Workbox system

As we are gearing up to start the school year, I got a bit more organized by implementing this basic workbox system (idea originally given to me by my friend Suzanne). (There is a whole seminar, book, etc. that goes along with this, but I'm just using the basic idea.)

Here's the idea:

I divide each day's work into small chunks. I put everything Nate needs for his first chunk into the first box: for example, a pencil, eraser, math text, and math workbook marked with which page(s) to complete. He takes the box with him to the table and completes that work. Then he puts everything back into the box, brings it back to the shelf, and puts it back on with "Done!" facing out. Then he moves on to box 2.




In box 3, I will put in a kitchen timer in addition to the box 3 work. Once he's done with the work, he can set the timer for 10 minutes of free play. Then he'll start on box 4, moving the timer down to box 6 to use it again then.

I figure some (most?) days won't fill all 12 boxes, and some days I'll put a "fun" assignment in a box. Other days, we won't be home at all. But from everything I've read, this is a very kid-friendly, mom-friendly homeschooling solution!