1st Week of School 2009

We began school Sept. 14, the Monday after Greg and I got back from Switzerland. I did spend parts of 3 days the previous week getting the kids oriented to using the workbox system. Anyway, our first day was very exciting for the kids, and the whole week went very well. The workbox system is amazing, and I'm so glad we found it! The only problem I'm having is that the activities we do in between boxes seem to just lengthen the day for Isaac. It works really well for Moriah since she's in Kindergarten, as she doesn't have as much work to do. Isaac likes having the activities to look forward to, but I'm having to require more boxes to be finished before he does them--just makes the day too long for him when activities are added to his twelve 3rd-grade level subjects. I'm not sure about how to work it all out. Here are some 1st day pictures, pictures of the kids working throughout the week, and workbox system in action!

Dance CD

One thing that Sue Patrick (Workbox System) highly recommends is investing in a treadmill and having your children use it daily for exercise. Unfortunately, we have neither the money nor the space for a treadmill, though I'd love to have one. However, I understand the necessity of daily exercise for children, so I'm planning to include some type of exercise in their daily schedule. I do have a walking video, and we also have a trampoline--both good ways to exercise. I thought one more fun way to exercise should be included for variety, so I decided to make my own dance CD for the kids. I spent several hours on amazon.co.uk searching for the exact songs I wanted. Finally I found, purchased, and downloaded 21 wonderful songs! The kids absolutely love them! Here's my list, in case you want to purchase these songs yourself...I think they're great!

1. Hoe Down (Carmen Dragon/Capitol Symphony Orchestra)
2. Zorba the Greek (Theme) (The Complete Movie Soundtrack Collection)
3. Dueling Banjos (Eric Weissberg & Deliverance)
4. Spanish Gipsy Dance (Graham Dalby and the Grahamophones)
5. Spanish Flea (Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass)
6. Bittersweet Samba (Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass)
7. Limbo Rock (The Hit Co.)
8. Mexican Hat Dance (The Hit Crew)
9. The Hamster Dance (The Hit Crew)
10. Kibbutz Wedding (The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra)
11. La Bamba (Single Version) (Ritchie Valens)
12. Charleston (Sam Levine)
13. Russian Dances (Samovar Russian Folk Music Ensemble)
14. Popcorn (Hot Butter)
15. The Pink Panther Theme (Henry Mancini & His Orchestra)
16. Theme From Happy Days (Soundtrack & Theme Orchestra)
17. The Theme From "A Summer Place" (Single Version) (Percy Faith & His Orchestra)
18. The Bunny Hop (Bugs Bower)
19. Rock-in Robin (Bobby Day)
20. Country Boy Bounce (Instrumental) (Little Jimmy Dickens & The Country Boys)
21. Virginia Reel (Workout Mix) (Haud Yer Lugs Ceilidh Band)

I put them in a different order than listed above, and I included Pink Panther and Summer Place as "cool-down" songs since they're slower-paced.

Here are a few pics of the kids dancing:


Mexican Hat Dance


Uh-oh, someone's after the "Mexican" hat!

Mexican Hat runs away!

More Workbox Prep

Nearly everyone I follow on blogger has already started school! I'm in England, so our school doesn't start until September, so I'm still preparing. I've finished our schedule strips and activity cards! Some of the activity cards I got from Jolanthe at Homeschool Creations...thanks! I also made some of my own to fit with what we're doing, and then I'm using some that came with Sue Patrick's Workbox System.

What is the Workbox System?

I'll be posting more pictures and info in the future on how we use our workboxes. Please click on my "workbox system" under my blog topics to see all my blogs on this subject. The workbox system was created by Sue Patrick. Here's a video that explains more:

Sue Patrick's Workbox System

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Workbox System

Here it is at last! I finally have pictures of my workbox system...stations, I'm calling it. Isaac's is the top 12 boxes, with yellow numbers. Moriah's is the bottom 12, with pink numbers. I put the shelves together myself (come on, be impressed!), and the kids are very excited about them--I'M excited! Already, the workboxes are helping me get organized, and school hasn't started yet. I'm busy typing up schedules for each subject, and I'm using the workboxes to help me out. I can see at a glance which subjects I still have left to plan and schedule! Even Gabriela is interested in the boxes...I'll have to come up with few tubs for her use I guess! As soon as everything is in place, I'm going to let the kids practice using their workboxes, with summer holiday activities of course. I still need to buy more Velcro to finish the schedule strips, and I need to come up with some learning centers and poster activities. I'm going to make a list of activities that I can include on their schedule strips. Maybe I'll post that list when I get it organized!

Prep Time

We just finished school a few weeks ago, and I'm already working hard to get things ready before school starts again in September! I have most of what I need to get my workbox system going. I can't get my new shelves up until I get rid of the piano, so my 24 workboxes are waiting, neatly stacked!



I've been printing off forms and laminating stuff. I have finished the clock in/clock out pockets for the kids. This is supposed to help them to realize that when they clock in, school has started! When they finish all 12 boxes, they can clock out and have free time. They seem very excited about using this system this fall!




Another idea I got from Sue Patrick's Workbox System is a chores chart. I made my own for each of the kids. Isaac's is decorated with cars and Moriah's with kittens. Each chart has a pocket for special chores. I have the special chores pictured on craft sticks and stored in a ducky cup. Believe it or not, they're excited about these charts too! I used brass fasteners so that they can rotate the checkmarks when they finish each chore.









I'll put more pictures up as I get the workbox system in place!