I read on Sprittibee’s FaceBook page about this system at 1+1+1=1. I remember that site. And, I remember her photos of what she did with her pre-schooler, but it just looked like too much for our large family. Or maybe I didn’t think it would work as is, because I thought it was a program just for pre-schoolers. Anyway, I have revisited the idea, re-visited the blog posts like the one at 1+1+1=1, and have found out quite a bit more about it. It has inspired me to get out the stackable file folders for Rachel, and maybe Eric, and use the plastic shoebox-sized containers for the Littles.

Amanda was good enough last week to get me 20 shoebox-sized containers. In several of the posts, I read that they had gotten their plastic containers for $1 a piece at Target, and we don’t have one close, so I figured these were, at $0.97, probably the same size. They were a bit smaller. (Should have known, considering it’s WM.) But, they will be fine for some of the workboxes. I had her get only twenty, planning to use around 8-10 each for five children, but I remembered the file folders, and I believe that will work better for Rachel, who is 15.

I plan to use them with Eric, 12, Hannah, 9, Isaac, 6 this week, and Caleb, 4. I may have to have a few for Lucy, because, even at two, I know she is going to love to participate! Rachel and I will work out using the file folders and her schedule and plans together.

Here are the links I found that interested me about the Workbox System:

Most of these, if not all, have photos and descriptions of how each family uses this system. It is great to see this in action and read through posts where the blog author has shown the work done by their child or how the system is working for their family size and ages of children. Take a look at each of them!

A Comprehensive Review written by Kari for Curriculum Choice of  Sue Patrick’s Workbox System©. It is basically a blogger’s who’s who of Workboxes. It has blog links, photos, discussions, memes, a chart of resources, and more.

Walking By The Way – Workboxes!
She also has a post about how she made up their Workbox Schedule that includes a link to some really cute picture tags to add to your schedule, like Outside Time, Read Aloud, Computer Time, Pick Up the Yard, Break, Eat Lunch, and others!

The Courtney Six:Workboxes

1+1+1=1: Workboxes

The ChatterBee: Getting Organized with Workboxes! – be sure to read both pages of comments!

Color Me Orange: This is The Best System Ever!
She also has a link on her blog to Click to join workbox_fun

PB&J Homeschool: Workboxes – I Love Them!

EDITED: I have seen so many additions to the Workbox Method all over the internet: FaceBook, TheHomeschool Lounge, Twitter…. I got a pingback today, and here is an excellent and LONG list of An Amazing List Of Workbox Links… at Sunflower Schoolhouse.

I will be posting about this again, when I have my laminated tabs for each workbox and file and divide up their books a little to show you what exactly we are doing in them, a schedule for it, etc. It will be interesting to see how we can fit our day into it or how it fits into our day! I hav a feeling there will be a lot of flex time… especially for the Littles!

I hope this has inspired you to organize and use whatever means that works best for your family home school this year! Remember, we keep them home to live life with them, knowing they will learn at every moment. Education is secondary (but it sure is a lot easier to educate if you are somewhat organized!).

Blessings to you in your planning and learning this year!

If you have a blog post on Workboxes, please feel free to link it in the comments section to share with my readers!

Coming Next: 2009-10 School Year Planning

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(As always, please get permission to view if you are not an adult)

In case the video and article disappear, here is an excerpt from the news article, which you will find here: Girl Suspended for Taping Chaos in Classroom

“”People smoking marijuana in the classroom. They smoke cigarettes.” Arielle said. “There was one kid who peed in a bottle and threw it across the room.”"

Other accusations about the teacher/classroom unruliness made by her and other students are:

flipping lights to make a strobe light effect,
paper ball fights,
dancing,
and more, all with the teacher sitting in the back of the classroom watching.

Oh, and the clincher is that the girl who taped it on her cell phone was also suspended for video-taping without permission. She did it because it had already been reported, and she wanted to learn math.

Un-huh… no accountability there…

Reminds me of the time Amanda was home schooling “high school” and told me she never wanted to go to public school after looking through a friend’s Yearbook.

blessings and happy home schooling!

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HT: Israel Wayne and Kris@Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers, via Twitter.

Fifteen years ago, there were not so many resources out there that could be easily found, and considering I did not have the internet or even a computer, I had little in the way of outside encouragement. Add to that the fact that I was a 3yo baby Christian, just learning how to train my children at all. I feel for these new moms who are searching for the ‘best way’ to homeschool their children. I remember being a new homeschool mom.

Looking back to when I was a new homeschool mom, there are a few small things I can think of that would have made such a difference in my homeschooling had I only been told. I think I would have wanted someone to tell me we did NOT have to go into debt buying every complete set of each grade. I would have wished they had introduced me to a Bible-based homeschool method like HOW – Heart of Wisdom. I needed to know that God MUST come first. The WORD truly is our life, and outside of that, there is no wisdom.

Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Isaiah 33:6
And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

We get so caught up in what we learned in the government schools, and some of us just aren’t the ‘break the mold’ type of people. We were bound by society, and we have yet to break free. God is the one who can set our hearts and expectations free so that He is the Leader in our homeschools. If we bring all things through Him, we will not fail. It was He who told us to walk with our children and talk with our children to teach them His ways.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Read all of ‘these words’ of Deuteronomy chapter 6.

As society continues to move towards socialism, it is imperative that we stand firm in teaching our children as they need to learn. They are not cookie-cutter children. They each have their own strengths that we need to recognize and allow them to learn in, according to their bent (training up a child in the way they should go – according to their bent).

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

This is a freedom that will stop the tears and frustration. Some children just won’t read until they are nine. Period. Two of mine didn’t. They are voracious readers now.

The three books I suggest to a new homeschool mom are these: Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach (you can get a free 75 pp. excerpt online), Educating the Wholehearted Child, and Teaching the Trivium. I like Teaching the Trivium mainly for the chapters on teaching the Bible, as the method is not necessarily for everyone. Oh, and also, I found GREAT freedom to educate in high school through the 2004-05 Elijah Co. Resource Guide (get yours now-they are $1!!) and Barb Shelton’s Senior High: A Home- Designed Form+U+la. These last two are are EXCELLENT for the discouraged high school parent who has been relaxed homeschooling their children and feel lost at the high school level.

When we listen to God and see the hearts of our children, recognizing their purpose and needs and walking in that with them, there is a freedom that will take us places that far exceed our original little expectations!

blessings to you on your homeschool journey,

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Try it out: Yearbook Yourself!

blessings!

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Thanks to Dawn at My Home Sweet Home Online for showing us the site!

We took this las week, when Sprittibee came to our house. Yes, I still need to blog about that!
Anyway, aren’t they beautiful!?!

Jocelyn is going to be 17 next week, and Amanda is officially finishing up high school this month.

blessings~

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