Roadschooling got a huge boost in popularity during the pandemic, but many parents have continued to embrace it. I was one of those who chose to homeschool while RVing, and I’m here to guide you through the process!
You can make so many parts of school that lots of kids learn in textbooks or online come to life with real-world experiences when you’re able to travel while homeschooling.
Making the Decision to Homeschool From the Road
There are a lot of things to think about before you decide to homeschool on the road. Here are a few questions to consider:
Are you already RVing full-time?
If you’re not already full-time RVers, do you have a plan in place? You’ll want to start with some smaller RV trips before uprooting your life and hitting the road.
Our family purchased our first RV four years before we considered full-time RVing. We quickly realized how much we loved the RV lifestyle, and whenever our trips would come to an end and it would be time to pack up to come home, we were always so sad.
Two years ago, I mentioned the possibility of going full time. My husband was nearing retirement eligibility and I could work from anywhere – why not just live in the RV? My husband initially thought it was unrealistic, but quickly warmed up to the idea. We spent a few months pondering how it would work before putting an 18-month plan in place to make it happen.
Do you plan to RV full-time while roadschooling?
You can make this schedule whatever you want it to be. You can RV full-time, or RV for several months at a time and return home. Or you could live with family for an extended period. The options for how you choose to live life on the road are as unique as your family.
Is the layout of your RV ideal for both life and schooling?
You’ll need places for the kids to sit and work. You’ll want storage for school supplies. You’ll also need outlets for computers and other devices. Setting up an RV for a fun weekend is very different than setting it up for work and school on the road.
Can you dedicate the time to teach?
Will you be working from the road as well? Do you have several children to homeschool, and can you schedule time for each of them? These are certainly things that can be accommodated, but you do need to consider them.
Do you have access to everything you need?
Do you have places on the road where you can pick up any school supplies you might need? Is there any part of your program that requires you to have specific textbooks and curricula? Do you have a place to get that sent? You’ll also want to see if there are any testing requirements, and whether your child needs to report in person.
Do you know your state’s homeschool laws?
Homeschool laws vary depending on the state where you live. You’ll want to look into the laws for your state and make sure you can abide by those laws while you teach. These laws focus on curriculum, attendance, testing, and reviews. This organization can help you get started in discovering your state laws, but be sure to check with your state’s Department of Education as well.
Most states require you to submit a notice of intent to switch to homeschool. They provide guidance on which subjects must be covered in your home instruction, requirements which you can easily comply with from the road. However, some rules impose significant challenges if you are traveling full time. For example, many states require that you maintain a portfolio of your child’s work to be reviewed on a set schedule with school board representatives. You need to find out if you can complete these reviews virtually or electronically. Similarly, many states require students to participate in standardized testing. You need to coordinate your travel schedule with testing schedules, explore the possibilities of virtual testing, or inquire about a waiver of requirements.
Pros and Cons of Homeschooling
While many of us might be ready to pull up roots right now and head out in an RV to explore the world, there are some challenges to consider while roadschooling. Here’s a list of some of the pros and cons when you’re considering whether to homeschool your children. You might want to brainstorm any more that could affect your family as well.
| Pros | Cons |
| Tailor lessons to your child’s learning style | You have to pay for educational materials yourself |
| Adapt lessons to your family’s lifestyle | No teacher to consult if you have questions |
| Freedom to choose the time and place for school | You’ll need to be a self-starter |
| Flexible breaks | Some kids prefer a traditional school setting |
| Lessons can align with travel destinations (e.g., parks, museums) | Inconsistent opportunities to make friends, join sports teams or clubs |
| Exposure to diverse experiences | Logistical challenges managing materials and schedules |
| Strengthened family bonds |
Tips for a Seamless Transition to Road or Homeschooling
As you consider whether to homeschool and explore the country on the road, here are some tips for a smoother transition.
Think about your “why” – what do you hope to gain from this experience?
The obvious answer [for what I want my kids to experience] is adventure and exploration. I want them to experience first-hand what they are learning about – historical landmarks, animals, cultural celebrations, state capitals, ethnic foods, and so on.
Beyond that, my hope for them is to gain an appreciation for experiences over possessions. I want to challenge and empower them to try new things, make new friends, and learn new skills. I hope they are consistently immersed in a diversity of people, places, and cultures. Also, I want them to see that there is a huge world beyond their home state. And, most importantly, I want us all to experience quality time as a family.
Have test runs
One of the key things that we did was trial runs to see what worked for us. Over the summer, I set aside a few days a month and we would play school. It gave me a lot of insight into how to juggle schedules, each child’s learning styles, how I needed to adjust my teaching style, what types of curriculum worked best, and what types of space and supplies we needed.
