Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Work boxes Part 2 and other schedules

So I have been busy laminating and cutting.  Today I headed to Wal-Mart to buy more Velcro (I'm still going to need more, but I have enough to get started).  I showed the boys today how the system is meant to work, as they were curious about the cards that are hanging on their desks.  We are technically off of school this week, but I'll be putting them to the test a bit in prep for our first day of school on JUNE 6th.

The strip of Velcro on the bottom of the boxes will hold cards such as time limits, work with mom, subject, and/or group work.  The numbers have a small piece of Velcro also, they will take the number from their card and place it on the box with the number that is there.
(I made group work cards to use with boxes that the boys can work on together).

The help cards on the desk are for them to use to ask for help on  boxes that are meant to be done alone.  The idea is for them to use them sparingly, so they only receive 3; much like life lines on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire!  At this age/grade most of the assignments will be done with me, but I wanted to institute the buttons for C now, because he is one to say he needs help, even when he can do it himself!  So I am hoping to instill a little more independence.
DAILY SCHEDULE FOR CHILD
I also made a morning schedule for Cole, so that he would know what he needs to do each morning and have a VISUAL reminder of it.  I laminated it and hung it on a hook by his bed.
You can get a copy of it here, feel free to adjust it to meet your needs.
(I had to post a pdf version because the word version was not coming up right, if you have problems, feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to email you a word version).  Today was the first day we used it, and it seemed pretty effective, now I need to make one for my 2yo b/c he keeps stealing his brothers.

CLEANING SCHEDULE
Speaking of schedules;  I have instituted a weekly cleaning schedule for myself, using some of Fly Lady's tips of Zone Cleaning and one load of laundry a day...I came up with this schedule for myself.  This is the check list for what to clean each week, and this is the zone cleaning list.  For more information on zone's, click HERE.
I have them all printed off and in sheet protectors on my fridge, so I can mark things off with a dry erase maker each week.  I don't always get everything done, but  I find I am definitely getting more of the deep cleaning done, which has always been my problem.  My house is always picked up and fairly organized...but I wanted it to be CLEAN!!  I do most of my list during quiet/nap time (when the kids cooperate), though first thing in the morning I throw a load of laundry in, and change the sheets if it's sheet day!

I REALLY wish there was an IKEA on this island...I would like some more shallow drawers for the work boxes.   Most of the big ones I think will be used by Z, since his stuff is more bulky.  At this point I have decided they will share a lot of boxes too, as Z likes to participate in our lessons, and C is not old enough yet to do many (if any) of the lessons on his own.  We'll work to that point.  I have typed up a work box schedule for the first week of school for C.  Z's is not much different.  I used this draft from heart of wisdom to get started.  Here is what I came up with.  I'll post picks of the boxes later. One alteration I made for Z is that #1 is a Leapfrog Phonics Toy.

NOTE:  I also added a trampoline tag to their desk, this can used when they feel like they are getting the wiggles and need a break!

3 comments:

  1. Where did you find your shelving unit? I'm in the market for one :)

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  2. Jen! You sound so awesome. I wish we lived closer to each other! Thanks for all your comments on my blog. I can't wait to read more about your homeschooling adventures and hopefully gain some organizational inspiration from you. I am SO not an organized person. Homeschooling will be interesting for us. :D

    P.S. Your tags for help and trampoline time outs are AWESOME! What a great idea. My oldest needs to do more on his own and my middle child needs lots of time to get his wiggles out. We could definitely benefit from something like this!

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  3. Your workbox set up is awesome. Love the IKEA boxes. I plan on using them once my son starts schooling rather than preschool.

    --Rachel visiting from HHH

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