Roadschooling: How To Get Started

What is roadschooling? Would your family like to live the travel lifestyle? Are you wondering how to homeschool your school-aged children while you travel across the country? Do you have travel dreams that include your kid? If so, it’s time to discover how your family can connect, learn, and have fun while roadschooling.

Let’s start with the basics.

Roadschooling Definition

We generally quote the Merriam-Webster dictionary when defining a word. However, when we searched for “roadschooling,” the word wasn’t found in the dictionary. Merriam-Webster simply states this: “The word you’ve entered isn’t in the dictionary. Click on a spelling suggestion below or try again using the search bar above.” So we tried, “road schooling.” Again, we received notice that this word was not in the dictionary.

Do you know why the word isn’t in the dictionary? Because it’s a term that’s used primarily in homeschooling circles. Most parents have never considered traveling with their children. Prior to the COVID Pandemic of 2020, homeschooling wasn’t an option that many parents were aware of or had ever considered. As a result, very few people were searching for the term. However, COVID has changed everything and parents are now more aware than ever that education doesn’t need to take place in a school building.

Most parents are now aware of the world of homeschooling. But how many people are aware of roadschooling? Since Merriam-Webster hasn’t defined the word, then we’ll share our definition of roadschooling with you. At Homeschool ThinkTank, we define roadschooling as the act of traveling while educating your children.

Definition:

Roadschooling is the act of traveling while educating your children.

-HomeSchool ThinkTank-

Listen To The HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast

Each week we share a new episode that’s designed to inspire, educate, and bring more joy into the lives of homeschooling families. You can learn more about our podcast here.

Get Inspired With Our Roadschooling Podcast Series:

Part One: Listen to this episode about roadschooling and homeschooling on Spotify, iTunes, here, or wherever you listen to podcasts. This is Episode #91.
Part Two: Hear Episode #92 right here, or on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Part Three: Listen to Episode #93 here or on Spotify, or iTunes.
Worldschooling: You might also like this interview with Sarah R. Moore, a worldschooling & homeschooling mom.
More episodes about roadschooling are forthcoming. Catch every episode when you sign up to receive our FREE weekly podcast.

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If you need help getting your homeschool family organized, then book a complimentary call here. Whether you need help decluttering or setting up a weekly schedule, Jackie will help you get started on the right foot.

Where Roadschoolers Live

Roadschooling generally implies that a family is living in a recreational vehicle like a 5th wheel or motor home. If you don’t know what a 5th wheel is, it is a trailer that you pull behind your truck. However, a family could also camp in a tent as they travel, book Airbnb’s, stay in hotels, or combine any of these living arrangements.

Roadschooling, Worldschooling, and Travelschooling

Sometimes the terms worldschooling and travelschooling are used as a way to describe roadschooling. However, the terms worldschooling and travelschooling imply that you are travelling more of the world. Roadschooling implies that you are travelling to places that are connected by roads rather than divided by oceans. If you want to learn more about worldschooling, read this article or listen to this podcast episode with a worldschooling and homeschooling mom.

Is Roadschooling Homelessness?

If you are not familiar with roadschooling, then you might read about this and think that it equates to homelessness. This is not the case. Homeschooling families generally choose this lifestyle with great intention. They recognize that they are not confined by public school schedules and walls. As a homeschooling parent, you quickly realize that educational experiences help your children learn better. Roadschooling and travelling full time is a unique opportunity that is not available to public school or private school families who are confined to a school year calendar, geographical location, and traditional school model.

Roadschooling is all about the experience of learning. A roadschooling family can read about Ancestral Pueblo People of Mesa Verde in a textbook, look at pictures online, and then go on a road trip to see the phenomenal cliff dwellings in person, visit the museum, and learn from a National Park Ranger. Your kids might even want to join a Junior Ranger Program. Junior Rangers of the National Parks take an oath to protect parks, continue to learn about the National Parks of America, and share their own ranger story with friends and family. As you can see, a field trip like this can be a springboard for many more educational opportunities.

If you are a roadschooling family, you can repeat this way of learning over and over again. Your family has the opportunity to learn about local history and geography in an experiential manner anywhere that you travel. Yes, any student can read about anything and watch a video about nearly anything in the world. However, your children (and you) will learn the most when you transfer a textbook education into an actual experience.

How Roadschooling Kids Make Friends

Before we dive into how roadschooling kids make friends, you might want to check out this article about how homeschooled kids make friends. Many of the ways mentioned in that article can help roadschool families meet new people as well. In addition, a quick search on Facebook will yield numerous groups for families who are roadschooling. In addition, you might want to check out Full Time Families. At HomeSchool ThinkTank, we believe that building a community around your homeschool family is one of the key ingredients to homeschooling successfully for the long haul. We believe that it is completely possible to build an incredible community of friends as you homeschool your family. Learn more about our private online community here and our Facebook groups here.

How To Homeschool On The Open Road

If you’re travelling while homeschooling, you might be wondering how you’re going to take all of your children’s school supplies with you. Here’s the good news. You don’t need or have to take everything with you. Homeschool families use many different approaches educate their children.

Some families use online resources like Khan Academy. These online programs don’t take the space that traditional textbooks do and are readily available as long as you have an internet connection. This is just one of many remote-learning online education programs.

If you’re new to homeschooling or need to make some changes to how you educate your children, then you might want to check out this article, podcast episode, and video about unschooling.

Roadschooling families are quick to take advantage of the numerous real-world opportunities that are available to them. Here’s a list of a educational opportunities that you can find around the world. Be sure to check on yearly passes and ask about reciprocity with other similar venues.

