Friday, April 3, 2009

Getting Organized with Workboxes!

It's been a week since we started using Sue Patrick's Workbox System, and I thought I'd post some pictures!

She strongly advocates using shoe-box style bins, but we didn't have the space for that, so here's what I opted for instead:



That's in our kitchen! The tower drawers can be easily added to, another plus for me! We have 8 right now, but I think we really need 10-12 to be able to break things down sufficiently, yet still throw in some fun stuff :-). (After all, the fun stuff is what motivates!)

Here's a close-up of the drawers fully loaded and ready to go:



I debated whether to go with the velcro numbers--I was afraid my 12-yo might think they were a little childish. But, since the drawers are not easily-removable like bins would be, and the visual of seeing that work is getting done and being able to tell at a glance where you are & how much is left is an important part of the system. I had to at least try! So I was VERY careful in how I introduced the concept to him. I said, "Wouldn't it be nice if you could just look at the drawers and know without opening a bunch of them where you were working and how much you had left to do?" (Gee, Wally, that sure would be swell!) Well, he was sold then!

Here are the drawers in action:



So here's what they do--As they complete each drawer, they have to turn in any written work to a box on the kitchen table, and return any books or supplies (like their Bible or a reader, or their personal whiteboard markers & erasers for AAS!) to the drawer it came out of. THEN...and ONLY THEN, is that drawer finished. That's when they can remove the numbered velcro sticker and put it on their progress chart for the day--here's Zach's chart in progress:



The charts stay on top of the carts, which conveniently are a divided tray that fit their pencil boxes too.



I chose to put a few extra velcro stickers in 2 of the little boxes. We have stickers for:

Clean room/make bed (they do this before breakfast)
Music Practice
Exercise
Family Service (assigned chores they do each day).

Here are Anna's stickers:



We've had a schedule for years, so this really hasn't enabled us to get more done in less time like it might for some. But I started it because we had occasional missing books, and because the kids would forget to turn in work sometimes (and I would forget to tell them, or I would forget to correct work that day...). So I really like this system for the accountability and organization it's given us, and I'm hoping it will be a good, long-term solution.

All done for the day!


16 comments:

  1. I am wanting to change my workbox system into using drawers like this. I like this idea and my little home has little space and I think we could benefit greatly with this tweek of the workbox system. I was wondering, what size are the drawers? What in paricular do you put in the drawers for a given subject that has books, binders, etc. that may be too big for that drawer to alert them. I was placing all materials needed in the shoebox but I'm thinking not everything may fit in these drawers. Just wondering how you deal with that. :) Thanks always Merry for sharing your ideas and encouraging us with your wise words!

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  2. Hi Melissa,

    I haven't had much trouble with things not fitting but I don't use lots of binders for the kids. I have fit a 1/2" thick binder in, and a 1" binder can fit if it's not one of the ones that's wide enough for tabs not to stick out. The inside dimension of the drawers is 10" X 13 1/4" X 3". I haven't had any books that were too big to fit--Apologia General & Physical science easily fit along with a folder and spiral and room to spare. Their math drawers have the Math-U-See workbook, test book, ruler, protractor, compass, folder & spiral. I don't keep the MUS blocks in there though--my son kept them in his room the 2 years he was using them (pre-alg & algebra), and now my daughter is using them and keeps them on a shelf. For All About Spelling, I keep a box that has their review cards and current book, and they keep a spiral notebook & folder in their drawers. My dd used to use a hand-held whiteboard, and that fit in her drawer too. Since I do that subject with them though, it's not been an issue for me to grab my box while they grab their supplies. My friend who uses workboxes and AAS puts their review boxes on top of their drawers. She does have a big binder (2" or 3" thick) for each student, but I'm not sure if that's on top or somewhere else...I'll have to ask her! I can't think of anything else right now that hasn't fit. I'm hoping to do a post in the next week or two showing what's in all of my kids' drawers. I have seen some people use hanging-file boxes for a drawer-system too--if you have mostly binders and books, that might be an option. Books that weren't too heavy could go in hanging folders, and binders and bigger books could go between. Numbers can stick up on the hanging folders. If you haven't seen pictures of that type of system, you might look at them before you decide for sure. I do really like the drawers though, and they have worked well for us.

