Hey Kids (and parents) do try this at home

I want to emphasize how important it is to do a trial run with homeschooling at home before you take your show on the road. You know how some people will tell kids to not try whatever they are doing at home? Well, this is the exception. Kids should try this at home first to see if they are suited for it and perhaps more importantly if you, as the parent, have all the skills and patience that you need. I have learned to be a teacher, principal, vice principal, janitor and even a lunch lady from time to time. So make sure that this works for you before you convert to roadschooling. Make sure that the curriculum is accredited though as consider save you a great deal of headache!

Take your show on the road, but make sure you have good Wifi

When we're home, we use Wi Fi all the time and there's never or almost never a problem. And, if there ever is, we can make our phone into a hotspot and problem solved. Yeah, this is just not the case for life in a RV, so be sure that you have good Wifi equipment because you will need it for roadschooling.

Most of the homeschooling curriculum that you can take with you on the road will have an online requirement for videos, etc.  Even for the ones that don't, you should consider this option as it helps with learning, especially for elementary students. YouTube Kids has been a great tool for us and it could work well for you too. Be sure to have all the best Wifi boosters and equipment in case you find yourself living the lessons in the wild and need to better decipher what is and what is not poisonous out there!

Know your State laws as it pertains to homeschooling on the road

A consideration that many people fail to pursue are the State laws and regulations for homeschooling. Be sure to make this a priority.  No, I don't think that someone's going to come chase you down in your RV because your kids aren't in school, well, not yet anyway. But the last thing you want to happen is for your child to repeat a grade because you didn't follow the proper procedure. For example, here where we live in North Carolina, there was a couple mandatory requirements.  First, we had to withdraw our children from the school system officially. Next, we had to re-enroll them in our homeschool which, by the way, needed to have a name.  Actually, this was quite fun for us to do as a family, but at the end of the day, my suggestions were all overruled. (Can't imagine why?). You most likely will need to claim a State of Residence for your school so be sure to follow that State's guidelines. 

Be sure to become a member of at least one RV Roadschool Group

There are so many great groups out there that can help you when you take your show on the road from homeschooling to roadschooling. You'll just have to search for the best one that works for you. Focus on the ones that are roadschooling for good tips, suggestions, and things to avoid. These groups can be very helpful and you won't be on your own out there. I know people who have connected with other roadschooling families while out on the road and they all have great stories to tell. The memories made doing this will last a lifetime for you and your children.

Another very big reason to join groups that are similar in purpose is because it will remind you that you're not crazy and that you're not alone. Homeschooling on the road can be challenging and it's good to have friends that are on the journey with you. These groups will often strengthen your commitment to your tasks and to each other.

Use Nature, Parks, and Museums as your Teacher

When you're going from homeschooling to roadschooling, make sure that you go to the outdoors, parks, and museums that support your curriculum. For example, if you're learning about Earth Sciences let's say, you should try to go to those areas where your children can see the material learned first hand. Start looking at all the different ways to apply the learning material to real life on the road. Or, as another example, if you're learning about the ocean, there's your excuse to have a beach day! This can be a great deal of fun and if you plan your trips around the roadschooling, you will bring another element into the learning process.  It certainly helps1

Don't give up!

Are you a Winston Churchill fan? I am and even if you aren't, I bet you appreciate some of the things he said.  Remember how he told his troops and the world for that matter to never give up? Well, if you start roadschooling, I would encourage you to not give up on unless there was no other option.  Give it at least the year before you decide if you want to continue. Make a plan and do your best to stick with it. Don't feel pressured to teach during long stretches on the road when traveling and consider going from a 5 day school week to a 4 day school week. (There are many available options out there that do this). The key is to give it your all and have fun in the process. You may never have another opportunity quite like this one so go for it and stick with it!



Need More Info?

Use these tips to your advantage and take your time to research your decision to take homeschooling on the road. There's a lifetime of memories to be made in your RV!

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