The Beginners Guide to Roadschooling
Roadschooling is a unique and exciting opportunity for home education using hands-on, immersive, on-location learning instead of reading about the topic in a book or watching it on a screen. Think of it as an extended field trip…but, better!
I have been fortunate to work in the travel and tourism industry for over 20 years, providing frequent opportunities to visit many destinations around the country. Being self-employed and a homeschooling Momma has conveniently allowed me the freedom to bring my family along and make each trip an opportunity to learn. While we are not full-time roadschoolers, we do take as many opportunities to get out on the open road and take the world in as often as we can for several weeks at a time. This post focuses on part-time roadschooling and how to extend educational opportunities beyond the classroom at home or electronic devices.
What is Roadschooling?
The term “roadschooling” generally refers to homeschool families who are on the road traveling full time, however; it can be accomplished anytime you leave your home for vacation, weekend getaways, camping, day trips, etc. When my kiddos get wind of an upcoming roadschool opportunity, the energy in the house completely changes! The excitement, the anticipation, the research….it’s a whirlwind of thrilling emotions as the kids prepare for the next upcoming adventure. Plus, we bring extended family and the older siblings and make it a memorable and fun experience. Kids absorb the information they experience first hand….we all do, don’t we?
“Let nature be your teacher.”
~ William Wordsworth
Side Note about Roadschooling
Since we are not full-time roadschoolers, but rather simply extending travel opportunities to several weeks at a time, we do not need to do anything additional outside of our state’s homeschooling laws. Should you begin full-time roadschooling, be sure you maintain compliance with your own home state’s homeschool laws. Refer back to my How to Start Homeschooling post to find your state’s law.
Tips for Success in Roadschooling
➡️ Before you travel, research the location for various educational opportunities. Involve your kiddos in the planning process so they learn how and what to research, the cost of traveling, budgeting, etc. These opportunities can be as in-depth as a museum visit with a class and lecture time or as relaxed as a trip to the beach to do some beachcombing and study of tidepools.
➡️ Choose destinations based on your child’s interest. If they are interested in geology, visit the obsidian flows in the Oregon Cascades or the volcanoes in Yellowstone. If they are interested in foilage, visit Napa Valley in the fall or the Columbia River Gorge between Washington and Oregon. You get the idea.
➡️ Download interesting podcasts about the area you will be visiting. Be it historical, scientific, fiction, or current events, any will provide a baseline of education prior to arriving at your destination.
➡️ Learn about famous people who are from that area. We visit Twin Falls, Idaho often and we drive through Jerome. We were all excited to learn the famous guitarist of Motley Crue, Nikki Sixx is from Jerome!
➡️ Read books about your trip’s location. Historical fiction or non-fiction, both will benefit your children. Download it on a read aloud device for everyone’s listening entertainment in the car. (This is a winning pro-tip!)
➡️ Purchase hard copies of maps for your children to follow along on your journey. This will teach them how to read maps and follow the journey. Teach them estimate how far it is to the next pit stop by using the legend, how to read the compass, about the topographical markings on the map, and other important map reading skills.
➡️ Prepare your own learning materials prior to leaving. For example, I’ve created math story problems, scavenger hunts, journal pages, bingo cards, riddles, trivia, etc. This helps entertain kiddos on the car ride and it also helps guide their lessons if your materials are for hands on learning at the destination.
➡️ Incorporate the fun game of geocaching into your roadschooling trips. If you are unfamiliar with geocaching, it’s basically hidden treasures all around the world. In order to find the hidden ‘caches’, you’ll need to have a GPS and a little gift to trade for the caches you find.
➡️ Purchase and mail postcards home to friends and family. This will help kiddos learn to address a letter, practice their writing skills, and let loved ones know all about their fun learning adventures. Writing down what they’ve learned will also reinforce it once again into their memories.
What to bring on your trip
- Field Journals
- Writing Utensils
- Games for the Car
- Headphones
- Healthy (and not healthy!) Car Snacks
- Water, lots of it!
- Kid-Friendly Camera
- Pillow
- Comfy Carride Blanket
- Compass
- GPS
places to visit
- Museums
- Zoos
- Aquariums
- Historical Monuments, Locations
- National Parks
- Beaches
- Forest
- Mountains
- Planetarium
- Cemetary
- State Capitol
“Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the mountains and the stars up above. Let them look at the beauty of the waters and the trees and flowers on earth. They will then begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education.”
~ David Polis
Common Questions About Roadschooling
- Do I have to live full time in an RV to roadschool?
- Absolutely not! Although, that would be really fun. Any time spent out in the world learning is a priceless experience for your kiddos. Do it as often as your lifestyles will allow.
- How do I find the best places to take my kids when we are roadschooling?
- Look up your destination on TripAdvisor and Google. I especially like TripAdvisor as it is user-based and the reviews are written based on the personal experiences others have had in the area.
- How do I incorporate history and social studies into our adventures while roadschooling?
- Most cities have a historical society that can provide you with information. Other resources can be found through Wikipedia, Google, TripAdvisor, etc.
- Learning different cultures as you travel across the country or the world is a fantastic opportunity to learn various lifestyles and to experience various cuisines, clothing, housing, and much more! For example, our family is from Seattle and our culture here is quite different from that of Tuscon or the city of New York.
- Can we learn science while roadschooling?
- Yes, yes, yes! Look up that region’s animal life, plant life, topography, weather patterns, climate, plate tectonics, geology…the opportunities are abundant!
- ➡️ PRO TIP: This is an especially fun time to have those field journals handy and kid-friendly cameras ready.
- Is it possible to do math while traveling?
- YES! Calculate mileage, miles per gallon, the cost of gasoline, the time it will take to drive a certain number of miles of the next destination, budgets, financial planning so all the allotted funds are not spent in one day, cost of attractions, food, souvenirs, etc.
- How will my kids maintain socialization while we are on the road?
- Kiddos will find opportunities to make friends wherever they travel to. Even my shy little daughter has made buddies while we’ve been camping, visited the beach, stayed at a hotel and played in the pool, etc. Kids also find themselves talking to adults along the way…maybe a tour guide or a park ranger. All of these are great opportunities for children to exercise their socialization skills.
The Last Thing You Need to Know about Roadschooling
In the words of my son, “It’s my favorite because it doesn’t feel like school!” Roadschooling does not mean 24/7 cramming education into your children. It’s fun, it’s imaginative, it’s exciting, and the learning will happen with a bit of pre-planning. Just remember, anytime learning occurs outdoors, it’s an amazing, priceless experience and an opportunity to deeply bond with your family. There is nothing more precious than making memories with your family that they will remember and share for many years to come.
Has your family done any roadschooling? What other tips do you have for new homeschoolers wanting to try roadschooling?
