Tips for Learning Remotely/Virtually this Fall

Many parents are looking for alternate schooling options for their children this fall in light of the school closures earlier this spring. While many public schools have started offering flexible back to school options such as distance learning, hybrid or in person. These options might work for some while other parents choose to school on their with or without their local school district.With so many families working from home and learning remotely or homeschooling another option to consider is roadschooling. With traditional travel limited, many have taken to life on the road living in RVs, visiting state or national parks, off the beaten path destinations and enjoying outdoor activities in areas without crowds while working and schooling their children aka road schooling.

The best schooling option varies for each family by circumstances, finances, learning styles, work schedules, space, time and many other factors. In light of that trend we wanted to offer tips for learning remotely this fall whether that’s through your local district or through homeschooling /roadschooling. These are unprecedented times and whether you choose to try a new learning style temporarily or commit long term enjoy this time at home with your children and don’t feel pressured to duplicate the traditional school experience at home.

Follow along a member of our own team this fall whose taking life, work, family, kids and school on the road in an RV! You can learn more about their Journey on their blog "Roadschooling and Roaming" Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram as we share their journey.

Tips for Virtual/Remote Learning

• Set and keep a schedule. While you don’t need to recreate school at home structure is important and will help you and your kids know what to expect throughout the day. This can be scheduled around other factors like your work schedule, naps or exercise. Using a timer can also help for switching tasks or subjects. For example, set 30 minutes for English, then 30 minutes for math, then a 30 minute outside break etc.
• Create a conducive learning environment. You may not have a whole classroom but having a designated space for school and learning will make completing daily tasks easier. Maybe that’s the kitchen table or a desk in the bedroom. When it comes to an RV, you may have to be more creative with creating space. Consider using folding TV Trays for each child and storing them behind the couch or under the bed when not in use. Since space is at a premium you might try using laptops, tablets or Kindles in place of traditional textbooks
• Create a daily plan. What specific tasks need to be completed each day? Zooming with the teacher? Checking the class Facebook group? Checking email for updates?
• Make sure necessary materials needed are organized and accessible. Maybe you have a school basket with all the workbooks, pencils, notebooks, and pens or a designated shelf or rolling cart. Keeping all the necessary items in one designated place will prevent you from having to hunt them down every day. Keep a printed list handy of any login information you need for online learning resources.

Tips for Homeschooling

• Investigate local homeschooling requirements. These vary by state and it’s important to comply with local homeschooling regulations. In some states this means registering as an independent homeschooler. Look for local homeschool groups near you as they will have the most relevant and up to date information. You can search for Facebook groups in your area or Google homeschooling in your city/region. Local homeschoolers can also give recommendations on curriculum and learning tools as well as local resources. 
• Decide on your goals and approach. Some parents may feel more comfortable following a standard curriculum, but others may want a more eclectic approach with formal studies and informal tools and resources. Others may even consider an unschooled approach which moves away from traditional schooling methods and is led by the child’s interest and curiosity. Sit down and discuss as a family your approach and goals.
• Collaborate with others. With many parents working from home indefinitely it can make homeschooling more practical but also more challenging. Collaborating with other parents and neighbors and reaching out to your community for babysitters and help will make the school year more feasible. Good Morning America recently reported the growing movement of micro schools during the pandemic. They are multi-aged, home based learning communities with typically a dozen or less children with a group of instructors:  parents that take turns or college students or teachers.
• Curriculum suggestions by age: 
• For preschoolers and kindergarteners play is the foundation of learning. Search for children booklists by classics, by age, or even season. Sparkle stories offers audio stories for young children and the “But Why Podcast” for parents and children is an excellent resource.
• For elementary ages: Brainquest workbooks are designed by grade level with daily activities and are aligned with state standards. There are also many free online tools, just do your research. Outschool offers thousands of low-cost online classes for children by ages and are taught live by instructors over zoom.
• For middle school age children: Khan Acadmey is the top leader in free online learning videos and math programming used in many schools. There are also daily learning schedules for children ages 2-18.
• For high school age learners: Khan Academy is still one of the best resources for free. Also, look into dual credit classes at local community colleges that count towards both high school and college credits and requirements. Another site is Thinkwell, a site that offers classes taught by professors.

Stay tuned this fall as a member of our team embarks on a journey roadschooling with his kids and working on the road with his family! We are looking forward to sharing weekly tips and updates from them but in the meantime, here are some hashtags to inspire you: #roadschool #homeschool #roadschooling #fulltimefamilies #rvlife #fulltimervfamily #rvliving #fulltimefamily #rvfamily #travelfamily #homeiswhereyouparkit #fulltimetravel #travelwithkids #fulltimerv #rvlivingwithkids #gorving 

Remember whatever you option you use doesn’t have to be permanent or a long term commitment. Enjoy being creative with your children’s education and getting a front row seat to their curiosity and development. We wish all parents and families the best on their schooling journeys this semester!