God Schooling: How God Intended Children to Learn ~ A New TOS Review!!

We as a homeschooling family strive to do all as unto the Lord and to treat each of our children as uniquely created human beings with the sole purpose of glorifying God. So when I had the opportunity to review God Schooling: How God Intended Children to Learn by Julie Polanco, I knew that just from the title that this book would help me refocus again on just that. As part of the Crew I am thankful that we also get to review books that help us as homeschoolers and as parents on this lifelong journey of learning.

One of the things that my husband and I try to encourage other homeschool families and new homeschoolers to create their 'curriculum path' based on their child and not let the curriculum rule the family. That is exactly what Julie is trying to encourage families to do in God Schooling. The book is separated into two main portions.

Part 1 of the book includes 2 chapters and deal with Dispelling Myths that surround homeschooling and the thought that all school needs to be done in what we have been programmed to think is the "traditional" way to homeschool.  Part 2 is what is labelled Practice and has the remaining 7 chapters. Chapters 3, 4, & 5 are broken down to cover the preschool/early elementary years, the late elementary and middle school years, and then the teen years (or high school years.) Throughout all these chapters there are many gems that will attach to your heart when you read the words, I am sure of it. One of my favorites is: "                    ".

Even though we don't and are not truly 'unschoolers', Mrs. Polanco has touched on so many heart issues, character issues, and parenting tips that I believe all her advice can be applied to any type of homeschooling. If you are unfamiliar with exactly what unschooling is a quick description would be a child-led/interest without a set curriculum of books for each age/stage of your child. Julie has homeschooled 4 of her own children using an unschooling approach for most of their schooling and gives many examples of how it looks from preschool through high school all while leaning on the Lord for the greatest instruction.

Each chapter ends with a set of deep thinking discussion questions that could be used in a variety of ways. You could answer them yourself and see where you could change how you homeschool or improve your homeschooling. Another approach is that you could use them in a book club group where parents/moms get together and discuss the questions at length weekly or bi-weekly. I have found that even though I have not written the answers out in the book that I have been pondering the questions and my answer to them. I am still mulling over a lot of the information from the teen chapter which is really a new 'beginning' of sorts for my eldest.

The last few chapters in the second section deal with some top questions as well as how to keep records if you adopt a more unschooled approach to your total homeschool. These are very helpful chapters especially if you are wondering how to keep track of things like credits and such during the high school years, but still allowing your child to run after their passions and not necessarily from the box teaching.

Loved the signed inside! What a nice personal touch.

One of the biggest things I have really gotten from reading God Schooling: How God Intended Children is that you need to sit back and enjoy the journey and path you are on. The days may be hard, but the years are short. Finishing that entire Algebra book is not more needed then building strong character and an three-chord family bond that will last a lifetime. If your young one has no interest or desire to sit still and do worksheets, there are other ways to learn simple math and reading. It does not all have to be done at a desk and while sitting. You need to infuse your homeschool with family traditions, memories reading books all together, trips that turn educational because your children are enthralled with the orthopod they found or the fledgling bird who has taken up residence in the tree in the backyard. Learning how to do your best and to be the best for the Lord and to complete HIS purpose and HIS mission is the greatest calling of us as Christians as well as homeschoolers who call the Lord, Lord.

No matter where you are on your homeschooling journey I believe this book is definitely worth the time to read. I plan on going back through the book to highlight and take notes on the things I really want to address for this upcoming school year.  I know that this book will be on my shelf for many years to reference and use when consulting with other homeschool families. Also make sure you read some of the other Crew reviews by clicking the link below. You can get in touch with Julie Polanco on Facebook and Pinterest.