Links may direct to affiliate sites. Purchases made through these links support our family’s work in spreading the Gospel to unreached areas.
In 17 years of homeschooling, I have seen pretty much every imaginable configuration of methods designed to keep homeschooling materials accessible, tidy, and in one place.
Traditional Shelves. Cubby shelves. Sideboards. Dining Cabinets. The Workbox System. Magazine holders. Filing cabinets. Rolling carts. Closets. I’ve seen ’em all… and tried quite a few.
But what has worked for me longest, and most successfully, even taking into account the massive number of books included in a Sonlight All-Subjects Package has been… a simple plastic container.
Yes, just a plastic box. One for each kid. Now, I say “plastic box” but these are actually 12×12 scrapbook paper boxes. I’m fond of them because they fit every size and shape of book and binder, they have lids that open fully, and their latches are easy for little hands to operate. (I got mine in assorted colors at Michael’s this year during a sale that made them each less than $3.)
So what do I do with these magical boxes? What makes this system so amazing? What hoops must you jump to learn how to master this life-changing organizational method?
Here’s where this will actually save you time. Ready?
You put the materials you’re currently using in them. Then you open them up and pull out what you need, when you need it.
The end.
No, really. It can be that easy. Simply put you child’s readers, math workbooks, pencils, a pair of scissors, whatever in the box, write their name on it, and rest easy knowing that when you (or your child) needs to find their school stuff tomorrow, it will be at hand, contained, and toted from the kitchen table to the couch to the car to the orthodontist (or wherever school takes you that day) with no fuss.
These bins easily fit the math book, Spelling You See, handwriting, consumable LA and science activity sheets (I spiral bind for ease of use), and readers from a Sonlight package. Simply create a basket near your favorite reading chair to store your Instructor’s Guide, read-alouds, and other instructional materials and you’re set. (Store the materials you’re not currently using in an under the bed storage box if, like me, you are short on space.)
Even if you are schooling a small army, guess what? You no longer need to dedicate an entire room to homeschooling (unless you really, really want to). See that stack above? That’s materials for four of the six kids I’m homeschooling this year. Not bad, right?
Now, if you want to get more involved—and you don’t have to!— you can. Because I bounce between students, my life is made easier by having a laminated daily checklist secured to the lid. I give instructions and lessons on subjects, then the child works independently. When they return with a completed assignment or task, they pull a dry-erase marker from their bin and mark the appropriate item off on the list. When the day is over, the sheet is wiped clean for tomorrow’s use.
Really, it’s that simple: everything in one spot, organized, saving me more time and headache than I care to imagine.
Want a cute checklist for your new boxes?
Download one of my themed printables below. Just print (I recommend yardstick for durability), laminate, and use heavy packing tape to secure to your box. Remember to toss a dry-erase marker in your child’s box for easy checking!
Download Bugs and Butterflies Checklist (cursive)