National Parks
State Parks
Children’s Museums
Nature Centers
Botanical Gardens
Science Museums
Historical Landmarks & Museums
Art Museums
Wilderness Areas
National Forest Programs
Hiking Trails
Libraries
Recreation Centers
Local Attractions and Landmarks

How To Get More Space When You Live In A Small Space

If you’re wondering what to do with your kids when they get stir crazy from living in a 5th wheel, we have a few ideas for you. In addition to the ideas we listed above, here’s a few more ideas.

If you’re traveling in an RV, consider staying at National and State Parks where there’s lots of open space.
Go to the park.
Find a rock climbing gym.
Is there a bowling alley near by?
Take your kids swimming.
Find an outdoor basketball or volleyball court.
Play tennis.
Look for a family friendly gym.
Go hiking.
Have you tried geo caching lately?
Ride bikes.
Take a walk.
Go to a coffee shop.
Find a library. Some have coffee bars, socializing areas, and outdoor seating areas.

Connection before curriculum. Homeschool mom and daughter walking together.

Before You Hit The “Road School”

Roadschooling your family isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. If this idea sounds intriguing, then you might want to take a few practice runs before becoming a full-time roadschooling family. Living in small quarters is simple enough for a week, but do you think you could do it for months on end? Here are some considerations to take into mind.

Children: How old are your children? How will you keep them safe while traveling?
Homeschooling Laws: How will you comply with your state’s laws? Will you “move” to another state?
Living Arrangements: Will you live in a camper or an Airbnb?
Finances: How will you pay for your expenses while travelling?
Pets: How will you care for your pets?
Your Home: If you own a house, what will you do with it? Sell It? Rent It?
Stuff: What will you do with your household items? Will you store it? Sell it? Donate it?
There’s More: Make a quick list of the obstacles you will need to overcome to become a full-time family on the road.

These are real-world obstacles. However, if the idea of becoming a roadschooling family is speaking to your heart, then you might want to look into it further.

Becoming Minimalist

If you want to roadschool your family, minimalism is necessary. You might want to start exploring with minimalism now. Check out this article, video, podcast episode, and books about minimalism here. Clearly, you won’t want to take all of the items from your household with you when you hit the open road. You can learn more about minimalism here, but first we want to share a quick tip. If you are roadschooling on a budget, thrift stores and yard sales might become one of your favorite ways to shop. You can find school materials cheaply, use them, and then donate items as soon as you are done using them.

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Homeschooling Laws

At HomeSchool ThinkTank, we aren’t lawyers and we do not dispense legal advice. However, we’ll get you started on the right foot as you try to understand the law around homeschooling.

If the idea of roadschooling while homeschooling is new to you, then you might be wondering about legalities of homeschooling your children while you travel. According to Home School Legal Defense Association, “You should follow the law of the state in which you are physically present.” This is especially true if you are going to reside in a state for more than a month. As a result of this recommendation, if you are a roadschooling family, then you might consider limiting your time to any one state to less than 30 days.

If you live outside of the United States or will be travelling outside of the United States, then you might want to check this map for more information. It’s important to note the different rules that each country has around homeschooling.

State By State Homeschooling

Each state and country has different laws around homeschooling. On HSLDA’s map, they have divided the states into four categories. The categories include, no notice required, low regulation, moderate regulation, and high regulation.

Full-time homeschooling families will need to decide which state they want to “reside” in. If your home state, or your domicile state, has more relaxed homeschooling laws, then you will probably want to keep your permanent address there. However, if your state is heavily regulated and has more difficult rules to follow, then you might want to consider “moving” to a state that is more homeschool friendly. Below, you can quickly see where your state is in the scheme of homeschooling regulations.

No Notice Required

Alaska
Connecticut
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Michigan
Missouri
New Jersey
Oklahoma
Texas

Low Regulation

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Delaware
Georgia
Kansas
Kentucky
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
New Mexico
Nevada
Utah
Wyoming

Moderate Regulation

Colorado
Florida
Hawaii
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Minnesota
New Hampshire
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oregon
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin

High Regulation

Massachusetts
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont

“Moving” To Another State

If you want to roadschool your family full time, then you’ll need a permanent mailing address. We suggest using Escapees Services to help you get started. Remember to consider the homeschool laws as you choose where to live.

Pros And Cons Of Roadschooling

Just like everything in life, you might find that there are advantages and disadvantages to roadschooling. Here’s a quick list of each.

Potential Disadvantages Of Roadschooling

Lack of a stable community (unless you travel with others).
Some children may have a difficult time with the uncertainty of where they will be next.
Potentially small space to live in.
Too much time together.
Need to limit items that you own.
Small space to cook in.
One bathroom (this is what is in most RV’s).
Pets can be difficult.
Packing up to travel.

Potential Advantages Of Roadschooling Your Family

Freedom to explore.
New experiences and sights.
Educational opportunities.
Time with your immediate family.
Time to see extended family or friends.
Less housework than a typical home.
No yardwork.
Less home maintenance (if you have an RV, this is far less than a typical home)
Potentially low cost of living.
Making new friends is fairly easy for roadschooling families.
More time to spend with your children and spouse.

Amazing Adventures!

If you are ready for some amazing adventures that will enhance your children’s education, then roadschooling or worldschooling just might be for you. Hopefully, this article has sparked a few ideas for you.

If you aren’t ready to become a full-time roadschooling family, then start planning some weekend trips. Your own roadschooling adventure is awaiting!

Are you already roadschooling? Please apply to Be Our Guest on the HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast. We’d love to hear your story!

Do you want to join a supportive of group of homeschooling families? Come and ask questions and share your experiences in our Facebook Group. We would love to hear about your homeschooling experiences.

Books About Roadschooling

If you want to learn more, then check out these books about roadschooling on Amazon.

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