Try again

Today, the kids sat down and got right to work on their schoolwork.  It was an amazing thing but I screwed up and when they walked away I called them back, I got upset when they wouldn't stay on task.  I should have kept my mouth quiet and let the consequences do the teaching again.

Cairn worked hard for about an hour before I started reminding her. She worked on area of a rectangle, reading Gulliver's Travels, new spelling words and Spanish.  She had to do yesterday's work and today's.

I got several books from the library called "we both read".  I read one side of the book and Skylar reads the other side. She is feeling very successful so today she wanted to try the reading comprehension side of Reading Eggs.  She actually did very well.  She read 3 books on her own with me only telling her a couple sight words that she hadn't seen yet.  She liked being a person instead of an egg (the characters for the program)  She also worked on length, and spelling the digraphs.

Andrew had piano this afternoon and had his first solo.  He did a pretty good job.  He doesn't quite have the same dexterity as the other kids in class but no one said anything.  You could tell his song didn't sound as good as the other kids but he got all the notes right.  I may add in some extra practice for him to see if that helps.  I certainly don't want to frustrate him because he loves it so much.

After piano we ran to Sam's to get a few things and some gummy bears for a science project.  The kids of course asked for pretzels but because they had argued and complained throughout the store I said I didn't have the energy to buy something extra.  No arguing, no pleading - they just got it that my words were gold and that was it.

The kids all finished their schoolwork but I wasted a lot of energy getting them back on task.  Tomorrow, I will work on me not getting them on task but letting the consequences do the teaching.  I am making myself some post it notes so I don't forget.  I may have to bring a book down to keep myself occupied.