Homeschool
A rich, immersive education for kids who are meant to think deeply and live faithfully.
Our approach
We’re not trying to recreate a classroom inside an RV.
We’re trying to give our children a deep, uncommon education — one built on Christ, strengthened by books, shaped by real places, and widened by hands-on learning.
We draw from classical education, living books, read-alouds, writing, observation, unit studies, and practical skills. We think of it as a Renaissance-style education: broad enough to awaken curiosity, disciplined enough to build skill, and rooted enough to form character. By that, we mean we want our kids exposed to many disciplines — literature, history, science, theology, art, music, economics, nature, and practical skills — because the world is connected.
Jesus is the cornerstone upon which we build everything.
What it actually looks like
We’ve been homeschooling for 12 years, and full-time RVing while homeschooling for nearly 3. Our kids are 4, 7, 10, and 12. My wife handles the core academics. I focus on the extras — art, identification hikes, projects, and deeper dives.
Our weeks are adaptable. Some days we knock out several lessons. Other days one subject takes the whole morning. The older two are becoming more self-directed, which helps. Moving days are extremely disruptive — we’ve learned to expect very little those days and just survive.
A typical rhythm (when we’re not moving)
- Mornings: Core subjects (math review, reading, writing, history)
- Reading Fridays: My wife reads aloud for hours — historical fiction, biographies, living books
- Hikes & identification: We hike several times a week for exercise and learning — plants, trees, mushrooms, animal tracks
- Afternoons: Art, projects, unit studies, or free time
- Screen time: Limited to once a weekend — we protect play and real learning
- Evenings: Prayer together, read-alouds, honest conversations about what’s hard
This isn’t rigid. Some weeks are beautiful. Some weeks are survival mode. That’s real life with four kids on the road.
What we are not trying to do
We are not trying to make every hike into a worksheet.
We are not trying to turn the RV into a perfect classroom.
We are not trying to pretend our kids are always eager learners.
We are not trying to follow one homeschool philosophy perfectly.
We are trying to build a faithful, rigorous, flexible education that fits real family life.
What we actually do
When we’re near a historic site, we often tie it into a unit study. We read historical fiction before we go and talk about it afterward. Learning sticks better when it’s connected to real places.
We hike for health and learning. The kids identify plants, trees, mushrooms, and animal tracks. We encourage journaling and writing about what they notice — practice over polish.
We take math, writing, history, economics, theology, and the sciences seriously. We review current grade + one grade behind. Our oldest is starting essay writing. We don’t treat science and faith as enemies. We believe the created world is orderly, knowable, and full of evidence of God’s wisdom.
We pray together, read Scripture together, and make space for honest conversations. Character matters more than perfect academics.
What we actually use
We keep a small core and lean heavily on the library. We’re not loyal to any brand. We keep what works and drop what doesn’t.
- Sonlight — Our main spine for history, literature, and Bible
- Horizons Math — Challenging, but we’re reconsidering it because the explanations are hard for the kids to follow independently
- The Good and the Beautiful — Used as a supplement for language arts and other subjects
- Classical Conversations — We’ve drawn from the classical model for years and are planning to participate more formally this summer for memory work and community
- Library cards (heavy use — we’re there constantly)
- Historical fiction tied to the places we visit
- Nature identification guides (plants, trees, mushrooms, tracks)
- Art supplies and project materials
- Read-alouds (my wife’s specialty)
We recently dropped a few things that weren’t working well. We’re always tweaking. That’s part of the process.
An honest note
Homeschooling is hard. Some weeks feel like we’re crushing it. Other weeks we’re just surviving. Moving days destroy momentum. Curriculum decisions are never final. But we believe this path is giving our kids something rare and valuable — and we’re committed to it.
If you’re thinking about homeschooling, especially on the road: you can do it too. It won’t look perfect. But it can be rich, meaningful, and deeply formative.
Homeschooling Under Constraints, Without a One-Size-Fits-All Method
How our family approaches homeschool through reading, writing, math, history, faith, nature study, story-driven learning, and the real constraints of RV life.
Read-Aloud Rhythms on the Road
How we built a daily read-aloud habit that survives travel days, time zones, and tired evenings — with the short list of books that earned a permanent shelf.
Want to follow how this actually works in real time?
Follow our journey