If you’re here, it’s probably because you are interested in road-schooling or already living the road life with kids. You have the dream of leaving your traditional home and embracing a life of travel and exploration. But when it comes to your children’s education, you may be unsure of where to start. Well, look no further! I’m here to help.
I’m Rachel, and as a military brat, I was homeschooled/road-schooled myself. Growing up with the joy and flexibility of being educated at home by my mother, I experienced firsthand the benefits of homeschooling. The beauty of homeschooling was that we spent more time learning outside of our home than inside it. Now, with a Bachelor’s degree and a college GPA of 4.0, I can attest to the richness of this education model first-hand and now I have the pleasure of providing my children with the same experience.
As a family of four, from the state of Alaska, we left our home to travel through Canada, around the contiguous United States (or “the lower 48″as it is known to Alaskans), and Hawaii; with the aim of giving our kids the best education possible by immersing them in geography, culture, and history. I understand the excitement and apprehension that comes with starting this road-schooling journey, and I want to offer advice, support, and information to others who choose the same path.
With that said, let’s get started!
First Steps
The first step, of course, is choosing your mode of transportation. Will you be traveling in a Travel Trailer RV, Fifth Wheel RV, Class A-C Motorhome, Van, etc.? Each option has its pros and cons, and it’s essential to gather as much information as possible. I recommend walking through as many RVs as you can and watching YouTube videos of people living in them, sharing their likes and dislikes.
If you’re looking for a way to work from home or have a secondary source of income to supplement your travel expenses, check out my other blog post about options for earning an income on the road [hyperlink to the relevant blog post]. I will also be posting a curated list of video links that most thoroughly cover the pros & cons for those that are starting the Recreational Vehicle selection process.
NOTE: Some states will require a Commercial Driver’s License or similar. Currently, only 8 states require a CDL, and 10 states require something other than a regular Drivers License, for certain RV types or sizes.
Legal Issues
Before withdrawing your kids from traditional school, it’s crucial to research the homeschooling requirements in your state. The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) website is an excellent resource that provides specifics for each state and how to maintain compliance. Click here, to visit their interactive map of each state’s requirements. While some states are homeschool-friendly, others may have additional requirements. Make sure you plan according to the laws of your home state where you will maintain residency.
Organization
Once you settle on a mode of transportation, you’ll need to define a dedicated space for home education. While most of your learning can be done “in the wild,” there will be times when you wish to have a more traditional school setup. Consider dedicating space for school work, such as the kitchen table, a desk in the bunk room, a fold-out table, or even an outdoor pop-up shelter. Having this designated space for school work, even if it is only reserved for this purpose during a specific time each day, will help condition your kids to shift their focus on learning.
Additionally, designate space for school supplies, books, and other materials. Even if you try to build your curriculum digitally, physical products such as paper, notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons, markers, and reading materials will still come in handy.
Choosing the Curriculum
As mentioned earlier, some states mandate specific subjects to be taught at home. Check your state requirements to ensure compliance with the regulations of your home state. It’s helpful to use state guidelines and recommended grade milestones to set goals for your children’s education. Use the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) goal-setting approach to focus your curriculum search. Be cautious not to choose a curriculum that overwhelms you with excessive busy work, as it may impede progress. Remember to consider your child’s age, individual needs, and learning style when estimating how long each task will take. Short lessons throughout the day with ample breaks work well, as children can lose engagement and focus quickly.
There are numerous curriculum options available, ranging from online programs to traditional paper resources and everything in between. The sheer variety can be overwhelming, so it’s essential to stay focused on your goals. Utilize resources such as Cathy Duffy Homeschool Review, the Rainbow Resource Center, and online communities like Facebook groups and Instagram for recommendations and insights.
Some highly recommended curriculum options include:
- The Good and the Beautiful
- Acellus Academy
- ABC Mouse
- Teaching Textbooks (math only)
- Abeka
- Saxon Math
- Gather Round
- Time4Learning
- Miacademy
- Campfire Curriculums
- Master Books
Additionally, there is a subgroup of road-schoolers who embrace “Un”schooling, a child-led learning approach without a set curriculum. This approach focuses on the child’s interests and experiences, with parents serving as facilitators, ensuring they recognize & absorb the lesson that the experience taught. Every moment becomes a learning opportunity in unschooling, fostering flexibility and a love for learning.
Conclusion
Road-schooling offers incredible benefits for the entire family, including relationship building, real-life experiential learning, exposure to diverse environments and cultures, and the development of essential skills. Skills such as adaptability & real-world application of knowledge; I’m sure you can call to mind some memories of sitting in school thing, “Why would I ever need to know this?” With road-schooling, children are encouraged to learn the “why?” first, by being outside of the traditional classroom setting, leveraging nature and hands-on experience. By leading the child to learn “why?’ and “how?” their school work can be applied in the real world, a strong desire to learn will become a foundation of their success in school and in life.
So there you have it – a guide to starting homeschooling while traveling full-time. With proper planning and a thoughtful curriculum selection process, road-schooling can be an enriching and rewarding educational journey for your children. Embrace the freedom and flexibility that this lifestyle offers, and watch as your family grows and learns together, creating lifelong memories along the way.
Embarking on your road-schooling journey? Download my exclusive “Starter Guide to Road-Schooling” to set the wheels in motion. Dive deep into a world where learning meets adventure!
Safe Travels & Happy Road-Schooling!
