The joys of roadschooling

Kids are naturally curious and have an innate desire to make sense of the world around them.  In other words – they want to learn.  Have you ever seen your child out digging in the ground, trying to pull earthworms out of the dirt?  And then that same child proudly shows you all the segments and explains how the worm wiggles to move?  She is simply trying to put the pieces together to make sense of what’s around her.

Kids have an inborn inclination to want to make sense of their world. Unfortunately, our school system tends to beat that curiosity out of kids – too often, schools take “learning” and make it boring, repetitive, and irrelevant. And that is a pity indeed.

Many families have opted out of a ‘traditional’ education, and have chosen instead to take their children out to see the world – whether in RVs, planes, buses, or bicycles.  Roadschooling families make a conscious effort to capitalize on children’s natural penchant toward learning. They go out of their way to visit historical and/or scientific sites in order to arouse that sense of curiosity in children. And roadschooled kids learn the joy of learning.

As families travel throughout the world visiting historical sites, children gain an understanding of what life was like on the fields of Gettysburg or in ancient Mayan cities.  They visit museums and national parks and natural wonders. Roadschooling parents encourage their children to learn from everything surrounding them and the kids learn in a natural learning environment.

What could be better than learning by doing? By being there in person, by seeing and hearing and touching and living?  For many of us – there is nothing better!

Nancy Sathre-Vogel, a long-time classroom teacher, made the decision to quit her teaching job and join the ever-burgeoning ranks of homeschoolers. Together with her husband and children, she cycled the length of the Americas seeking out educational opportunities of every stripe and color.  She blogs at www.familyonbikes.org