Working with...... Workboxes!

I can not remember how I came across this, as I didn't go searching to find anything to do with organising and planning, however Alhamdulillah I some how stumbled across this video on youtube...

....which then led me to watch this video.....



....which then led me to google and trailing blog after blog after blog......reading and understanding "Workboxes"!!!!

So what are workboxes?

I have to admit, I am really quite excited about this as I am going to put this into action after E'id inshallah as I begin my KS1 work with K (and I'm also going to start working with Z as she is starting to show signs of learning interest alhamdulillah so I think she is ready for a little "formal" work - well as formal as "formal" can be with a soon to be 3 year old inshallah!).

Enough rambling and back to the actual topic of the post!

This is Sue Patricks workbox system, and to summarise it is a revolutionary and innovative method of putting organised structure into the home school learning day inshallah.

What is the workbox?

• The system consists of 12 "workboxes" which are plastic clear shoe boxes placed on a rack / shelf. Each box is numbered 1 - 12.
• In each box you put the days lessons and activities for the child.
•  Also each box should include everything they will need in order to complete the work - so for example text book, scissors, glue, paper, calculator, felt pens etc etc etc....whatever is needed should be there ready!

The child works through the boxes in order, taking each box to their desk / work area to complete.

If the work in the box contains a lesson in which requires parental instruction / teaching, then you would place a "work with mum" card in there too so the child knows to grab your attention. Otherwise, if there is no "work with mum card" then the child knows they can get on and work independently.

Benefits

The benefit in this is that the child can see at the beginning of the day what to expect, they know what is coming next...and they know when work for the day is finished inshallah!

It also helps to encourage the child to work independently - they are not having to wait for us to have a free moment to start them off in between all the juggling we are tasking! They can take their box and get to work, everything is there ready for them!

And maybe most importantly of all....it keeps us organised! We have to make sure we have the work prepared before the day begins ....otherwise there will be no work!

Search Google Images

This is just a simple summery of what workboxes are, and if you search google images you will see so many families have tweaked the system to suit their own families needs - for example rather than using shoe boxes, some have used tray drawers, some box files and some even used gift-paper decorated cereal boxes(to save space) !

I personaly like the shoe box concept as my girls are young, I think they would benefit being able to see everything for the day.

12 boxes seems like allot of boxes to fill with school work!

When I began reading about workboxes, I thought 12 boxes seems crazy! I don't do 12 separate lessons with K each day....no one does!!!!!

However, you don't put 12 separate lessons in the boxes.....

firstly, you can put some fun educational toys, puzzles, games or crafts in a few of the boxes.....so for example maybe box 1, 2 and 3 will have school work you want them to complete, then box 4 will have a world map puzzle (you know the one you never pull down off the shelf!), and then a couple more boxes of school work, then box 7 could have a craft etc etc.

The child can see the fun boxes that they will get to after they complete their work inshallah.

Secondly, as Sue Patrick discusses in her book (yes I bought the ebook!!!!...I'll get to that later!) children often learn better when material / lessons are presented in smaller chunks. So you can divide your lessons over 2 or 3 boxes and even spread them out....thus making it more digestible to your little youngster inshallah!

Google " Sue Patricks workbox system" and you will find literally hundreds of homeschooling blogs all talking about this (although most are all American Christan home schoolers!).

All the blogs out there explain the system much better than I have....they all include photos too which makes it easier to understand.

If you go direct to Sue Patricks site here - there is a little information about the system here, however I found reading blogs who were using the system at home provided allot more information and understanding of how the concept works.

Sue Patricks Book

You can buy Sue Patricks book or ebook on her site....

 .... after trailing tens of blogs I didn't think I needed to buy the book to be able to implement the system, as like I said, many of the blogs include detailed explanations, pictures and even printables to label your boxes and schedule strips to get you started.

However, after a couple of days of debating what type of workbox would work best for us (the shoe boxes or drawers) I decided to take the plunge and purchase the ebook. I'm glad I did! I found it quite valuable reading alhamdulillah. (I will just stress that although Sue Patrick is a Christian and occasionally talks about Bible Study, the workbox system is completely secular as is what she writes in her book about the other educational points she discusses).

She has some good educational ideas and understanding of how children best learn....well I thought so anyway although I didn't agree with completely everything! She has some great teaching / learning ideas to impliment which she disscusses to help children digest and retain information.....thus understanding!

After reading her book, I am really excited about implementing this system in our home school inshallah. I feel my eyes have been opened to children's learning processes and I can't wait to start inshallah.

Inshallah it should keep me on my toes and be prepared and planned .....I have to fill the workboxes ready for each new day so I will have to be planned and organised....exactly what I needed!!!!#

Once I've completed my set up I'll post some pics inshallah and update as we start implementing the system inshallah.......I just hope this isn't going to be one of those things I "give up on" because I really do see allot of potential in working this way!