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    1. Thanks Merry for the info! I do like the drawers idea but will consider the hanging file folder system too. That's a good idea as well. The workbox system worked great but it just took up too much space for me and my son's notebooks, folders would bend in those shoeboxes. I'm glad to know Apologia's books fit; we do that as well. :) I appreciate the reply and help. Always an exciting time to plan for our next school year and try some new things to make it smoother. Will look forward to more of your post on this subject! Happy workboxing :).

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  3. Yes, when I saw the pictures of the shoebox method, I never liked how everything was bent. My friend was using drawers and that got me hooked!

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  4. Merry, Do you think these:
    http://www.discountofficeitems.com/furniture/filing-storage-accessories/mobile-files-carts/mobile-file-carts-cabinets/advantus-drawer-organizer/p45679.html
    Would work as well as these:
    http://www.staples.com/Staples-10-Drawer-Mobile-Tower/product_484971

    I'd need 3 and that would be a lot of money!
    Thanks

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  5. I'm sure either could work, Pam. The Staples drawers are a little over 1.5" wider, which you might find helpful. Both are about the same length and depth. I'm surprised that the 10 drawer unit is $73, while the 6 drawer unit is only $36: http://www.staples.com/Staples-6-Drawer-Mobile-Organizer/product_809574?externalize=certona#desc_content I actually have the staples drawers, and bought the 6-drawer units. You can take them apart and add more drawers--there's a tab behind each leg that you can press in to detach it and make whatever height of drawers you need. I didn't need them to be mobile, so I ended up taking the wheels off. The top comes off too, and you can just add drawers on top. Anyway, just another option. If you need 10 drawers on each, you'd have to get 5 6-drawer units, which is more than the colored drawers, but not as much as 3 10-drawer units. One final option...Several times in the past, Staples has done a really good sale and offered these drawer sets for half-price. If you don't need them immediately and like that style, you might wait for a sale. (Or maybe companies do sales on the other type too). Happy shopping!

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  6. Well, thanks for the info. I just did some searching and it looks like the discount office one has very poor reviews. I have many other stacking towers similar to the Staples one, so I guess spending the extra $$ will be worth it in the long run. We use file folders in boxes now and they are not working well.

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  7. Hi Pam--wow, thanks for posting that. I've seen a lot of pictures of people using the colored drawers like those but hadn't ever looked into it to see if there were complaints.

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  8. Hi, Merry! I am switching back to workboxes and wanted to see which type you have and where you got them. ;) So, reading the above comments, you bought the 6 tower and added extra drawers? I see that our local Staples has both the 6 and 10 tower, but oh my goodness is that 10 tower pricey! Yikes! The 6 drawer is doable, especially with the option of adding two extras. Thanks, Christy

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  9. Yes--I bought the 6-drawer units & added extra drawers. Staples has changed the design since I bought ours, not sure I like the new one as well--check it out and see what you think. If you do want them, watch for sales--Staples tends to have a half off sale on these, and you can save a lot of $ on them. I've seen them on sale at back-to-school sale time, but also occasionally at other times of years. HTH some!

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  10. Thanks, Merry! Good to know about Staples changing the design. I know that all of our plastic storage carts have chips in various places, so I know I want my next purchase to be sturdy. Thanks for the circle templates! :)

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  11. I haven't had any issues with chipping. I had a friend who had some that she used for her stamping supplies (which do get heavy). She had ones with side supports rather than corner supports, and they really sagged. I think corner supports are more structurally sound, so that's a feature I'd look for. The new Staples ones might be fine, I don't know, I just liked the old ones better. If you do try their new ones, let me know how they hold up.

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  12. Merry, I just wanted to say thank you so much for you posts and all the information you have provided on Workboxes and homeschooling in general! I'm about to embark on year 2 of this adventure, doing 1st grade with my DD. Your information about workboxes has made me excited and anxious to get school underway again instead of dreading the whole ordeal. :) Thanks again!

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  13. Great info. Thanks for the 'over the years' workbox comparison to let us see how they are working for you!

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    1. Glad that was helpful! I thought about changing things up to more of a file-box system since my kids now do almost all of their school in their rooms, and the workboxes are downstairs where we start with Bible and do any one on one subjects. However, when I asked them (now Junior & Freshman in high school), they both wanted to keep the system just as it is.

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