We had been yelling more than I wanted in our house recently too. I posted a question on another site and got a WONDERFUL answer about getting them to do their chores and cut down on the yelling from a mother with 4 kids (close in age, including twins.) Here is what she said:

You should get them all together, Supernanny style and talk about the yelling. Explain that yelling is disrespectful, no one likes it when they are yelled at, and it will not be tolerated. If you yell at your siblings or your parents, unless you are yelling the words "My hair is on fire!" or similar will be punished thusly---first, you will be sent to your room, or boring spot to be punished for seven minutes and then will apologize to the person you yelled at. Repeat offenses will be punished with loss of computer/TV/playdates/whatever their currency is for the rest of the day, then the rest of the week.

We immediately implemented this and it has REALLY worked. We do a couple repeat offenses as repeat time-outs rather than taking away something, but it has definitely nipped that bad habit in the bud. I think the hardest is for me to remember to keep my tone down!

Tara

Mom to BBG born at 33wks on 4/3/03