Are you a traveling family looking for the best homeschool routine to keep your kids on track? Or maybe you’re just curious about how others manage homeschooling while on the go. Either way, you’re in luck!
Travel homeschooling, also known as roadschooling or worldschooling, gives families the chance to travel together while using the experience as a learning opportunity. While travel homeschooling does present some challenges in regards to a daily routine, there are 6 routines that work well for traveling families – school in the morning, play in the afternoon, every other day, unschooling, doing schoolwork on travel days, timeblocking, and doing 1 subject per day.
This post will outline 6 different routines that can be adapted to fit any lifestyle. So whether you’re constantly on the move or take time to settle down each day, there’s an option for you. Keep reading to find the best routine for your family!
Travel Homeschool Routines
Traveling definitely poses some challenges with sticking to a routine. And while children thrive on a routine, this doesn’t mean you can’t travel while your children are in school.
As we have done, you can create your own routine to use while traveling! Remember, homeschool doesn’t have to imitate traditional school, and it most certainly doesn’t take much time to homeschool. Read this to learn how long it takes to homeschool daily.
Also, keep in mind, that you can try different routines to see which work best for your children. We’ve done 5 out of the 6 routines while traveling. Depending on what type of adventure we are on, how much we need to work, and our son’s mood, we adjust accordingly. You can do the same!
School First, Play After
For children that thrive on doing the same routine each day, your best bet is to get school work done in the morning before they go outside to explore. By doing this method, they are likely to be motivated to get their school work done so they can play. Most children are able to get their homeschool lessons done in 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on their ability and cognitive development.
Day for Adventure, Day for School
This is one of my favorite ways to homeschool while traveling. It’s great for kids who have a 1 track mind. Do school every other day, and do adventures on the day in between. This allows kids and parents to have downtime to work and do school work, without interrupting adventures with formal lessons or vice versa. What I love about this is that when you get up in the morning, you’re ready to go. You don’t have to wait for everyone to finish their school work before getting outside to enjoy the day.
Incorporate Learning into Your Adventures
Not all learning takes place from a textbook. For those that take the unschooling approach, this routine fits seamlessly into their routine. Learning is everywhere!
Go exploring and read signs. Have your children use a travel journal to document their vacation. Write postcards to relatives back home. Go on field trips to learn about the science and history of the area. Here’s a list of how to make homeschooling on vacation more fun!
My point is this – you don’t have to separate school from your adventure. Merge the two, and your children will have a zest for learning.
School Lessons on Travel Days
For those that don’t stay in 1 place for very long, you can have your children do their school lessons on the days you’re traveling to your next destination. Grab a writing tablet, a clipboard with storage, and whatever else your kids may need to complete their school work. Here’s an article with all the items needed to make homeschooling while traveling easier.
It’s such a time saver, and kids don’t feel like they’re missing out on exploring once they arrive, because their school work will be complete.
One Subject Per Day
Some opt to focus on 1 subject per day. It’s not our favorite, because some subjects take more practice than others. Personally, I don’t like to space English Language Arts and Math too far apart because my son requires more consistent practice with these subjects in order not to lose progress. But it does work for some traveling families, so it’s worth mentioning.
Timeblocking
If you like more structure and a plan, maybe your family would enjoy timeblocking. I use a Daily Planner (pictured above) when we are timeblocking. It’s great because you can design each day however best fits your schedule. Here’s more information about using timeblocking for homeschooling.
I tend to not use it when we are traveling, because I try to take a more relaxed approach, but it is definitely a great option to make sure you get enough school work wrapped up in your adventure!
Best Curriculum Options for Travelers
If you plan to do quite a bit of traveling, you should probably think of using either an open and go curriculum, online classes, worksheets, or no curriculum, as opposed to bringing several subjects worth of curriculum. It will be less to pack and keep track of on the road.
No Curriculum
Since we take a more relaxed approach while traveling, we often use no curriculum when traveling! Gasp!
We use a checklist of items we are working on with our son, and are sure to incorporate those topics into our everyday life. For example, if your child is working on identifying numbers 1-50, you can bring flashcards instead of a curriculum. This works really well for younger children. Middle school to high school children will probably do best with a curriculum unless you are using the unschooling method.
Open and Go Curriculum
Open and go curriculums are so easy for traveling. You don’t have to bring a bunch of supplies. Most lessons are ready to start when you open the book. The information for parents is all included as well.
- Christian Light Academy
- Heart of Dakota
- Sonlight
- Rod and Staff
- Saxon Math
- My Father’s World
- Trail Guide to Learning
- The Good and the Beautiful – This is the one we use when we are following a curriculum. It is pictured above.
- Christian Liberty
- Abeka
- Robinson Curriculum
- Teaching Textbooks
- Math-U-See
- Winter Promise
- Landmarks Freedom Baptist Curriculum
- BJU Press
- Hooked on Phonics
- Accelerated Achievement
- Apologia
- BookShark
Printable Worksheets
Teachers Pay Teachers is an invaluable resource for homeschoolers. There are tons of free worksheets to use. You can search by grade or subject. If you prepare before leaving, you can have all your worksheets printed and ready for your trip! We like using a multi-pocket folder for each subject. You can also use one pocket for each day of the week or one pocket for each child. Whatever suits your family!
Free Online Programs
Many children enjoy doing their lessons online. If you think your children would do well with an online program, here is a list of free online programs for homeschoolers. This option is great for an independent learner.
- Ambleside Online
- BJU Press
- Time4Learning
- Easy Peasy
- Connections Academy
- Discovery K12
- K12
- ABC Mouse
- Khan Academy
Conclusion
I hope you’ve been able to find a routine and curriculum that would work for your family while traveling. Here is the routine we use when we are home.
Travel homeschooling changed my life, and it can change yours too. So, are you ready to hit the road in your RV and become a traveling homeschool family? Happy Travels!
