I feel like I’ve been living under a rock! Until I began to participate on the Old Schoolhouse Crew, I was not aware of workboxes. The more time I spend on line, the more I learn how many people are using and loving workboxes. As I lurked on the Crew forum, I saw glimpses of the workbox life, so I was very anxious to get my hands on Sue Patrick’s book and begin trying out this system.
What are workboxes? From what I’ve read, the workbox system was first designed by teachers working with autistic children in school classrooms. At its most basic level, the system works by dividing the student’s school tasks into individual boxes which the student then complete, moving a number tag from the box to a grid as each task is completed. The boxes in Sue Patrick’s system are plastic shoeboxes, usually 8-12 per child, arranged on a wire shelf, like a shoe rack.
Sue Patrick’s Workbox System User Guide ebook takes the workbox system and explains how it can work in a home school environment. She spends several chapters explaining the concept of the workboxes, the physical system, and the day to day requirements to making it work. Click here for a short video showing the basics.
Not only does her book go into the workbox system, but she also spends several chapters discussing how to make home schooling the priority of your day, making learning activities more enjoyable, creating learning centers, and building review activities into your schedule to reinforce knowledge already studied.
So, what do I think? My first reaction is-- I love it. After homeschooling for six years, I needed the encouragement to make school enjoyable and more organized. I’m schooling three this year, with the three year old trying to get into as much school as he can. I needed a system that would help me keep the oldest working independently, while reminding me that I still need to spend time with him. I needed something that would help me incorporate the geography he is studying with the world cultures that the youngers are doing. I’ve found that the amount of complaining has dropped considerably since we’ve begun using workboxes. He respects the time I’ve spent preparing his work for the day/week and completes it. He can see what needs to be done, and he is much more diligent about getting it done with a good attitude. My daughter loves having things that she can do independently while I’m working with one of the other kids. Before workboxes, she struggled with staying occupied while I was busy.
While the system is working well for my kids, it is working even better for me. Because I was “forced” to try out this system, I’ve been forced to be more prepared. When I fill my daughter’s math workbox each night, I pull the manipulatives we need the next day, rather than waiting until math time to locate them. I appreciate the flexibility. I can rearrange the order depending on the other activities of the day. On Mondays, we are gone all afternoon, so I know that I have to get through math, spelling, and language with my older two. I put those first in the workboxes so they and I are sure to get to them. The independent work they bring with them. Finally, I’m creating more activities for my little ones, so that they are constructively occupied while I work with the older two.
I have to admit that I have tweaked her system a bit. We are not using the schedule strip as she does. We also don’t clock in and out each day. My 10 year old’s workbox is actually a portable file box, with numbers on each folder and a single grid at the front for him to place his numbers as he finishes each folder.
How are we making it work?
- 3 yo has 5 boxes with activity books from Target’s dollar spot, flashcards, Usborne look and find books, cut and paste activities. It is forcing me to prepare and do things with my littlest one. We both love it.
- 5 yo has 8 boxes, most of them I have to do with her. I’m working on more things she can do on her own
- 7 yo has 10 boxes. First 6 are on her own, last 4 are do with mom.
- 10 yo has a file box with 12 folders. I have no room for more boxes, and he is easily distracted and frustrated by getting up and down.
I’ll post more at a later time about our workboxes. This book has been very helpful in getting our school year off to a great start. This is the first year that we haven’t not been dealing with a move, a new baby, or a grief situation since we began homeschooling. It gave me encouragement and ideas for making school seem the priority it is in our home. You can purchase the book here for $19.95 printed and bound, or $19 for an ebook.
Disclaimer: Sue Patrick provided me with a free copy of this ebook to review and use in order to write this review. I received no other compensation, and my reviews are based on my opinion and the feedback I receive from my family.
