Trying to get organized

I really struggle with getting my lesson planning done and having a plan for the following day. My days are hectic and I'm tired at night and just don't do it. However, I've been convicted to try and change this. It is very frustrating to me and the kids to not know what is supposed to be done during the day. A friend on facebook shared a couple of things they've been doing and I decided to steal the ideas and see if they work for us. Here is the first thing I've done...

The idea with this chart was to make it clear to the kids what their chores for the day are. It also forces me to decide the night before what needs to be done the next day. If Dan has an idea he tells me and I put it on for whichever child to do. A lot of things I had just let go are getting done now that I actually can assign chores. The kids take the chore card off when they're done and I know who still has chores to do. Some chores are fun, like getting the mail, baking with mama or making daddy's lunch. Eventually, the chore cards will be replaced with laminated pictures so that the non-readers can know what they're supposed to do and it will be prettier. However, I take forever to do those kind of projects so I'm not holding my breath! Now I don't have to ask Q to empty the dishwasher every morning or remind anyone what to do. They were getting tired of listening to my voice I think.

Another chart I made helps the little boys in the morning. I bought little wooden stars and small chalkboards. I put their name at the top of the chalkboards and drew a line down the middle. On the stars I wrote what they need to do each morning before coming downstairs. On Landon's I drew pictures. Make bed, put PJs away, brush teeth, tidy room. After the job is done, they take the star and move it to the other side of the line. Now it is very clear what they are supposed to do and I don't have to nag...as much.

Workboxes! I am going to have to take pictures of these. Basically, I got crates from walmart and hanging file folders to put inside. I numbered the file folders in each crate. Each folder holds a different school work assignment. This way they don't have to ask me what to do next (and I don't have to decide since i've done it the night before) and they know when school ends. Before I was having trouble with them going to play when they still had work to do.
For example, in Ashton's folder today he had
1. 2 pages in his My Father's World language arts workbook. I put a post it on the front so he knew which pages to do.
2. A post it with a list of exercises to do. Push ups, sit ups, run around the house 3 times.
3. Math workbook pages
4. His latch hook set. A post it told him to set the timer and work for 15 minutes.
5. A book that he was to read aloud to Mareea
6. usborn I Can Draw People and some paper to draw them on.
7. Books for mama to read to him aloud.

It encourages them to work independantly and helps me to fit in art and other things I was just not getting in. Ashton loves it. Landon likes it, but gives me an attitude whenever a folder has something not "fun" in it.

Pictures here!