Workbox Wednesday

This post has been in my drafts for a few months, but I never got around to finishing it. Although the school year has ended, I thought I'd go ahead and post it for those getting ready for the fall (raising my hand)! Only 10 weeks till school starts! (;

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I've been wanting to get back to posting here, so I thought I'd start with a Workbox Wednesday post. We have been using workboxes for a few years now, and they are working well for our homeschool.

Every night (or sometimes after school if I have time), I refill the boxes with the activities. It takes me about 15-20 minutes. Most of them are the kids' Abeka lessons/worksheets, but I throw a "fun box" activity in there every once in a while. Sometimes I will put in an similar activity that is not Abeka (like a different worksheet or a file folder game) just to change it up a bit. (: I like using workboxes because it breaks up the work into short activities instead of just giving them a long list of things to do. My 9 year old especially likes this system because it is not so overwhelming, and he can just take it one box at a time.

Katelyn (2nd grade) has four boxes, and Zachary (4th grade) has eight boxes. I doubled up on Katelyn's boxes because she said eight was too many. LOL. It works better this way anyway since we do her four boxes (work with mom) while Zachary does his first four which are independent activities. Then after lunch, Zach does his four "work with mom" boxes (lessons I have to teach him). Katelyn usually plays with my four year old, Luke, to keep him occupied while I work with Zach. I do school with Luke as well, but it is only about 3 days a week, and it is very play oriented and not structured enough for workboxes yet.

Okay, well, I will start with Katelyn's boxes...

Box #1: Abeka Math- Lesson and worksheet

Box #2: Abeka Phonics and Language- Lesson and worksheet- She is actually almost done with 2nd grade Phonics and Language. For the rest of the year, I think we will just review things she's learned, and maybe do more creative writing.

Box #3: Abeka Cursive Test and Reading- I am alternating between cursive and manuscript with the kids' penmanship papers right now. I noticed that after doing cursive for a while, their printing was suffering. So now we practice both!

Box #4: Abeka Spelling- She is also studying for a spelling bee later this month. She is a bit nervous about it, but I think it will be good for her, and hopefully she will enjoy it. Her words are a bit hard for her, but she is a very good speller and I'm sure she will do fine. *Update* Katelyn got third place in her level at the spelling bee!!

Now for Zach's boxes...

Box #1: Abeka Math- Oh goody, it's test day!! (;

Box #2: Abeka Cursive worksheet- I put in a letter formation guide for reference as well.

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Box #3: Abeka Science worksheet- Zachary and Katelyn do Abeka 3 Science, History and Health together, but I don't always have Katelyn do all the worksheets and tests since it is still a bit above her grade and comprehension level. It is just easier to have them do it together and she is still learning alot, but I will probably have to teach them separately next year.

Box #4: Independent Reading/Reading Comprehension/Creative Writing- this is a catch-all workbox for any type of reading or writing activity. He does his Abeka reading in a "work with mom" box. I like to put worksheet pages in page protectors and use dry erase markers to write with. It saves money since I can reuse my workbooks and printed pages. I don't do this for the Abeka worksheets though, since I like to keep some of their work for my yearly files.

Box #5: Abeka Math Lesson and worksheet

Box #6: Abeka Language Lesson and workbook

Box #7: Abeka Reading- He reads out loud to me. I try to get inexpensive copies of each of the books (from ebay or garage sales) so I can follow along in my own book as he reads. I also read aloud to him, either from his Abeka book or from one of our own books. He is actually doing the third grade readers right now because although he has the ability to read at a 4th grade level (and beyond), his interest is more on a 3rd/4th grade level. I noticed that he has better comprehension on this level as well. I don't worry so much about him finishing the Abeka readers since he does so much reading from his own collection of books, but we still try to read the Abeka readers a few times a week.

Box #8: Abeka Spelling- He is also studying for a spelling bee this month. He is a great speller and I think he will do well. We will see! Either way, I'm sure he will have fun! *Update* Zachary also got third place in his level at the spelling bee!
                                     
 As for the "fun" activities I put in the boxes, usually I will just add the fun item to the corresponding subject box to go along with the lesson, but sometimes I will substitute it for the lesson itself. Some examples are Brain Quest, Spelling City, Math Bingo games, file folder games, art projects, musical instrument time, etc.

Next year, I will have to set up something for my Kindergartner too! Can't believe all three of them will be doing school full time!