Choosing to roadschool is a big deal. Choosing your roadschooling curriculum is an even bigger deal. After all, you must choose something that fits your travel style as well as your kid’s learning style. Additionally, the curriculum must meet your standards as a homeschooling parent.
Because there are so many homeschool curriculum options out there, finding the curriculum that perfectly fits your situation can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Add in the fact that your family’s needs and wants will likely evolve over time, and you can bet your bottom dollar you’ll be constantly on the hunt for the perfect curriculum solution.
That said, there are a few tried and true homeschooling curriculums that are loved by a huge portion of the full-timing families out there. Considering how many people rave about these options, there is a pretty good chance one of them will suit your needs.
#1: Online Curriculum
Online curriculum is preferred by many roadschoolers because it is easy to take anywhere. These curriculums tend to be all-inclusive, meaning you don’t have to supplement very much at all. Additionally, these programs are very much self-directed, leaving you free to do other things.
That said, they can also be time-consuming, so you will want to do your research before choosing, especially if you expect to go out exploring during the week. Additionally, an online program will require that you have internet access at all times, so be sure to factor that into your decision.
One of the best and most used online curriculums out there is Time 4 Learning. However, many people also have luck with the free Khan Academy lessons.
There are an enormous number of all-in-one workbooks out there. These are a great option for those who won't have consistent internet access in order to do online school, but need something compact and easy to store. They also offer a lot of scheduling flexibility, as there is no “guide” telling you when to do each activity and what order to do them in.
I also find that these workbooks work nicely for roadschoolers because they keep the student on track academically in a way that is quick and painless, leaving you plenty of time to expand upon the subjects learned by reading, chatting, and exploring your surroundings. That said, this “quick and easy” approach often leaves gaps in the teaching, meaning you will have to actively fill in the blanks.
Some of the best all-in-one workbooks out there include:
Brain Quest
Sylvan
Flash Kids
#3: Unschooling
Last but certainly not least is the option of unschooling. This homeschooling method uses life experiences to educate the student in a laid-back and child-led manner without the use of textbooks or testing. Obviously, this teaching method goes hand in hand with traveling and experiencing new things.
While unschooling may seem pretty outrageous, it is actually quite popular in the roadschooling circle, and many families have great success with unschooling.
If you’d like to learn more about unschooling, I highly recommend reading the following books:
Teach Your Own by John Holt
The Unschooling Handbook by Mary Griffith
The Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewelyn
The Unschooling Unmanual by Nanda Van Gestel
There you have it, three of the most roadschooling-friendly methods of education. Of course, these are only three of the many options out there. If one of these doesn’t sound right for your family, consider doing a bit more research to see what else you can come up with.