Kayla 10

Kayla gets to go to a week long science camp away from home this year which is different and exciting for her. She remains a strong reader and mathematician, still working a grade level above. She is excelling with her music as well. We have seen so much improvement over the last few years as she masters the piano and flute. She is at grade level in her spelling, social studies and art. This is the same as she has been the last couple of years. Kayla is able to concentrate longer on tasks than at age 8.

Kayla had a serious fight with her best friend at the beginning of fifth grade and has not made up. She has been moody lately. Kayla is hanging out with a different group of friends at school, and there is some taunting going on between the two sides in the quarrel. Otherwise, Kayla gets along very well with most people, she is popular with other kids, and has a lot of social and other after-school activities. Kayla can be kind of a tomboy sometimes, and says she wants to ride her bike to the school grounds after school. She also wants to go on weekends and hang out there with one or two friends. She likes to play whiffle ball or basketball with the neighborhood boys and one or two other girl-friends. Overall she seems to be doing well socially and we try to encourage good friendships and play time on the weekends.

Since preschool we have slowly tried to give Kayla more responsibilities at home and she is doing well with it. It seems to be helping her mature so quickly sometimes I find myself wondering where my little girl has gone. In the book it talks about how reasoning with children at this stage is more effective and that communication between parent and child and joint decision making can help positive growth and learning of life skills. We provide praise when Kayla sticks with a chore or completes the homework in one sitting. Her teacher says she consistently works independently, listens attentively, and follows directions and classroom rules at school.