Search google and read more experienced reviews......I found quick way to filter out all the junk from the actual home schooling blogs was to google image, and click into the blogs through the images. (most of the images were from blogs).



Bath time fun with craft foam!

I would love to claim innovative credit for this idea, but alas the spark of genius did not come from me! I found this bath time picture game on handmade beginnings, you can see the post here 

All you need is the cheap craft foam and a pair of scissors! Cut up shapes to use in the bath - when the foam is wet it sticks to the tiles.

I made these using left over foam I had from a previous activity, so hope to buy some more at the weekend so I can make some more creative shapes inshallah!

I did draw onto the foam using permanent marker to write some words I thought K could use to make up sentences, however as soon as the foam was up on the tiles and the water started running off the foam....the pen ink came along with it- leaving not so lovely grey lines running down into the bath....quickly got the bleach out!

Maybe it was just the type of pen I used.....there must be water resistant pens around surely????

Good Deed Tree

Last year we made a small A3 size "Good Deed Tree", but after seeing friends efforts with their own trees MashAllah I thought this year we'd go up to A2. (one friend made one using 2x A2 sheets taped together....so that's A1 right? and another friend made a huge tree running up her wall MashAllah!).

Each time they perform a "good deed" they get a leaf to stick on the tree...sometimes I write what they have done on the leaf (if it is something extra-special) or for the other general and common good actions I will just leave it blank. They stick the leaves up themselves, which they really enjoy doing MashAllah.

I really have found the tree to be of great value to the kids....and myself to be honest! We are quick to point out, correct and discipline them when they misbehave, but are a bit less "alert" when it comes to the small good things which they do, the little deeds which tend to go un-noticed.....like picking something up without having to be asked ten times, or remembering to say a dua'a in a situation without a reminder and even playing nicely together without any squabbling!

The girls are noticing that I am praising them more in recognition for the "good" behaviour and actions they are exerting, rather than just gaining recognition for the misbehaviour's! And I have to admit, its encouraging them to avoid behaving in a non-pleasing manner and act with more goodness and kindness ta barak Allah, alhamdulillah!

I think this is a lesson to me....although we won't continue with the tree after Ramadan, I should make more effort to show appreciation and give them due credit for the good which they do inshallah.

Home made Ramadan banner

A "Ramadan" banner, again just to help the girls appriciate the Ramadan mood (they are young, 2 and 5). We glittered the letters yesterday and cut out, before sticking onto the moon / star sheets today. Taping string at the back ready to hang.

I tried to get as close to the banner as I can without clipping the letters .....most of this picture seems to be our kitchen table!!!!



Ramadan calander chain



This is a quick, simple and fun activity I did with K earlier today - A paper chain, each chain representing one day of the month of Ramadan (total 30 chains).

K wrote the numbers 1 - 30 on each link (good number sequence and writing practice) whilst I stapled them together. Once completed, we tacked it to the wall, ready to remove one link each day inshallah.

By the end of Ramadan there will be no links left inshallah, and the kids know it will be E'id inshallah!

This is great as it helps K to understand the concept of a "month" and its duration, and also stops her bugging me every day asking "when is it E'id, when is it E'id?????" because she can count the remaining days herself inshallah!

A variation on this activity, is rather than having a complete 30 day chain at the beginning of Ramadan, instead start with 1 link, adding a new link to the chain each day, so that by the end of Ramadan you will have a decoration ready for E'id.

I prefer removing a link each day though rather than adding links to the chain, as I think it helps them to visualise how long the month is (as they have the 30 day chain as the beginning point).

I also like it as a small decoration marking the beginning of Ramadan as it helps the children get into the Ramadan mood inshallah, especially as they are so young.

Jolly Phonics Alternative Spellings of Vowels

When I begun homeschooling K back in January, she couldn't read and I had no idea how I would teach her! I found the task of teaching to read and write extremely daunting and did not know where to start!

Alhamdulillah for the Jolly Phonic programme! We purchased the Jolly Phonic finger books which go through all the main letter sounds (including some blends) as well as "The Phonics Handbook" (from jolly phonics - written by Sue Lloyd) Within a couple of months K went from not even knowing all the alphabet letter sounds to being able to read simple early reader books alhamdulillah! (we still need alot of reading practice though naturally!) My husband has been doing the Jolly Phonics work with her mainly before he goes to work in the morning straight after breakfast (when we are all up and ready on time!).

Anyway, back to the actual reason of this post, which is the book pictured above.

The Jolly Phonics programme explains that there are different ways to spell the vowel letter sounds, for example "A" can be spelt in words as "ai" "a_e" or "ay". Last week I attempted a worksheet from the handbook showing alternative spellings for the "A" sound. K had a melt down! She didn't want to do it, made a complete mess of the worksheet and to be honest, it ended up going in the bin!...what did she learn...nothing!

However this is a lesson I really want her to have as I think it is important, so what I have done is stick the 9 worksheets explaining the alternative vowel sounds into a home-made scrap book simply made using A3 coloured sugar paper folded into A4 - using colours she likes, pink and purple (and had to use blue as wasn't enough!)

