I could never say enough positive things about using a work box system in the classroom-- for any child. I've used them with typically developing peers in the classroom as well and it's an amazing way to in-bed practice and skill maintenance, all while working on attending to a task as well. Over the summer I did a whole post on how I structure this system in my classroom. You can check it out {here}. But one thing I've never done is actually post photos of the activities I have in my boxes. My boxes have grown since I last posted a photo this summer. I have 83 work boxes available in my classroom at all times. I know that sounds like the only thing that make up the shelves in my classroom are work boxes, but I promise it's not. It might be close, but it's not! I don't have a lot of remaining storage in my classroom. So to constantly be changing out activities and finding a storage system for previous activities is a little challenging for me. So I prefer to just have a lot of boxes available. We also need a high number of boxes to complete each day. Let's break it down. I have 10 students total, 8 of whom complete work boxes at some point doing the day. Children complete anywhere between 1-10 boxes a day. Right now, as a class, we are completing 28 boxes a day. We come to school 4 days a week, so that's completing 112 boxes a week. And planning so strategically that a child doesn't repeat a box during the week. It's a huge planning challenge. And my paras are awesome at catching my goofs! I'm hoping to come across some appropriate shelving between now and the end of the year to expand our boxes even more. Sounds crazy I know, but it will make the planning challenge so much easier when there is a larger amount to pick from. So the whole point of this post-- what's in the boxes?! I use a combination of handmade activities, printable activities, and existing manipulatives from my classroom to make up my boxes. Our lowest tasks are simple "put-in" activities and our higher tasks include activities like capital and lowercase matching using clothespins and sight word matching mats. I've been trying to come up with more and more put-in activities so that's what I'm going to share with you today. In another post I'll share another category. For this activity I saved a small peanut can from the grocery store. (Yes I washed it out) I simply cut slits in the lid--these lids are super easy to cut into which is nice. It's the perfect height for dropping these mini popsicle sticks into. This activity is another saved container- an almond one. I have saved a ton of these! They are a great size and again, the lids are easy to cut into. This one has a circle in the middle of the lid and heart erasers to put into the container. This activity I found on pinterest. I simply saved a Parmesan cheese shaker, washed it out and added q-tips. When students open the box the cheese shaker is already open. (It would be too challenging for my little guys to get open independently- it's tough!) This task I clearly didn't make. It is courtesy of Lakeshore Learning. Students simply place the buttons in. This jar is one of three included in the pack and can be purchased by clicking {here}. If you wanted to make a more challenging task for a student you could place two jars into one task box so the student has to sort as well. This is the second jar included in the Lakeshore pack. I used another almond container for the activity. And obviously a hole punch to put the holes in the lid. Students have to put the beads into the container through the holes. I saw someone else blog about these small paint containers they found at the Dollar Store. They really are great! I bought four of them and used one for this work box. Students simply push the pom-poms into the container. This activity is similar to the Lakeshore bucket with buttons. I found the small yellow containers at the Dollar Tree in the baby section. They come in a multi-pack which is nice, BUT, they are a pain to cut holes in the top. It's a much harder plastic than I thought, and it cracked in the corners. If I hadn't gone through so much trouble to cut the slot in, I probably would have used another almond container. This was one of the first work box activities I made. I recycled a cookie dough container and cut holes in the lid. Then students just have to put pom-poms into the holes. I'd like to re-do this container at some point because most students catch on that the middle hole is big enough to just drop the pom-pom in versus pushing it through the hole. I don't know if you would call this a "put in" task, but I do. They're putting pegs in a peg board! I can also guarantee you that this peg board is older than I am. For this activity students push down the lever on the gumball machine to get a stone out, then they have to place the stone in the container. I liked the idea of students using their index finger to get the lever done-- additional fine motor practice. Sometimes more than one stone may come out, but that's okay. So there you have it. Those are our current "put in" activities. I hope you get some new ideas for your own work boxes from these. Next I'll share our sorting activities.

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I saw pill bugs on here a few weeks ago and really wanted to make my own! The pattern is a bit rough but I hope it works (I tried to get it perfect for like a week before calling it good enough). Ju…

Is your child ready for Kindergarten? This post will help you decide plus free worksheets focused on kindergarten readiness skills like...

