Workbox Q&As

After I made my initial workbox post, I got alot of questions and I realized that I left out some stuff. So, this is my attempt at addressing everything that got left out…

Reloading Each Day: Yes, I do reload the bags each day. I find that the very best thing for me is to plan at least a week in advance. That way, I can just grab what I need and put it in the bag rather than having to plan as I reload. If I don’t plan ahead, we are NOT effective when it comes to using the workboxes. I use a spreadsheet to do the weekly plans…

Spreadsheet: Here is a picture of what my spreadsheet looks like. I tried to find a page that wasn’t too scribbled up. {This one is actually from last year before we bumped KJ up to 1st grade}. I am kinda old school when it comes to planning. I like to have it in pencil on paper so that I can easily make changes as needed… I have the “subjects” across the top and the numbers represent what bag number I want the assignment to go in. For example, on Friday, KJ’s bags would be in this order:

1. SWR dictation of list C
2. read phonograms
3. Cursive First WS 30A
4. read in Learning Log
5. read & discuss lesson in My Father’s World
6. write & illustrate words from list
7. Singapore Math p.7
8. “My Garden Grows” worksheet

So, for that day, she had 8 bags. If there is a # beside the assignment, it goes in that # bag for that day. If there is NOT a number it is something extra that will be done later. The last column is for such extra stuff that we all do together in the afternoon. So, on that day, we did art (veggie stamping) and science (soaking bean seeds). The very bottom of the page is for any reminder notes or materials that I may need.

Download a blank copy of my Simple Workbox Planning Spreadsheet.

Someone mentioned having a spreadsheet with everyone’s assignments on it. I do think this would be helpful, but for now, I use one of these for my daughter and another one for my older twins. If I come up with something that works better or if I decide to consolidate it all onto one page, I will post it…

Workbooks: If my kiddos have an assignment in a workbook, I put the whole workbook in the bag along with a little sticky note on the page they are to complete. I try to minimize the amount of loose paper…so keeping the workbooks in tack is what I opt for…

Completed Work: If you notice in one of the photos on my original post, I have a blue bin on top of a little file cabinet. I put completed work on top of the bin until I have time to store it away…

Storing Completed Work: Inside the file cabinet, I have hanging file folders for each kid for each school year. For now, I put their completed work in there. Since I know that their work will eventually end up in the file cabinet, I try to keep that in mind when it comes to large projects and such. Anything that is too big to fit in there usually stays “on display” somewhere in their room or our classroom…for a LONG time. Not sure what I will do for the long term once the file cabinet is full or once I run out of “display” space!  :-)

Purchasing Sterilite Boxes: I found my boxes at Walmart, but I have also seen them at JoAnns Fabrics & Crafts. They are the tall ones that are actually used for hanging file folders. I have seen them with teal blue lids and darker blue handles. However, I do not use the lids…they are stored away in a closet.

Stor-It Bags: Be sure to search multiple Dollar Trees if needed. One of our stores carries the bags and the other doesn’t. Yes, I use the large size that are 15”x15”. At first I thought the bags were going to be to big, but now, I really like them. I am able to get big stuff inside of them like puzzles. The bags are a bit wider than the Sterilite boxes, but I have not had an problems with using them. No, I do not zip them up…too much extra work.

So, I think that is it. Let me know if there are more questions or if I forgot to address something!  :-)

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