Why Roadschooling Families Thrive Outside the Classroom

Roadschooling families usually relish the freedom and unique educational opportunities that their lifestyle affords.  Not being stuck in a boring classroom all day is a huge benefit for their kids. Learning about Native American history by touring places like Montezuma Castle National Monument, studying the Revolutionary War by following the Freedom Trail in Boston, and exploring the impact of the Civil Rights movement by visiting the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis gives children a much deeper connection to their education than simply reading textbooks.

However, children do benefit from learning and collaborating with their peers.  They also need social connections that can sometimes be difficult to find while traveling.  Thankfully, there are options for roadschooling families—namely, Outschool.

Meet Outschool: An Online Solution for RV Families

Outschool is an online platform for teachers to host educational and social classes for children up to age 19.  Originally created to serve the homeschool community, Outschool became incredibly popular during the pandemic and now offers a huge variety of classes and teachers. There are both live and asynchronous classes on Outschool to suit just about anyone’s schedule, and if a learner has to miss a live class, they can usually watch the recording to catch up.  Outschool’s strict class content policies ensure that all classes are secular, age appropriate, and guard against discrimination, hate speech, or violence.  Most classes are LGBTQ and neurodiversity affirming.  If your learner has an ESA account or receives Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship, they can use their funds on eligible classes.

Academics That Travel With You

Families can find just about any academic class their learner needs, from preschool story times to Advanced Placement courses for college-bound teens.  Some classes are year-long comprehensive classes on a particular subject, while others are short deep-dives on a niche topic.  Teachers are required to have the appropriate education and experience to teach their classes, so you won’t find an early education teacher presiding over an AP Physics class, or vice versa!

For classes that focus on marginalized groups, teachers are required to have direct, lived experience as well as the relevant education, which ensures that these matters are handled sensitively and accurately.  Outschool also offers 1:1 tutoring, for students that need a little extra help.



One way that Outschool is especially valuable to roadschoolers is that besides its robust academic offerings, there is also an enormous number of social classes.  There are classes that include gameplay on group servers for games like Minecraft or Roblox, and classes that allow learners to share their fan art for their favorite anime.  A family’s four year old might take a playtime with Bluey class while their eleven year old plays Fortnight while their teen works on their cosplay, all with other kids from all over the world.  There are singing, dancing, and sports classes along with classes that focus on conversation skills, mindfulness, and coping skills for anxiety.

From the Teacher’s Seat: How I Use Outschool as a Full-Time RVer

I began teaching on Outschool in 2018, when my family was stuck in New Mexico while we saved up for a new engine for our broken-down truck. I initially began teaching creative writing and mythology classes using Dungeons and Dragons as a framework, but quickly moved into Dungeons and Dragons gameplay.  I absolutely love teaching teens through Dungeons and Dragons – we practice everything from math to physics to history, and my learners get to hone their critical thinking skills, their social skills, and practice teamwork in a fun, safe environment.  The majority of my classes last for years at a time, so my learners have the chance to connect with the same people each week consistently.  Often, with their parents’ permission, they exchange contact information and form their own group chat outside of class-time.  It’s wonderful to see them encourage and support each other through their high school years and even as they go off to college.

Teaching While Traveling: A Flexible Income Stream for RVers

Teaching on Outschool is a great job for RVers, though it’s crucial to have a stable internet connection.  Teachers are thoroughly screened for their educational background and depending on the class, their lived experiences.  Yearly background checks are also required.  But beyond that, teachers develop their own classes, set their own prices, and manage their own schedules.  Outschool does take a percentage of teachers’ earnings to cover Zoom hosting, advertising classes, and support, among other things, but it’s worthwhile to not have to handle these matters independently.

A Win-Win for Roadschoolers

Outschool is a valuable resource for fulltime RVers, providing education, socialization, and even income for the whole family.  With its vast array of offerings, everyone is sure to find something to suit their needs.  Families new to Outschool can also get a discount on their first class.