Workboxes and Homeschool

So in my last post I mentioned that I am going to be using the Work box system.  I love this idea and have researched how other homeschooling moms have made it work for them.  I chose to use magazine files since we are limited in space and 6 files fit perfectly on my bookshelves.   I am teaching our first three subject to everyone and then they will move onto their work boxes for the other subjects.  So I will only use 6 work boxes instead of 12 like the original system.  But I am just doing what works for us right now with the space we have. 

Here are what my files look like.  On one side each box is numbered and a small picture of what subject is in each box is underneath.  I used Velcro for these so I can switch them later if I need to.  Then on the back of the file I have the word, "done!" so when they are done they can put the file back with done facing out and can visually see where they are in completely their work.  At their desk they have schedule.  I am using a clip for them to keep track of where they are in their work that they will move as the complete their work.  I haven't made my "work with mom" part yet.  I plan on making a clip with a sign saying work with mom on it and clipping it to the file boxes that they need my assistance with.    The kids are ready to start the work box system but I am holding out until we officially start the school year in June. 

Right now in our home school/playroom we have a lot of Ikea furniture.  We bought this desk a few years ago and the legs are adjustable.  They are on the lowest they can go and so as the kids grow and get bigger we can make the height of the table better for them.  Right now Ev and Elijah work well at this table and Ian joins us too.  As they get bigger I am considering buying another table just like this and putting them together to make a bigger table and workspace for them.  I am currently using two tall Ikea bookshelves and one 2x4 Expedit bookshelf.  We are also using Ikea folding chairs.  I made some chair caddies to hold some of the kids personal items and give them a place to keep some of the items they use since we don't have drawers on their desk. 

Homeschool Curriculum Choices

I've finally picked out our home school curriculum for this up coming year.  I've made some changes from what I originally thought I was going to do but I am excited about starting a new year.  I'll finish up Kindergarten with Ev in May and then we'll have maybe two weeks and then we will start up again.  I had thought I was going to give myself and the kids a full month for a break in between our school years but then I realized that the kids really don't know any different and it would almost be easier if we just kept going rather than spend time out of routine to then go back into a routine.  My desire is to finish Ev and Elijah's full year of 1st and K before we go back to America for a few months, in about a year from now.  I'll do stuff with them in America but I would rather not drag all of our supplies/books back to America when we have limited space in our bags to come back!

Last year for Kinder I created my own phonics/language arts/reading program.  I threw in some Abeka resources with that which have been helpful for Ev.  I did Abeka Math with Ev and then had created my own Social Studies/Science study but haven't been able to get to them very much.  We also did a free Bible curriculum that I found on the web. 

So this year for Elijah's Kindergarten year I will continue to use my phonics program.  He'll do Abeka Math and we will start using Grapevine Bible Curriculum.  I'm really excited about this program for a  couple of reasons.  The levels are multi age.  The one I picked to start with is for 5-7 year olds, which as I start teaching my two oldest I am going to do Bible time together and since they both fall in the age range it will be so nice.   

For Ev this year she will also be starting the Grapevine Curriculum.  We are switching to MathUSee  and she will start All About Spelling program.  What I've read about this is great and it is not only a spelling program but phonics is adding in too.  I'll continue to do my phonics program with her and her Science/Social Studies is a thematic unit throughout the year that I did when I taught First grade.  I originally starting teaching this in Kansas and then when I moved to Texas they let me adapt it to the Texas curriculum standards.  The best thing is that I've taught this for 6 years and can remember projects and things we did, along with the fact that I have lots of teacher resource books, books and other resources for it.  I'll use the handwriting and writing programs I did when I taught in Texas.

In addition to my new curriculum for the year I've decided I am going to use the workbox organization system created by Sue Patrick.  If you don't know what it is you should check out her website or search Pinterest for workboxes and it will come up with tons of ideas or ways others have implemented the system.  I have been wondering how I am going to make teaching two levels work and I think this system will help our day flow.  From what I've heard it has really helped other moms homeschooling multiple grades.  I've even figured out how to write lesson plans for all of my kids (with Ian I will be doing pre-school activities) on one week of plans.  Yeah for not having to have 3 separate lesson plans for each of my kids!  I'm going to use magazine files for my kid's boxes.  With the Ikea bookshelves we own I can fit 6 magazine files on one shelf.  My two older kids will each have a shelf and Ian will have his set up differently.  Todd is going to buy me some Ikea white magazine files next week when he goes to Ikea for me.  I'll post pictures when we get them set up. 

Now we'll wait for our new curriculum to be sent to us and I'll finish up getting things ready for First grade.  After all the time it took me to plan, create and print out things for Kinder I now get to use to again for Elijah and then the year after that with Ian.