Keep the space and weight of your RV top of mind
Homeschooling in an RV provides its own challenges to be considered. RVs have limits to both space and weight, so purchasing endless books, school supplies, and equipment is not practical. Similarly, we don’t always have the best internet, so an online program can be problematic as well. If you are in an RV, be sure to ponder all of those factors before you begin shelling out money on homeschooling items. Another tip is to invest in supplies that are reusable – dry-erase boards and markers, wipeable worksheets and workbooks, and magnetic manipulatives are some great examples.
Choosing a Homeschool Curriculum
The most important thing I can tell you is: don’t lose sleep over which curriculum to use!
We spent countless hours researching curricula and can guarantee that you will, too. There are endless options available to you; so many that it can quickly become overwhelming. As you explore the possibilities, remember that there is no right or wrong decision. You have to find what works best for your children. Each type of curriculum has its pros and cons with no single curriculum being better than the other. The best part of choosing a curriculum is that you can change it at any time until you find the perfect fit.
Types of curriculum
Most curriculum falls into one of three categories: textbook-based, internet-based (self-paced or instructor-led), or a hybrid. For a traveling family, internet-based programs are beneficial because there is no added weight from textbooks, notebooks, and the like. But with stable internet connections being problematic in many areas of the country, textbook-based programs are often a safer option.
Here are a few curriculums that we love for roadschooling and why:
- The Good and the Beautiful (TGATB) – TGATB offers curricula for grades pre-K to high school in both primary subjects as well as electives. The majority of their curricula is available as downloadable files (many of which are free), saving you the space of textbooks and eliminating the need for an internet connection once it is downloaded.
- Singapore Math – Singapore Math offers math curriculum for grades pre-K to 8. Their Dimensions track closely follows the Common Core standards used by many public schools, making it a great option if you plan to re-enroll your students after your travels.
- Khan Academy – Khan Academy offers self-paced, virtual learning for grades pre-K to college in a wide range of subjects and it’s completely free. While you can follow their courses from beginning to end, you can also pick and choose specific lessons, making it a great curriculum on its own or a supplemental resource.
- 180 Days of Practice – These workbooks are available for grades K to 6 in primary subjects and offer quick, daily assignments. The simplicity of these lessons allows students of all ages to work independently. You can find these workbooks on a variety of websites, including Amazon, for a reasonable cost.
Traveling families can also explore the notion of unschooling – allowing your travels and your children’s’ interests to guide their learning instead of a structured curriculum. For example, while on a hike in North Carolina, we stumbled upon a small cemetery with an interesting history lesson on yellow fever. This opened up discussions about pandemics and ultimately led to research on how the human body responds to viruses and bacteria, making for a very in-depth science lesson.
If you find that choosing a curriculum is overwhelming, unschooling may be the right choice for you.
Homeschool Supplies Checklist
You will need some dedicated homeschool supplies for roadschooling your kids. Your own homeschool supply list will vary, depending on your children’s ages, interests, how much room you have in your RV, and other factors.
Basic Supplies:
- Pencils & sharpener
- Erasers
- Pens
- Markers
- Crayons or colored pencils
- Highlighters
- Notebook paper
- Notebooks (one for each subject)
- Folders
- Binders
- Index cards (for flashcards and notes)
- Sticky notes (for reminders and bookmarks)
- Scissors
- Glue sticks or liquid glue
- Ruler
- Stapler and staples
- Tape (scotch tape or masking tape)
- Calculators (basic or scientific, depending on needs)
- Protractor and compass
Art Supplies:
- Watercolors or acrylic paints
- Paintbrushes (various sizes)
- Drawing paper or sketchbooks
- Construction paper
- Modeling clay or playdough
- Craft sticks (popsicle sticks)
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Pom-poms
- Feathers
Educational Materials:
- Textbooks (for each subject)
- Workbooks (for practice)
- Educational games and puzzles
- Reference books (dictionaries, thesauruses, encyclopedias)
- Online resources (subscriptions to educational websites)
Technology:
- Computer or tablet
- Printer and paper
- Internet access
- Headphones or earbuds
- USB drive (for file storage)
Organizational Tools:
- Desk organizer or caddy
- File folders or file box
- Dry erase board and markers
- Calendar or planner
- Label maker or labels
Helpful Roadschool Tips
Although it sounds like a carefree life, feeding your family’s wanderlust and going where the wind blows, you do need to plan ahead to homeschool from the road. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Embrace Flexibility and Balance
When we started our travels, we had a very structured schedule every day. I would work for a few hours in the morning and then begin teaching immediately following breakfast with a goal of being finished in the early afternoon. Then, our younger kids would go down for naps while the boys played outside for a few hours until dinnertime. We quickly learned that having such a set schedule was impeding our overall goal: to see the country. Our adventures and explorations were being cut short just so that we could stick to an arbitrary, self-imposed schedule. We quickly put a halt to that, now letting our journey set the schedule.
