Extraordinary Ordinary Life: Weekly School Wrap Up - Indoor Camping and Organization!

School went so much better this week maybe because I was in desperate need of an attitude adjustment and since I made the decision to have a better attitude everything all around was better. As my cousin stated this week, one of the things we can control in this world is our attitude.

They are practicing their writing

Miss M doing her number tracing page

And we actually did something fun this week. We did a camping day.

Here is our fishing game (one of our busy bag activities)

My sister got into our tent but she would not let me take a picture of her

Here we are telling non-scary scary stories and "roasting" mini marshmallows over our campfire

Close up of our campfire that the kids made (I helped) - instructions from here

I am wanting to try to add a "fun" theme day every week. We will see if it happens.

Another reason I think school went better is because I was more organized. I have a somewhat of a reluctant learner in my older son. He does not love school, but he is doing so much better this year than last year. One-on-one is good for him. This week I decided to finally take my workbox system to the next level and actually use it as it was intended. I structured it pretty much exactly like Confessions of a Homeschooler.
Although, I am interested in getting something different than these carts because the drawers are awful. If you think of anything I can use instead let me know.

Each drawer has a number and I put each subject in each drawer. For instance, #1 is Bible, #2 is writing and so on.

Each number has velcro on the back and when he is done with a box, he takes the number off and puts it on this grid. Every fourth space has an activity on it that he really likes. As you can see the first activity is to play the Wii for 30 minutes. Once he completes 3 workboxes he gets to play the Wii. Then he completes the next 3 and he can watch a show for 30 minutes or play the Wii again.

As he finishes his papers, I have him put them into a tray on the desk for me to go through at the end of the day (or week).

This has helped him focus and also gives him something to look forward to. It also helps that he can just go and get things to work on and I then help him as he needs it. Some subjects he can do on his own (such as writing) and others he needs me to help with.

Each night after the kids go to bed I check over what needs to be done for the next day and just put the correct worksheets and books into each workbox. I love it! I have one for my preschooler too and her's works much the same way only she loves school so she will keep working through her workboxes.

Here are the printables from Confessions of a Homeschooler that I used: