Even before school started, I knew my biggest challenge this year was going to be figuring out how to keep two (and sometimes three) people busy with schoolwork, not with busy work, while I either worked with another child or completed some other daily-mommy/homemaker duty. I have been forever putting this same schedule on a spreadsheet (can’t get enough of Excel), but finally moved the idea to a school sheet that the children could use and follow themselves. Voila! The Independent binder.
There is nothing more to say (but I will anyway) other than it has been a success with the children and a burden/stress reliever for me. I have set up River and Lily using the independent binders with River having a little bit more independent work included in his binder because of his ability to complete more work alone . As the year progresses, I expect to be able to add a few more subjects to Lily’s binder.
How I use the binder is I plan the material to be covered each week in all of their subjects. Some of the subjects included in the binders are also ones I cover with them, but there is other work in these subjects they can complete on their own, and that is what goes into the binder. Using the daily listings as a guide, I put together all of the material that will be used in the binder for the week. Although I do this, I still fill the binders everyday for each subject. Right now, our work is too daily specific where working ahead does not work well for us.
I found these really cool plastic folders at an office supply store. Each folder has three pockets of only two we use for now.
They also easily pop out of the binders without me having to open the binder rings and pull out the folder. I can slip in a new subject folder at anytime or easily remove one we don’t need for the day or the week. For now, I just leave it empty if there is no work for them in that subject for the day.
Once they finish the work, they return the assignment to the folder and check off that it is completed. Sometime throughout the day, I go through and check everything that they have completed. Any work that needs correction is placed back in their binders in the front flap pocket of the binder for them to correct the same day or they know to check it first the following day. They check that flap everyday before starting their independent work for the new day.
Our days have been running more smoothly. River and Lily often start their independent binders before our school day officially starts. At the beginning of each week (usually Sunday night), I go over anything that they might have questions about (ex: I cover River’s vocabulary words with him).
The remainder of their work that they complete with me is put into a separate binder (which I may share about later). I give them access to both binders, but only one is for them to work independently. Since they can see the work in both binders, this has eliminated the continuous questioning from them of how much more work needs to be done before “I’m FINISHED!”
So far, this is working well for us. Along with them feeling a sense of accomplishment when they finish their binders, it also warms my “home school heart” when I see them sitting quietly doing their work without any prompting. One for mommy!
Check out all the great bloggers in the Crew blog hop!
And be sure to visit a few of my blog friends:
Jennifer @ Chestnut Grove Academy
Crystal @ Tidbits of Experience
Rebecca @ Raventhreads
Dawn @ Guiding Light Homeschool
Monique @ Living Life and Learning
Erin @ For Him and My Family
Lisa @ A Rup Life
Beth @ Weavings
Several members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew (Including Milk & Honey Mommy) have joined forces during our August Back-to-Homeschool Blog Hop to bring you these incredible giveaways, totally more than $1,300 in homeschool curriculum and Paypal cash!
Grand Prize Giveaway
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From Writing with Sharon Watson – The Power in Your Hands: Writing NonFiction in High School and Writing Fiction [in High School]
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From The Old Schoolhouse Magazine — One-Year Membership to SchoolhouseTeachers.com
From Shining Dawn Books – Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Bundle (Charlotte Mason Homeschooling, Loving Living Math, Grammar Packets, and Creative Nature Walks)
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From WriteShop – Winner’s Choice of WriteShop Primary Book A, B, or C (Teacher’s Guide + Activity Pack)
From New Millennium Girl Books – Isabel Writing Bundle
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From Victus Study Skills System — Victus Study Skills Student Workbook & Teacher Edition Bundle
From the Schoolhouse Review Crew bloggers — $150 Paypal Cash
2nd Prize Giveaway
In the 2nd Prize Giveaway, someone will win $325 in curriculum, plus $100 in Paypal cash to help you finish up your homeschool shopping! You could win all of the following. Please click on the prize links to learn more about each product.
From Home School Adventure Co. — Philippians in 28 Weeks, The Wise Woman with Literary Analysis Question, and The Wise Woman Print Set (digital editions)
From Writing with Sharon Watson — Jump In: a workbook for reluctant and eager writers
From Home School in the Woods – K-2 Lap-Pak: Knights
From Write Bonnie Rose — Printables Bundle (Writing Prompts About Space Bonus Pack; Revolutionary War Activities: Patriotic Copywork; Revolutionary War Activities for Kids: Puzzles, Games, and Quizzes; Praying Through the Produce Aisle; Summer Olympics and Paralympics Unit Study)
From Excelerate Spanish – Excelerate SPANISH DVD Lessons 1-6
From Memoria Press — Prima Latina Text Set
From New Millennium Girl Books – Callie’s Contest of Courage Mid grade novel and Callie’s Contest of Courage Literature Guide
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From the Schoolhouse Review Crew bloggers — $100 Paypal Cash
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