Spring is in the air and children are squirmy in their seats –

Today – we tried to take a Miquon Math checkup – but the sun was out – and the air was warm and calm- and the spiders had reestablished on the porch railing – and Jon was intent on seeing what they would attack – and I was glad.  Glad that I had spent time reading Joni Erickson Tada’s devotion this morning – and read this passage from Proverbs 16:21

The wise in heart are called discerning
    And pleasant words
         Promote Instruction

“Today take a complicated situation and with time, patience, and a smile turn it into something positive for you and others.” – She challenges

“Lord, when I ask others to do something today – help my words to be pleasant. For your sake – may my instructions be a blessing to others.”

Are your instructions today for your sake or His?  Are they a blessing to your children?

I brought his Miquon page on the porch, wrote the problems on the white board, which I also brought outside – and we answered three pages of questions together while the spiders were studied and observed. Miquon likes to pull a “thinker” at the end – Jon thinks they are more like stinkers   – we did end up trying to figure out how to split four butterflies between eight spider webs.  Once drawn out – he blurted out the answer – and went along with our morning.

Will we always do Spider Math?  NO.  Did it hurt to sit in the sun this morning – especially here in the cloud covered pacific coast? No. He got to explore – I still got to help him with his math – and we will move on in the Yellow Book.

If the need to control, instill discipline, stick to your guns, etc – has turned the focus off of God’s Sake to the Curriculum’s Sake – if your instructions are making the entire family cry, instead of learn – it may be time to refocus this spring – and find new ways – to incorporate this beautiful short time – into your learning experience.

Joni really encouraged me – I hope it is an encouragement to you.