One of the great benefits of homeschooling is that children need not be confined to a desk or school room to learn. Learning can take place at home, in your community and on the road. The increased flexibility for travel allows us to get up and go when the time is right for the family.
Children are born with an innate curiosity and desire to learn from the world around them. They have a need to learn through exploration by using their five senses, making roadschooling a natural educational option.
What is roadschooling?
Roadschooling can be done by plane, train, car or RV. It can be a day trip to the museum, a weekend at your local state park or a week traveling through your state. A few families have taken roadschooling approach to a whole new level by choosing to live in an RV for a year or longer to give their children the ultimate cross-country road trip.
What curriculum works for roadschooling?
The short answer is, let the trip be the curriculum. When roadschooling, the goal is to learn in different environments, and make education one big field trip. The same types of curriculum can be used on the road as would be used at home. Boxed curriculum can be bulky and might take up too much space, so many opt for online, virtual classes or workbooks. Again, the places you visit, the sites you see and even the people you meet become your curriculum as you dive further into study about these people, places and things.
What requirements are needed for extended roadschooling?
Requirements will vary from state to state. Follow the homeschool laws in your home state, regardless of where you travel. If you plan on living in one state for more than three months, you may want to follow the laws of that state. To be safe, you may want to check with Homeschool Legal Defense Association to make sure that you are completing all homeschool requirements.
Let the world be your classroom
Roadschooling will allow our children to experience things they could never get from a book. How much fun would it be to experience the annual Gettysburg reenactment firsthand, to follow the nature trails of James Audubon or the river adventures of Lewis and Clark along the Mississippi. Let the road take you where it may and enjoy the beautiful scenery and real-life lessons you will find along the way. It's that simple.
More online roadschooling resources
Tell us — where would you go for the ultimate roadschooling experience?
More on family travel
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Simple tips for road trips with kids