20 July 2010

Our Popsicle Sticks "Check List"

They begin in Mama Bears big, white container...


And they end up in all the Baby Bears' itty bitty containers!! Then back to the white container.


All of the school age children have their own jar and set of sticks with their color. (Of course Mary isn't 'school age' yet but she's still old enough to know if she's being left out!) At the beginning of the day all the sticks are in my container. In the morning I place each child's sticks in their jar. Written on each stick are their various school subjects and chores that I would have them do that day. When they have completed what is on a stick they simply place it back into my container. In this way, I can see at a glance who has finished and who hasn't. Plus, another bonus about the sticks that paper check lists don't have is the convenience of putting into the jars only subjects and chores I wish for them to accomplish for the day. For example, if I have plans of an outing later in the afternoon I may only put half of their sticks in their jars. If we plan on a long day at home it may get more!! This works especially well for our weekly subjects. Science, geography, poetry, biography, and history are not done every day of the week and are normally taught by me with all the children together. It also helps keep me to be accountable to see to the weekly core subjects because if it's in the jar then they will expect me to get the class taught so they can "check" it off!!

17 comments:

Kathy@theshebearofeleven said...

You sure have a lot of good ideas and this is one of them.

Cinnamon said...

I love this idea!! And it works with a bunch of kids, that's a plus :-)

~Cinnamon

Chris@Joyful Mother said...

What an awesome idea!!. I've been wanting something to keep the kids on the roll and accountable. And not having to make out all those checklists.

Do you paint them? and what paint do you use? I think I might make these for this coming school year. Thanks for sharing!!

Chris xoxo

Unknown said...

I used tempura paint from Hobby Lobby. The name tags were printed from my computer in matching colors and I taped them on the jars with clear packing tape.

Tristan said...

I love this idea for chores! Especially because it would be easy to add in our special Saturday chores or switch things up. Thanks! I'm going to have to get the kids to paint sticks before the week is out....

my5wolfcubs said...

Now that is CLEVER! *wheels turning*
:)
Lee

Anonymous said...

Wow, I like this idea a lot! My brain is whizzing with how to implement something like this! Thanks for sharing.

j said...

oooh, thanks for sharing!!! I really love this idea!!!!

Jessica

Brittney said...

This is a GREAT idea! Love that it is easy to tailor to your day!

Standinginhislight said...

I love your style of using this for school. I have a "jar of sticks" for the "Mommy, I'm bored" cures. ;^) but admittedly, mine are not colorful... thanks for sharing.

~Sheri

The Mayo Family said...

I have to agree what a great idea! Now it is a perfectly good reason for us to go to "Hobby Lobby"! I love to go as do the children... so we will await our rain to clear-up and try to go! Do you use one of those "schedule-boards"? like the Maxwell's? Or do yall just do your days? You are so organized!
Blessings~
lori

LLJ said...

Oh, thank you for sharing this! I want to try it too! I hope I get it together before school starts again because I can just imagine how this would help so much!

Leanne

Simple Home said...

Oh my goodness, this is such a great idea! I will have to do this. I agree with Leanne, this is going to be such a great help!
Blessings,
Marcia

busymomof10 said...

Love the idea . . . and the picture! You are so creative and inspiring!!!

I did something similar to this many, many years ago . . . one of those systems that went by the wayside! Need to think about resurrecting those sticks!

dggp said...

What a great idea. I love it.

Gombojav Tribe said...

FANTASTIC!!!

char said...

AHA! I knew I had seen a version of the Cup 'o sticks on somebodies blog-It was YOU! Thanks for the insperation!! :)

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