MFW 1st Grade - Workboxes

Hello Everyone!  

I have been inspired by others curiosity to share our workbox system for...

My Father's World 1st Grade - Learning God's Story!!

First off, we LOVE our workboxes.  They're colorful and functional - Yay!!

This is the top of my cart for my 1st grader. I use the wire organizer (walmart) for the Teacher Manual and Student Sheets. Before we started, I put the student sheets in page protectors in a binder. It's handy bc I use a paper clip to attach the Four-Square cards and pieces inside a page protector so I don't have to use more ziploc bags.

 The Oh-Snap bin is from Thirty-One...I sell it so I ordered it and added empty toilet paper rolls inside to divide all her supplies.  

I apologize about the messed up print on the bin in the photo above.  The bins for both of my children are monogrammed with their initials so they don't fight over supplies, and I blurred out Rainbow's initial for privacy.

1st drawer (red): Crayons, glue, pencil sharpeners

 2nd drawer (red): 5 min devo book and her Bible 

(how we all start the day on the couch)

3rd drawer (orange): Math worksheets for the day and a cheap-o dry erase board from the Dollar General that I got for $1...seriously!

(for number of the day activity bc I was wasting a lot of paper on it for the first 9 days...haha!)

4th drawer (orange): Math manipulatives for daily lesson work. 

(We start with Math since its her hardest and she's sharpest right off in the morning)

5th drawer (green): Student workbook for LA/Reading

 6th drawer (green): Whatever science book we are in that week...I add supplies usually the night before for exploration day if they fit. 

(It's Thursday and they still haven't made it in...I'm slacking.)

7th drawer (blue): Drawing with Children book and supplies we're using. Right now, we are starting out with crayola markers and skinny sharpies for drawing. After we make it through the semester....she's getting Prismacolor supplies for Christmas (shhh!).

8th drawer (blue): 2 books for Read-Aloud time...they vary. Sometimes I forget and just let them pick from the bookshelf.  

Since its still summer and the local library has a weekly story-time on Tuesday afternoons, we use that day to return books and check out new ones.  Once summer and weekly story-time ends at the library, we'll probably switch it to Friday's exploration day.

9th and 10th drawers (purple): Extra supplies from the curriculum that we don't use every single day or just aren't using in this section of the curriculum.

So that is our system!  We purchased the deluxe edition and are currently in Week 3 of the curriculum and haven't opened the clock, flash cards, or cd yet. 

 Happy Work-boxing!!!

We Have a BIG Announcement!

This is my official public announcement.......

 

I am leaving my job to homeschool my children.

 

Yes, you read that correctly.  Today was much more difficult that I expected.  My stomach was in knots as I sat at my desk in the office, writing my resignation letter.  Handing the letter to my boss was met with a sigh of sadness.  For me, it was all too bittersweet.  I have a fantastic office job, which I dreamed of all throughout high-school.  I have an amazing boss who has balanced the role of boss and friend with incredible grace.  All my coworkers are like a tight-knit family.  Let's not forget that I get a paycheck, too! 

 

A Season of Change

 

Making the decision to homeschool my children was not the difficult choice. I knew before I ever had kids that my ultimate desire was to homeschool when they came along.  Let's face it...Life happens.  Many mothers do not even have the option to be a stay at home mom.  I have not always had the option.  Alas, do not be fooled into thinking we're swimming in the dough!  We weighed the challenges, crunched the numbers, and are making sacrifices to make this happen.  But it's worth it. 

 

Nurturing a Love of Learning



 

 

Children are always learning.  They're like sponges, soaking up everything around them.  The Bible instructs and commissions parents with the primary responsibility of teaching and disciplining children.  This is my definition of success, my great ministry.  Teaching my kids and raising them in the ways of God is my main mission.  I am not simply preparing them to make it through life. My children are eternal beings and will live forever.  That's what I'm preparing them for.  

 

Let the heads roll.... 

 

Every life-changing decision will be met with criticism.  Friends or family members will have questions and comments tinged with skepticism.  I've decided that it is O.K.  In the past, I've been known to try to justify decisions that we've made.  However, my aim is to please God and do what is best for my family.  My Family.  At this time and in this season, I do not have any doubts that homeschool is God's will for my family.  I will, however, ask for your prayerful support in this time of transition as we embark on this new journey.

 

 

It has only begun.