Roadschooling this Year? Beginner-Friendly Tips for a Top-Tier Education on the Road

Want to start roadschooling but don’t know where to start? Here are some tips and considerations before you hit the road.

The rise of remote work has redefined what careers can look like. Full-time travelers are now able to make living wages while constantly moving from place to place. The same is true of education for children and adolescents. Roadschooling is becoming increasingly popular for traveling families because it allows children’s education to be enriched by their varied surroundings.

Roadschooling, much like homeschooling, is an academic method for the children in traveling families in place of traditional schooling. This usually entails combining a homeschooling curriculum with the real-world experiences that come with travel. For the children, roadschooling can provide opportunities for growth by immersing them in the world around them, not by keeping them within the confines of a classroom.

For the parents, this means also taking up the role of an educator. As intimidating as it might sound—especially for a parent with no background in teaching—it can be an extremely rewarding experience that prompts growth in the child and the parent. Here are some tips to boost your confidence.

Keesha Scott contributed expertise to this article. Scott is the co-founder at Guardian Recovery Adolescent Center which provides support for teens navigating nontraditional education services.
Azadeh Weber, a psychologist and homeschooling mother of three years, contributed expertise to this article.

Roadschooling Laws and Considerations

There are some legal requirements to be aware of if you plan to roadschool. Even if you are traveling full-time, you are still bound to the homeschool laws of your official state of residence, according to Keesha Scott, co-founder at Guardian Recovery Adolescent Center.

These laws vary by state, but you may be required to file your intent to homeschool, keep a portfolio of the student’s work, or meet annual evaluation standards. Scott recommends using resources like HSLDA.org to ensure you are remaining compliant with your state’s laws.

Registering with a Homeschool Program

Some families may prefer to register with a homeschool program or umbrella school for help with choosing a curriculum to follow, access to educational resources, or to simply be involved with a community of other homeschooling families, says Azedah Weber, psychologist and homeschooling mom. However, Scott adds that if college is on the horizon or if you plan to re-enter your child in public school later, it becomes more important to have official records and transcripts.

Building a Curriculum

Ideally, roadschooling curriculums are flexible to accommodate the spontaneity of travel. According to Scott, online platforms like Khan Academy, Power Homeschool, and Time4Learning can be helpful in building a portable curriculum.

These resources can also guide you to choose material that aligns with the student’s grade level while still allowing for a learning pace that works best for your family. When choosing your curriculum, Weber notes that you can hire a homeschool coach to advise you for your chosen subjects.

Going Without a Curriculum

Approaching roadschooling without a set curriculum can seem risky, but a sort of “unschooling can work beautifully for some families,” says Scott. Exploring your child’s interests is a great start to guide the learning process. That way, it will be easier to incorporate specific lessons into real-world experiences.

Although there is no traditional curriculum, this approach is not synonymous with laziness or lack of progress. Setting academic goals and reflecting on growth weekly is important to ensure that grade level expectations are still being met. The opportunities for the child to dive deeply into a topic they are interested in is freeing, but consistency and structure—even if it's loose—builds confidence, according to Scott.

Take Advantage of Your Travel

When the world is your classroom, every city, landmark, or restaurant can become a learning opportunity:

Historical monuments and museums prompt discussions of the past or social studies;
Going to a local restaurant can develop your child’s understanding of different cultural norms, languages, and community practices;
National parks can become a lesson about geography, geology, and preservation.
Scott recommends encouraging your child to document their experience; this may be through journaling, field notes, photography, or other creative methods. The point is, traveling expands the possibility of real-world experiences for your child, so take advantage!

Roadschooling Ideas

If you feel like you have exhausted all of your roadschooling lessons, here are more ideas to keep the learning going!

Go on a Hike

Hiking can be a good opportunity to teach about all things nature.

Have your child hunt for different insects, sketch them, and label their parts.
Find interesting land formations to teach about erosion, weathering, and other geological processes.

Visit a Farm

Let your child learn about where our food comes from through agriculture and livestock. Some farms may even allow for hands-on activities like milking a cow, picking berries, or riding a horse.

Cooking and Baking

Have your child practice measurements.
Develop motor skills and general kitchen safety.

What Does a Roadschooling Schedule Look Like?

A roadschooling schedule does not need to entail seven-hour school days, five days a week. The key is to create a flexible outline that provides some sort of structure and rhythm to the learning process. Here is a weekly schedule that Scott recommends:

Four days of focused academic work, two to four hours per day
One day of project-based learning or travel-based fieldwork
Afternoons for exploration, journaling, or virtual extracurriculars
Evenings for reading, discussion, or family debriefs

Your schedule should reflect what works best for your family, but this is just a brief outline to show that roadschooling does not have to consume all of your travel time.

Common Roadschooling Challenges (And Solutions!)

There is a lack of confidence in the parent who is teaching.

Weber suggests working with a homeschool mentor to guide your teaching methods or join a homeschool community to discuss ideas, questions, or concerns with other homeschooling/roadschooling families.

Parents become overwhelmed with teaching.

Scott advises against trying to “replicate” school. After all, roadschooling is an unconventional schooling method, so attempting to replicate traditional schooling is impossible. Instead, “focus on progress, not perfection,” she says. Weber also suggests that at least one parent not work a full-time job—even if it is remote—so as to not experience a burnout.

There is concern with limited social development or connection.

To ensure your child is still experiencing social interactions, “tap into homeschool networks, local co-ops, online classes, and virtual social spaces,” Scott says. This way, your child can still meet and interact with others their age.

Recap: Roadschooling Pros and Cons

Undoubtedly, roadschooling is not for everyone, but hopefully, these pros and cons can help you weigh your options.

Pros:

Increased family connection
Opportunity for interest-based learning
Personalized learning pace
Flexibility for travel or personal needs
Real-world learning opportunities

Cons:

Potential pressure on parents
Fewer peer interactions
Navigating legal requirements
Gaps in academic progress compared to traditional students may create challenges when transferring

FAQs

Is roadschooling legal?

Roadschooling is legal, but there are some considerations to be aware of. According to Keesha Scott, co-founder at Guardian Recovery Adolescent Center, “most states require families to follow the homeschool laws of their official state of residence, even while traveling.”

Is two hours of homeschooling enough?

Keesha Scott, co-founder at Guardian Recovery Adolescent Center, recommends a homeschool schedule that includes two to four hours of school during four days of the week. In addition to this period of focused academic work, you might occupy afternoon and evenings with extracurriculars. Therefore, two hours can be sufficient if they are supplemented with other enriching activities.

Is homeschooling better than public school?

Homeschooling is not necessarily better or worse than public schooling, but homeschooling may be more viable for certain families. However, there are “many public school districts where less than half of students are meeting their grade level expectations,” according to Azadeh Weber, a psychologist and homeschool mother of three years.