Yes I realize that, I even realized it as it was happening, I was just too slow to fix it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not any specific phrases - it's more a tone of voice. Here's how this morning's conversation went: She was annoyed and critical of her brother who was taking all the counter space and she wanted to fix breakfast. So I quietly removed my items from the counter and thanked her for offering to fix breakfast. She got impatient with her brother for not allowing her to use the stool he was sitting on to enable her to reach the breakfast cereal, so I got the cereal down for her, calmly reminding both her and her brother that they both need to be nice to each other. she pours cereal in 3 bowls and begins pouring milk. Her brother throws a fit - he claims he wasn't hungry yet. It looked like she hadn't poured milk in the third bowl yet so I asked her to stop and whether she had poured milk in her sisters bowl yet? Without responding to me she looked at her sister, who had moved her kindle off her seat, and proceeded to have a tiff with her over moving the kindle. I corrected the sister gently, asking her to replace the kindle where she found it, and then again asked whether she had poured milk in the third bowl. She immediately began pouring milk in the third bowl, so I ask her to stop. stop! STOP! At which point she was finished and looked at me bewildered. I explained, exasperated at this point, that we could have put her brothers cereal and milk into her sisters bowl since he didn't want any yet, but that she didn't listen to me or respond to me. So much for starting today with an apology and a fresh start. :glare:

I'm going to re-read these tomorrow when I'm not tired and feeling discouraged... she really is very helpful and sweet with her siblings and around the house. she's probably just too much like me so she gets on my nerves more - this year has gotten worse as hormones have started flaring and I need to make a point of having some special girl time with her. An apology and fresh start in the morning ... along with a couple cups of coffee... sounds like a good start.

I kept listening to myself speak today - as odd as that sounds - and realized (not for the first time) that I speak negatively to one of my children a LOT. She's the oldest, has attention issues, is gifted, and is always the one whose mouth is getting her into trouble. I just heard myself speaking negatively to her a lot compared to the other kids, and I lose my patience so often with her and I know I need to improve that. While I know awareness of a problem is a first step towards fixing it, how can I work to improve my speech towards her when I am having to step in and correct her more often than the other kids???

:grouphug: I've been in a similar place, it's not easy. I have no advice, only hugs :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

Wow thanks for that link! Some of the stuff in that looks great! It's all the stuff I'd like to do with a nature journal, but organized already for me. :hurray:

That's a good idea! I'm planning on having everything put together for next year and I'm not sure exactly when we will start. This gives us an option to either start early or continue into cooler weather. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What a great looking resource! Thanks!

What books are on your must have list? I'm planning on Using Ellen McHenry's Botany unit and adding additional books/projects to fill out the study culminating in a summer project of planning/planting/caring for a garden. goals include: learn how to cook/eat a variety of vegetables (is there a good resource for this or am I better off searching for individual recipes each week?) plant/flower/tree identification, including a nature journal (considering the book illustrating nature, and Botany in a day: patterns of plant identification, is there a better identification book/a good resource for tree identification?) composting with a worm box (considering worms eat my garbage) Am I missing anything really good? What else have you done that your kids loved?

No no you didn't derail the topic! I appreciated your thoughts as I think through this. Coming from a very conservative background has me working from a slight disadvantage when it comes to science. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ok so I need to focus on secular curriculum now, keeping religion and science separate. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We believe in young earth creation on a religious level but I also realize that if my daughter wants to go into science, she needs to know and understand evolution. She's already into middle school level texts, should I be focusing on secular curriculum now? when will that begin to be important?

We are working through these and my DD finds the stories engaging and funny. We also take the time to stop and talk about each illustration, a throwback from our speech therapy days, and that helps the amusement factor.

:lol: those are some smart delivery drivers!

It creates layers but it won't be a straight cut. I like mine cut to be even with my chin so I like it fairly short. I learned the pony tail trick on you tube. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A note on the diva cut - I learned to cut my own hair after not having the money for a diva cut. I break down every once in a while and pay some random stylist who claims to know about curly hair only to be frustrated every time (the last lady told me the products I use with rich moisturizers and coconut oil are only for "black people"... um ok sure whatever). Anyway, I break the curly hair rules, brush it out, cut it for length (if you flip your hair over your head, pony tail and trim the end of the pony tail it will create a layered cut) then I trim for length until It's a little longer than I want. Wash, use typical moisturizers in hair and do a final trim without breaking apart the curls, cutting individual curls to ensure an overall "look" that I want. I've had a lot of curly people want to know who I use for a stylist so it must not look too terrible!

alright, I've been researching some more and I might just wing it - using the skills taught in paragraph town and see how it goes. She tends to advance in leaps and jumps instead of smaller steps, so at some point she may jump ahead and then be ready for the next mct book.

We are working on the end of MCT Town level and as much as we love the methodology, it is requiring too much output at this point and I'm having to scale back in my expectations. I was thinking of taking a year off and using Treasured Conversations but when I purchased that today and looked through it, I realized it's not what I need. She basically needs another year of MCT Town level, but I didn't want to do the same thing twice. I suppose I could just have her write across the curriculum, but I feel like that's a bit inadequate after using MCT.

I hate cold weather. And snow. But my kids love it and we are apparently not finished with winter yet this year as another 1-2 feet of snow will be threatening my ability to remain at peace with life...so my husband suggested studying snow and I've decided it's like trying to make lemonade out of lemons. What snowy lessons do you have tucked away that I can try? My oldest is at a middle school level in science and my middles are prek/k level.

I would bet if you pushed it, you could opt her out of the regular end of year testing - they don't want you to and may tell you that you cannot, but I'm pretty sure you should be able to. If not, that's enough for me to pull her out right there. It sounds like in the end she didn't actually choose to go back, but was just ok with going back. On some level I honestly think this is a decision that shouldn't be left to her anyway. If the school is harming my child in any way (educationally, emotionally, physically), that would be the end of it. I don't agree with the concept of "pushing" a child through stress of testing, or the pain of bullying, or certain educational issues that are detrimental to a child (causing them to dislike learning entirely) simply for the sake of teaching them to follow through with a decision made.

not unreasonable in my opinion... My other opinion would be to pull her before the standardized testing.

Wow, so many great resources! Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, I'll check it out - I'm fine with either Christian or secular.

I'm currently researching art curricula options. I am not good at art myself and my children are not artistically gifted. I tend to use "coloring pages" and freetime art projects (where I dump the paper, glue sticks, crayons and colored pencils on the table and say have fun) to fulfill art requirements for the state. I have no idea if my 4 year old can even draw a stick figure because every picture he draws for me is of a "storm". Literally. every. picture. no joke. I would like to incorporate a better art into next year but don't have the funds to pay for an art class, which is what I did as a kid. I'll be teaching prek4, 1st, and 4th next year. I tried drawing with children twice about 3 years ago - each time I couldn't get past birds and my eldest daughter still draws birds in her pictures and nothing else. I finally sold the book. I need something more teacher friendly! So hit me with your favorite art curriculum please!

This looks good! It's basically what I was looking for although I'm not thrilled with the video component.