 On one side of the double sheet I have stuck down the worksheet ready to complete inshallah. The other side I have left empty. Here I will ask K to write each of the different spellings for each sound onto a heart shape I have already cut out. Then I will give her some felt tip pens or maybe some glitter which she can use to decorate the heart sounds before sticking them onto the empty page inshallah beside the worksheet.

I will let K choose what colour hearts she wants to use for each sound spelling....she loves hearts so I hope this will encourage her inshallah.

For the front cover (pictured at the top of the post) I just wrote a title and selected an image from clip art.



Here are a couple of K's completed pages.....



Montessori addition

I want to give K a good sense and understanding of numbers before I move onto other mathematics principals. As obviously, understanding numbers is the fundamental foundation to understanding maths! (or so I assume anyway!?!?! lol)

I have however, been introducing addition. Here is a simple practical lesson we did which doesn't involve any writing to solve the equations.

We have a box of simple addition sums (the largest answer is 19 or 20), which the child selects and places on the mat. She then takes the corresponding beads (or any other counter can be used, for example buttons, sticks, bottle tops...anything!) for each number in the addition and places them beside the equation. After counting the beads, adding the 2 numbers together, she finds the answer card and places next to the equation.

Although we purchased the set of sums from an online Montessori store, it is easy to make (I just really couldn't be bothered  to do all the cutting and laminating!). You could easily just write / print off the simple sums, and separately write / print the answers 2-20 and store them in an envelope for example.

Its a nice practical lesson, which avoids the need for writing the answers .....or a good introduction to simple sums before using the pencil to write them.

Z who was playing with the beads while K did her lesson, also wanted me to take a photo of her work the same as her big sister! So this is Z's efforts (she is 2).....

Montessori dressing stand...Homemade!

I think the Montessori concept of "dressing frames" is a good one....to allow a young child to play with various clothing fastenings like buttons, zips, poppers etc because it will aid them in their learning to dress themselves inshallah....and kids love opening and closing things!

However, the cost of purchasing these frames is outstanding! I think I remember a set of 3 cubes (so each cube having 6 sides....6 different fastenings) costing £199 and that didn't include 20% tax which is added at the checkout!

I made a single dressing frame for £1 yesterday alhamdulillah, using an old shirt and a photo frame from the pound shop!

I used up an old shirt because I just wanted to see basically if this would work using a photo frame or not. Alhamdulillah it did, so  I hope to make some more child-appealing looking dressing frames inshallah with brighter colours and patterns etc.

Here is how I did it......

I took out the glass and board, leaving just the wooden frame. (I've kept the glass aside...thinking I'm sure one day it will come in use for some sort of craft project inshallah!....agh I have just thought of something....window painting/glass painting! hurray!

Then roughly framed the area of the shirt I wanted and cut out - leaving a wife gap to allow the fabric to be pulled over the frame sides.

 Next, I folded over the top and bottom edges and stitched down to neaten

although I didn't take a picture- I folded the sides over the frame and sewed down, leaving what is shown above, the finished item (poppers closed)

This is the frame with the poppers opened. (picture also upside down!)





life cycle of a butterfly

Today we completed our lesson on the life cycle of a butterfly. Yesterday we watched a couple of video clips on youtube showing the life of a butterfly from the egg.
Then we did a couple of worksheets, the first a simple colour-in sheet showing the life cycle, followed by a cut and stick - arranging each stage of the life of a butterfly in order and finally another cut and stick, cutting butterfly halves and matching them up (which also served as a 1st introduction into symmetry!).

Today, we made a large poster display to stick up on the wall, showing each stage from egg to butterfly. We made an egg out of a small piece of playdoh, a Caterpillar out of scrunched up tissue paper which we stuck down with pva, a cocoon with wool stuck with pva (the glue still has not dried almost 12 hours later!) and the butterfly with paint.

ahlen wa sahlen! Welcome!

Asalaamu alaikum,

Innal hamdulillaah! All praise is indeed due to Allaah. We praise him and we seek his assistance, and we seek refuge with him from the evils of our souls and actions. Whosoever Allaah guides then none can misguide him, whomsoever Allaah misguides then none can guide him. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah having no partners and I also bear witness that Muhammad sallaahualihiwasallam is Allaah's slave and Messenger.

To proceed,

After spending countless hours trailing through blog after blog, trying to make sense of homeschooling, I found that these blogs written by complete strangers had helped me tremendously in making my decision to homeschool. Alhamdulillah. These blogs continue to inspire me, giving much needed ideas to use with my own children.
I've decided to document my experiences in order to share what we do in our home school, inshallah. Perhaps what I can share may benefit some one else, just as others have benefited me.

Also, it is a great way to store all my plans and ideas (in some sort of organised fashion!) ready to resuse with my younger children inshallah!