Les masques d'artistes inspirés des artistes Vasarely, Miro, Delaunay, Keith Haring ou encore Mondrian , ayant eu un grand succès, la collection s'agrandit avec un masque plein de peps inspiré des nanas de Niki de Saint Phalle... Si vous avez travaillé...

As teachers, we have an unending to-do list. One task that can easily swallow up our time if we let it, is grading. We all understand the importance of knowing where our kiddos stand in their learning

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR NAME It is so exciting when children become curious about how to write their name. I believe teaching them to write their name should be the first word they learn how to spell . It is personal, concrete and helps them realize that putting letters together in writing has me

These name worksheets are perfect for your all about me theme because they give kids a chance to share all about their name.

Hi guys!! Once again trying to work on consistency so for this month here's a small set of trendy bottoms! Hope you enjoy! Diesel Denim I tried my best with the uv1 and weights for the accessories!…

Save a Burned Pot: This technique should restore even badly burned pots and pans. It has twice saved me from throwing out pots and pans I thought were past the point of rescue; hopefully it can help you too.

A perfect BACK TO SCHOOL activity! Encourage your students to share about their summer vacations by having them fill in this free resource! You may choose to have students draw or write in the spaces, providing differentiated opportunities to those who need it. Makes a sweet bulletin board! #backtoschool #freebie #kwriting #1stgradewriting #writing #literacy #education #kindergarten #1stgrade

Soft and chewy sugar cookies speckled with lots of colorful sprinkles!

Classroom management and thinking through how my classroom will run is more important than the decorations and arrangement! Do you agree? My classroom has several different strategies set up; and as needed, I will adjust accordingly as my students arrive and I learn their needs. Today, I have 8 Classroom Management Tips for you to […]

If there is one thing I have learned from working with preschoolers and now, homeschooling my own preschooler, it is that they love, more than anything else,

Travel agency - Landing page designed by Uix Shuvo. Connect with them on Dribbble; the global community for designers and creative professionals.

Warhol soup cans art project with easy step-by-step drawing guide. Your kids will love making their own Warhol soup cans!

The ticket system has been a game-changing classroom management strategy for my own high school science classroom.

This worksheets will give you lots of ideas for your preschool apple theme. Letter A Worksheets FREE Worksheets Apple Ten Frames WorksheetFill in the ten frames to match the numbers on the apples. R

Find your name pdf among 1000's of free personalized name coloring pages for adults and kids at Stevie Doodles

This calzones recipe is completely from scratch, including the homemade dough, but it's easier than you think! You could cook in the oven or on the grill.

hello! here is a small collection of miscellany lip masks converted from my favourite creators. they work as an overlay and can be combined with makeup to create different textures! some textures wo…

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Blondie recipe that is perfectly chewy, ready in less than 30 minutes, and topped with crackly cinnamon and sugar!

These spooky mummy eyes are such a fun Halloween project! I saw a version of this project online and just had to recreate it. The oil pastels are a bit messy but this is a no-paint project that can be completed in one art session.

This comprehensive guide is designed for educators, therapists, and parents working with children who require occupational therapy (OT). The "Occupational Therapy Issues and Recommendations Guide" provides a detailed overview of common OT issues, their descriptions, examples, and practical recommendations. This resource is an essential tool for understanding and addressing the diverse needs of children, particularly those with special needs such as autism. Key Features: - Clear and Concise Format: The guide is presented in an easy-to-read table format, making it simple to find information quickly. - Detailed Descriptions: Each issue is clearly defined to help users understand the specific challenges children may face. - Real-life Examples: Concrete examples are provided to illustrate each issue, offering insight into how these challenges manifest in daily life. - Practical Recommendations: Actionable recommendations are included for each issue, providing effective strategies to support children in overcoming their difficulties. Topics Covered: - Fine Motor Skills - Gross Motor Skills - Handwriting - Sensory Processing - Self-Care Skills - Visual Perceptual Skills - Body Awareness - Executive Functioning - Attention and Focus - Play Skills - Social Skills - Regulation Skills - Adaptive Skills Ideal for: - Occupational Therapists - Special Education Teachers - Parents and Caregivers - School Counselors - Early Childhood Educators Format: - PowerPoint Presentation (PPTX) - Easy to customize and adapt to specific needs.