Taming the Tornado – Workboxes

I had great plans of sharing our workboxes many moons ago.

Plans changed.

As did our workboxes.

We originally had the strips – like the original workboxes.

I’m not gonna lie. I have never read Sue Patrick’s book. I don’t even own it. (gasp)

I have never felt led to purchase it, because one of the first things I was told about it is it tells you to follow her method to a T before making any changes. Y’all know that wouldn’t work around here.

If you haven’t noticed: we tend to march to the beat of our own drum.

After reading many posts about them, and joining a couple the workbox yahoo groups, we gave it a shot.

I knew I didn’t want to use shoe boxes. I needed something contained and neat. I know my children – we would never be *neat* with shoeboxes. So we tried these:

Those didn’t last long. They never seemed like a *fixture* – They were stacked on top of each other, and easily shifted. And truthfully, I think there is too much OCD in our house for stacked drawers to be uneven.

I was on the look-out for what seemed like forever. I wanted just the right unit, without spending a fortune. I then found these….

At the time,

Joanne’s offered them in the bright colors and in more neutral colors. In the end, I chose two of the same. Thanks to my coupon from Office Max.  

It has been one of the best purchases yet!

They fit just right under our dry-erase board.

On top of each child’s cart, there is a basket for each of their papers for me to check and file. It is also where we keep our basket of our postcards, pencil sharpener and our lazy-suzy of reach-and-grab supplies.

All neat and in place!

Our drawers are numbered for our reference, but our tags for each day are labeled by subjects or topics. We don’t follow a set curriculum in our home; we are pretty eclectic. Nor do we have portfolios evaluated, but I keep a strict record each year. Not only for *just in case* – but I am one of those over-sentimental-emotional-mommas who wants to document everything.

Can ya’ tell??

I use my secret weapon to print most of my tags. I have used ones offered free by others when we used the strips, but we have since moved to a 2X2 grid – and I make them very easily with Mrs. Riley.

To alleviate the task of *filling up workbox cards daily* – we have a weekly booklet. Sunday through Saturday.

I not only use tags for the *skoolish* stuff we have planned for the week, but also for our weekly chores. Or the things we are supposed to do each week. (dusting, vacuuming, clean the pool) And each of the kids have their regularly assigned duties. These days, one is vacuuming and the other is dusting. (because it’s what is working for them) It may change next month, and they may split the vacuuming and dusting. I leave that ball in their court, as long as their responsibilities are fulfilled.

Their daily chores are not included on these cards – we have separate *chore charts* and our in-famous gem-system.
As each item is *checked-off* for the day, the kids simply drop the tags in a bucket.

We have a pocket chart hanging on 3M tabs on the end of a bookcase with all of our extra tags that Nicholas has so neatly organized for us – things that we don’t necessarily plan for each week (Museum, Beach Day) [<--- oh, how I wish that was a regular tag every day]

The *bucket* seems to keep the tags used more regularly separate – making it simple to restock the grids for the week.

I printed the grids on cardstock, laminated and used the beloved Velcro dots {which I wish I owned stock in these days!}
I punched a hole, and hang them on the corner of each drawer unit.

This is a synapses of our system that works for us.

Do you use workbox system? How have you tweaked it to accommodate your family??

Do you have another organization method for your homeschool days?

It’s show-and-tell time! Link up below and share! I love being inspired by other homeschoolers!

**This post is also linked to Sandy’s Organizing Mission Monday.

 

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