Workboxes

We homeschool using the Robinson Curriculum.  When I first read about workboxes, I didn't think they would help us much since RC is a 3R curriculum.  However, I have discovered that it really helps keep things on track for our kids with no excuses about what is/isn't done. 

We have 4 kiddos - 6(K), 7(1st), 9(4th) and 11(5th). For the two youngest, I actually have the Sterilite "shoeboxes". The 6yo has 8 boxes (sounds like a lot, but isnt). The extra boxes are mainly to keep her busy so she isn't distracting the other kids.

1 Box has math(counting,number recognition) activities - done with Grandpa,
1 box has writing activities - done alone,
1 box has reading(phonics) activities - done with Dad (Dad tag on box)
1 box has math (more counting or addition) activities - done with Dad (Dad tag on box)
1 box has fun (playdoh, bendaroos, coloring, etc) - done alone
1 box has an educational computer game (Reader Rabbit, JumpStart) - done alone
1 box has random "school stuff" matching,phonics, etc - done alone
1 box has a game (Zingo, computer, puzzle etc) - done alone

The 7 yr old has 5 boxes - done alone except as noted
1 box has math (flashcards for review with Grandpa and Saxon 54) - done mostly alone but occasional help from Dad
1 box has reading (current book)
1 box has writing (McGuffey reader and writing notebook)
1 box has fun (varies from tangrams, to puzzle workbook to computer game, etc)
1 box has piano books

The 9 and 11 yr olds have a cardboard mailbox from Office Depot and a business card holder for a 3 ring binder (like baseball card holders).

In the mailbox, each section is labeled (GodTime, Math, Reading, Writing, Vocab, and "Box 1"-I'll explain later) and the boys keep their stuff for each subject in the section. In the business card holder, I have a card with their Name (so they know who's is whose), God Time, Math, Writing, Reading, Vocab, Music, and Box 1. As they complete each task, they pull the card out and put it backwards in another pocket. When all their tasks are done, all you can see is their name and a white card. I hung these on our fish tank which sits at the end of our dinner table. That way, when I come home and sit down for dinner, I know immediately whether the boys are done or not. The girls usually tell me before I'm 10 feet in the door that they are done.

Box 1 is just something extra and fun I give the boys. Tangrams, Alice computer programming  http://www.alice.org/, an electricity project kit, learn to draw, build a rocket, etc. Since it changes every day, I couldn't really give it a name - hence Box 1. On occassion, if they need extra work on something (capitalization, grammar, etc), I'll put that work in there.