab there tags and then work their way through the bins.  Now do you see the picture that has the blue thing holding a bunch of random tags, ie piano, outside, snack?  You can move the numbers on the kids tags and input these other random tags to spread things out.   There are also mom tags that you can place on the bins that the kids need help on.  For example, Hailey almost always needs help on her math.  So on the bin that holds her math work I would place a mom tag.  But on her phonics she is pretty good about doing on her own so she would not need help on that one.  

So the point of this whole thing is that you orchestrate your day so that on the subjects that your kids need help on do not conflict with other bins of other kids.  Again, this system encourages independence and gives the kids an idea of when the school day is over.   

I am excited to get moving with this and also to be involving Carson.  To get him doing sensory activities, puzzles, play dough, etc.  Before I felt like I was just shoeing him away and with this system, hopefully I will be able to get him involved.

Just incase you haven't caught on, I am SOOOOO excited about this!!!  Nerdy, I know.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Oh, and as for the last picture, I found these cute bins on sale for $2 at Michaels.   So I bought a few to organize all of our different school materials.  Nothing to do with the workbox system, but I thought it was exciting.  What can I say? I LoVE organizational tools. 

Monday, September 14

WORKBOXES 

Be on the look out!!!  I am trying out something new and will be unveiling it soon and I can't wait!!!

Keep checking back for the updates!

Friday, September 11

In all honesty, today was not one of the best structured home school days in recorded history.  I was having kind of a "down" day and plus I didn't get much sleep so I was exhausted all day, but we did do something.  

I went to brunch with my mom this morning so my kids got to spend the morning and afternoon with my dad.  I think this is the first time this has happened and I think they had a great time having that one on one time with him.  By the time I got back the kids were having so much fun playing with each other that I just let them continue and I took a little "rest."  After pizza for dinner Hailey did do her math worksheets and assessment on fact families, practiced her ending consonant -sk blends, and did some review on month capitalizations.  We then did a little art project before bed.  They made fall trees with their hand prints.  They were all very proud of the creations, hence the picture.  So, not a very exciting day in my book, but priceless for my children that they go to spend that time with my dad.

(my dad showing Carson how the victrola works)

Thursday, September 10

Our trip to the library

Today for Hailey her math lesson was on when to subtract and counting up to subtract.  While Hailey was working on her worksheets for that Emma did 3 - 5 number recognition and writing her numbers.  While Hailey finished her math Emma also worked on writing her first and last name, which she is getting really good at.  For practicing writing her name I usually just flip over one of the worksheets she had been working on and write her name then have her trace it and then try writing it on her own.  It has worked really well for her.  Hailey had a spelling test with words ending in -sp and -mp as well as dictating sentences.  Then we did a worksheet on ending consonant blend -sk.  Emma worked on writing her lower and upper case A and works that start with the letter A.  For history we just talked about getting around the globe.  Both of the girls colored pictures of animals from around the world and then we took a globe and talked about how many continents there are (there are 7, in case you didn't know), and then the girls had to figure out which continent the animals belonged on.  For this we had a provided worksheet, but you could easily use pictures from magazines or the internet.  We also went to the library and all of the kids had a ton of reading time.  If you are trying to fill school time, the library is a sure fire way to get your kids motivated to read and they get tons of practice with those newly learned reading skills.  Here are a couple of links to worksheets we used today.  I can't give all of them because a lot of them are from WAVA, but here are some extras I used for Emma.

 http://www.starfall.com/n/N-info/abcprint.htm?n=abc

http://www.tlsbooks.com/numbers1thru5worksheetb.pdf

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

So here we go with another year of home school.  At first I was super excited to get started with school, but having just gone through a miscarriage I must admit I was no longer that enthusiastic.  Hey!  I am just being completely honest.  But after lessons today I was again very grateful for our decision to home school.  It has, and I think will continue to be a wonderful distraction.   But if I am going to be truly honest I must also say that the first day of lessons wasn't without it's ups and downs.  At the end of last year I told myself that I would still do some school throughout the summer so that Hailey wouldn't lose her drive or sense of focus.  But after getting pregnant and feeling very sick, that idea went out the window.  So today was a day filled with relearning how to focus.  This was mainly with math.  Once we got done with that the rest of the days lessons went rather smoothly. 

Emma has joined in with lessons and I am trying to do math with her while Hailey is working on her worksheets.  She did well today and sat there for the whole time Hailey was doing her work.  I think she felt so grown up that she was doing her own work and I hope that excitement continues.  

For language arts we did a combined lesson.  Hailey learned how to write an invitation and she wanted to give the invite to Emma.  Hailey was determined to keep the invite a secret so she worked carefully to keep the invitation concealed from her sister.  Emma wanted it to be a surprise as well, so the picture above is of her covering her eyes.  It was a lot of fun, however, Hailey invited Emma to an ice cream party, so now I have to take them out for ice cream tomorrow.   I wish I had taken a picture of the invite.  It was pretty cute.  If I find out where it disappeared to I will try and take a picture.  

On another note, I want to continue on with our home school blog, but I want to make it more interesting for readers.  Rather than a day to day journal entry of what we do, maybe helps or  . . . i don't know . . . any thoughts?