How do I meet my older students' needs while still maintaining the structure and organization workboxes have helped me achieve?
I have to admit I've really enjoyed our workfolders. It has kept me from rummaging through piles of papers to find lessons for the day at the last minute. But now we're using curriculum that doesn't necessarily need the workfolders.
So, you may be wondering why I am posting about workboxes.
Well surprise, surprise I have another version of "workboxes" that will meet our needs, and I think my older student will absolutely love the idea. There is the organization for me and the independence my son needs, and accountability is built right in.
My son is online quite a bit doing research, typing papers, putting together power point presentations, and the majority of his curriculum is online also. So I thought why not utilize some online resources for workboxes and make my son's day more time effective? I even use an online planner so it only makes sense to create a worbox system online.
I've also been trying to eliminate the paper piles from my home. After realizing most of it was school papers such as schedules, assignment sheets, worksheets, and printables, I decided enough was enough.
Also, it was about this time my son asked if he could have his own email. Now the thought of him having his own email scares me to death. My instant response was, "NO WAY!"
But, the more I thought about it the more I realized my son is growing up. Sooner or later I'm going to have to loosen the apron strings {a little} or he will bust through them giving me whiplash. With many agreements and promises from my son we took the plunge into setting up his email.
Now, this method is not completely a new one. I read about something similar to my idea on another homeschooling mom blog who has been emailing her student a weekly schedule. All the subjects and lessons are included in the email, and the student is allowed to work at their own pace. If there are any problems, questions, or help needed the student is able to email mom, or if there is an immediate issue mom is available to assist the student. This mother also was still using the typical workboxes though. Every night she was still filling workboxes and sending emails instead of spending quality time with her husband.
How is my method different? Instead of sending my son a full weekly schedule in just one email I put each lesson for the day in individual emails. In the subject of each email I put which workbox or subject it is identifying the order in which they should be completed, or my son can choose which subject he would like to complete and when.
I'll include links to our resources, detailed instructions, and as much information as my son will need to proceed with each lesson. I'm also able to generate my own worksheets, tests or quizzes and attach any or all documents to the emails for him.
As my son works through each "workbox" he may attach power point presentations, documents, and/or completed worksheets I have sent him, then he just forwards the "workbox" back to me. At the end of the day I should have all the "workboxes" in my inbox to look over and grade if necessary.
I then utilize my Homeschool Day Book by inputting information about the completed lessons, and immediately prepare "workboxes" for the next day. This also makes it easy for me to put together a portfolio online, or later I can print certain documents to put in a portfolio to present to him at the end of the quarter or year.
Wa la, no more unnecessary paper piles (love saving trees), my son thinks I am a Hip Homeschool Mom, and there are no more disagreements about using workboxes.
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