Internet Troubles

We've been having modem issues.  The tech can't figure out what the issue is.  All we know is that the internet is here but the modem keeps resetting over and over again.  It's on at the moment but will no doubt be off again soon.  The tech is coming over to replace the exterior line.  Hopefully I'll get internet long enough to upload some photos and make a proper blog post soon.

The Setup

 If you Google workboxes you'll find a lot of different setups.  The official setup is laid out in Sue Patrick's Workbox System.  It calls for 12 plastic shoe boxes per student set up on a shoe rack.  A lot of people prefer the look of Ikea's Trofast storage system but it's expensive and I'd have to have it shipped at an even greater expense.

So I did what many workbox users do. I customized the system.  I felt the shoeboxes were too small and I didn't want twelve bins.  Limey was commissioned to build me a shelving unit, which I filled with dishpans from Dollarama.

How does the system work?  First off, the bins get numbered 1-10.  The numbers are attached with velcro and as the bins are completed in order, the number gets transferred to a laminated grid.

I have twelve squares per child and only 10 bins.  On the first and last bin, I've added an extra button.  The first lists the morning routine and the second says clean up.  After that, the rest of the day is free to do whatever we want.

What do you put in the bins?  Whatever you want.  For younger kids, lots of play oriented stuff.  If you are more classical then curriculum for each subject.   You can put in a book to read, play doh, sand toys, worksheets to complete, dvd's to watch etc.  Whatever you put in the bin, try to put in everything that is needed to complete the task.  For example, if it's colouring you want done, then you'd add the page to be coloured and the crayons.  If it's a science experiment, you'd put in the lesson and whatever materials the child needs to do the experiment.  Obviously some things aren't going to fit in the bins and they'll have to retrieve them.  

The bin setup and chart allows your kids to see exactly what they need to do and how much they have left to do.  It also allows them to do stuff independently without waiting for you to set it up for them.   

For our system, I'm also incorporating activity or busy bags.  For crafts, Think! challenges and misc fun stuff, I've already assembled the items for the next 3 months into Ziploc bags.  I filled a box with the bags and they get added to the bins at night along with the rest of the following day's work.   

So that's the gist of it.  More information is out there on workboxes.  Lots of bloggers are using this system and blogging about it.  We'll be starting this on Monday and will post more about it then.  

Workboxes

I've been scouring the internet for workbox activities and here's my list so far.  Add to it in the comments.


marshmallow toothpick geometry
tangrams
cursive worksheets
geoboards
colouring pages
books (chapters marked with coloured paper clips)
crafts
card games
word search
mad libs
creative writing worksheets
cup of change to count
ruler and things to measure
Play Doh
jigsaw puzzles
yoga poses (printed on individual cards and laminated)
virtue lessons (printed on individual cards and laminated)
pasta or beans with cups and spoons
board games
nature study lessons

An Executive Decision

After a bit of a break and some consideration, I've decided to ditch the public school year in favour of year round schooling.  What this means for us is that we'll continue to take breaks here and there as we need them and the next grade's curriculum will be started when the kids are ready instead of waiting for fall.

We had a huge break in December and another in March.  In public school this would mean the students would be quite behind in their studies.  For my homeschooled Dd1, she finished all our curriculum plans back in February.  So I'm just getting things accumulated and the curriculum written.  I'm hoping to start them all up again in two weeks.

For both girls I'm implementing a workbox system.  With three kids and a micro farm, it can get crazy around here.  As a result we often skip out on some of the non-essential fun stuff (usually arts and crafts)because we just don't get to it.  I'm hoping the workboxes will help with that.   It should also give me a break from the kids complaining about being bored.

Preschool

I looked at a lot of different preschool programs but of course I didn't like any of them 100% Lol, not even 75%  So I've decided to write my own.  This one is going to be letter of the week style.  In addition to the workboxes I've been reading up on activity bags.  For each craft in the preschool curriculum, I've bagged up the supplies needed along with a small picture and brief description of what to do.  That way if Dd2 pulls out a craft to do while I'm busy doing something else, she can get started on it without me.


Grade 2


Science-I was going to buy a microscope and start on Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding Volume 2.  However, I don't think Dd1 is ready for it just yet.  It is a much more advanced and meaty book than the first.  Instead, we're going to go through all the experiments in 101 Great Science Experiments and reassess when we're done.

Canadian history.  My plan for history hasn't changed much since I last blogged about it.

Geography- We're going to do a brief unit on maps and then switch to world cultures.    For each country we study, I've accumulated a list of documentaries, books, and web sites to check out.  We'll also celebrate some different holidays, eat regional foods and participate in traditional pastimes.

Math-She's almost done Math Mammoth 2A and will be moving on to 2B soon.

Language Arts-More reading and Winning With Writing Volume 2.  Will also be doing spelling copy work.

French- copy work

Cursive-worksheets

Art-biweekly drawing practice

Think! Challenges-These are so cool.  On the blog there are a bunch of challenges listed.  Each one calls for a specific set of items and instructions to make something with it.  For example;


Use the following materials to build a water wall:

a 4 x 4 foot piece of wood
2 feet of pvc piping
10 paper or plastic cups
10 straws
6 index cards (can be laminated if you want)
duct tape
4 nails
2 items of your choiceYou may use a hammer and permanent sharpies as well. Be careful. Have fun. Get wet!




That's the bulk of it.  I have a list of other schoolish stuff and fluff to go in the workboxes which I'll list in another post.  

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

  

It's that time of the week again.

1. The rules are pretty straight forward.
2. Anyone can participate.
3. Try to take 5 new photos during the week of the challenge, however, you can use one from your archive if you get desperate.
4. Link up over here on Sunday (or Tuesday at the latest)
5. Leave comments for at least five entries around yours.

Here are the words from the past week.

New

Life

Fragrant

Pink

Obvious

New

Life

Battery died so I had to take this out of my archives.  Lemon verbena is very fragrant.

Love these pink tights.

Obviously it's not spring.

This week's words are

Simple
Grain
Transportation
Stitch
Bubble(s)

Pirate Party

Message in a bottle.

Could not find a cardboard box anywhere.  The dining table had to do.

At each spot on the map, the kids collected a piece of their pirate costume.

Treasure!

Fish in chips in a newspaper hat.

A fight to the death!

Limey proves to be a multi-tasker.

The Big 4

It's always surprising to watch your kids grow older. Dd2 turns 4 this week. She's morphed from a grumpy, projectile vomiting baby to a cute, goofy and sweet little girl. She has a wild imagination and makes everyone laugh with the crazy ideas she comes up with.

Happy Birthday monkey!

A Morning Walk

It was warm this morning so we took a little nature walk around the property.  I took a few photos along the way.

Found some duck eggs.

Of course Tootsie had to come with us.

Budding trees.

A nice open view.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

  

It's that time of the week again.

1. The rules are pretty straight forward.
2. Anyone can participate.
3. Try to take 5 new photos during the week of the challenge, however, you can use one from your archive if you get desperate.
4. Link up over here on Sunday (or Tuesday at the latest)
5. Leave comments for at least five entries around yours.

Here are the words from the past week.


Clouds
Sun flare 
Seven
High Angle
Low Angle

This is from my archive.  No other cloud picture I take is as awesome as this one.

Sun was missing in action this week.  Here's my very first sun flare. 

I had trouble with this one.  Finally decided on dominoes for seven.

High angle-Playing with his little cars.

Low angle.  Couldn't pick just one. Gobble, gobble!

This week's words are

New
Life
Fragrant
Pink
Obvious