An official review of Sue Patrick’s Workboxes. You guys know I’ve been using workboxes for a while now. Having had time to ‘chew on it’, shall we say, I thought this would be a great opportunity to recap my first impressions and give an update on our use of the system.
If you remember, way back in early May, I first discovered the firestorm called Workboxes. It seems the whole online homeschool community was alit with new organizing passion. Well, being anti everything organized I obviously had to know what all this was about. So I stuck my nose in, bought an ebook and learned new ways to keep school on track and fun for all.
The Workbox system is delivered in an ebook manual for $19.00. Sue’s website offers many of the items needed for the system already printed and made up for you, but you may choose to make your own from the instructions in the manual. Take a look at those here. Bloggers all over the internet have also offered their own ‘spin’ on many of the essential pieces.
Fast forward five months and what do workboxes look like at my house? Well honestly, they’re pretty disorganized. I’m a very unorganized person and have not disciplined myself to use Sue Patrick’s system the way it is designed. It’s a great system! Don’t get me wrong, but it does require commitment, just like anything else. When we have a workbox day, school definitely goes smoother. We tend to finish early and the kids usually have fun with it. (Though, they’ve discovered my ruse of putting the boring things before the fun things to get them done with less complaining! lol )
Scheduling of any kind, in my opinion, will make everything run smoother and that is the heart of Sue Patrick’s Workboxes. Predictability in the system teaches as well as comforts the child, giving them confidence to accomplish whatever task is set before them. They have a basic model or pattern to work with. It really does make all the difference. The ebook written for the system goes into much more detail than just the set up of a Workbox system. That’s why the manual really is an important tool to have when you decide to try workboxes for yourself. The why’s behind the plan, ideas, tips and explanation abound in the ebook are worth taking a look at. Ms. Patrick is very adamant about doing Workboxes exactly as prescribed in the book. I personally, say “give it a shot”. Definitely start out with Sue’s way. But as you know, every homeschool is different and what will be perfect for one, will not be so great for another. So after you’ve given it a few weeks and you’ve identified what areas you know you can improve, go ahead and change it. You’ll love workboxes even more then.