How do we do that?
Spot the learning opportunities as you travel
We research each area to decide what we want to see and where we want to explore. Then, I use a calendar to map out our activities for the duration of our stay in an area, creating a plan that balances curriculum-based learning with unschooling opportunities. I consider drive times, meal times, and activity levels when determining how many hours we can realistically dedicate to homeschooling.
If we are going on a three-hour hike, it takes two hours of roundtrip driving, and we need to eat a meal before and after, there is likely little to no time to sit and learn. Instead, I will find a learning opportunity on the hike or find an activity that can be completed on the car ride. Similarly, if we spend ten hours exploring a new city, the next day will likely be more relaxing; a perfect day for reading in the hammock or catching up on some math lessons.
Be flexible on where you set up to learn for the day
Because space is limited in RVs, having a dedicated homeschooling space is not always possible. Right now, we do not have a dedicated space and our boys move around each day. They usually find themselves at the kitchen table, but sometimes they cozy up on the sofa and oftentimes they head outside to the picnic table.
Get creative when you can have a dedicated space
While the kids enjoy the change of scenery, one of our upcoming projects will be to convert a space in the garage of our toy hauler for desks that we can use for both homeschooling and work. Because that will be a multi-purpose space, we will use desks that fold up for easy storage and stools that we can tuck away when not being used.
Balance Work and Homeschooling
Have a schedule and plan ahead! For anyone balancing homeschooling and working in a house, being in an RV really isn’t that different. The one exception is the limited amount of quiet spaces to take conference and video calls. As a business owner, it is crucial that I have time to work every day. I have found that the key is carving out dedicated time for my business early in the morning before the kids wake up and late at night after they go to bed.
During the daytime hours when the kids are awake, my time is mostly dedicated to teaching and quality time with the kids. If I have to work during the day, I make sure to plan independent activities that they can complete without my involvement or have my husband run PE class while I finish my work.
Get Comfortable with Being Organized
Let’s be honest – getting organized takes quite a bit of time and energy, but staying organized takes even more. Living in an RV, organization is essential. We have organized and reorganized our homeschooling supplies quite a few times since we hit the road and have finally found something that works for us. Our goals were to find a system that allowed the boys to be more independent with getting and putting away their school books and supplies. We want to make it as easy as possible to pack and unpack for travel days and have short-term supplies readily available when long-term supplies are tucked away.
Our solution was to convert one section of our toy hauler into the homeschooling area. We purchased a set of storage cubbies from Ikea and use these to organize everything. On top of the cubbies, we can find anything that we need on a regular basis. Each child has his own galvanized metal bucket holding textbooks – we found these to be decorative and strong enough to handle the weight of their books. Sterilite’s mini three-drawer organizers are the perfect size to hold basic school supplies. We also invested in lap desks from Amazon that are the perfect solution for working from an uneven surface outside or while lounging on the sofa. Tucked away in the cubbies are supplies that we need less often: art supplies, upcoming curricula, and extra school supplies.
Get online
From official homeschool resources and lessons to blogs that give you honest advice from other parents who homeschool, the internet is a treasure trove of information on homeschooling! To get started, here is a list of ten homeschooling blogs written by other homeschooling parents who can give you advice.
Read, read, read.
When you don’t know where to start with a subject, pick up a book! Reading together builds vocabulary, improves listening skills and is an excellent way to bond with your kids.
Find support.
It’s a challenge, but you’re not in this alone! Lean on friends who are also navigating these waters and share and swap tips. You can also reach out to homeschoolers in online communities. Ask family members or friends who are experts in a field to help with a subject. And you may even meet other parents on the road who are schooling their kids as well.
There’s an educational video for almost anything
You can find educational videos online on almost any topic! Whether it’s an alternative way for your kids to learn, or you need your own refresher, these videos can be really helpful. You’ll want to review them before introducing to your kids, but they can be one more tool in your teaching toolbox.
Embrace the freedom of living on the road!
We really do not have a concrete plan [for where we plan to go] at this point; I think that’s part of the fun of this adventure! Since we are leaving in the winter months, we know that we will head south first to avoid freezing temperatures as much as possible. Then we will make our way west. Ultimately, we hope to see as many of the national parks and landmarks as possible and use those to educate our children.
Our initial plan is to travel for one year and then reevaluate. If we like it and we have more to see, then we will keep going. If it isn’t the life for us or we feel like we’ve seen enough, then we will settle down. Or maybe we will have a hybrid lifestyle where we balance RV life and a sticks-n-bricks home.
Roadschooling is a unique experience that more and more families are embracing. If the opportunity presents itself and you find yourself asking if you should do it, trust me when I say that you should take the leap.
