When we picture homeschooling, many of us imagine a kitchen table with books spread out, perhaps a whiteboard nearby, and a structured schedule that mirrors traditional school. But what if education could break free from those four walls entirely? What if the world itself became the classroom? This is exactly the educational approach Melissa Smith and her family have embraced through their roadschooling adventure.
Melissa Smith, mother of nine children ranging from 28 to 11 years old, brings a wealth of experience to the homeschooling conversation. Having begun her homeschooling journey back in the early 2000s, she’s witnessed the evolution of home education firsthand. In 2019, she and her husband took their educational philosophy on the road with their four youngest daughters, combining online curriculum with immersive, experience-based learning as they traveled across the United States.
What makes Melissa’s perspective particularly valuable is her experience with both traditional education and homeschooling. Some of her children attended public school at different points, giving her family a unique vantage point to compare approaches. One powerful insight she shared was about her son who, while homeschooling through high school, found time to not only complete his studies but also explore entrepreneurship. He purchased a Porsche for $500, taught himself mechanics through YouTube videos, and eventually launched a bounce house business at just 15 years old – opportunities that simply wouldn’t have been possible within the constraints of traditional schooling.
Central to Melissa’s educational philosophy is the understanding that learning isn’t a “light switch” that turns off after graduation. Rather, it’s a continuous, lifelong process. She actively demonstrates this principle to her children by continuing her own education, working as a life coach, meditation teacher, and creating resources for other homeschooling families. By modeling this ongoing pursuit of knowledge, she instills in her children the understanding that education extends far beyond formal schooling years.
Perhaps one of the most inspiring aspects of roadschooling is how it transforms seemingly ordinary experiences into rich educational opportunities. The Smith family makes extensive use of the National Park system’s Junior Ranger program, where children complete educational activities about the parks they visit, learning about history, geology, ecology, and more in the actual locations where these subjects come alive. Presidential libraries, science museums, and historical sites like Williamsburg, Virginia become their interactive textbooks.
Their approach to curriculum is equally thoughtful. Rather than adhering strictly to a single program, Melissa uses various online resources like Acellus, Teaching Textbooks, and Moby Max, customized to each child’s learning style and needs. This flexibility allows them to adapt to each child’s unique learning profile – particularly important for children with different learning needs, like those with Auditory Processing Disorder, which affected several of her children.
The financial aspect of roadschooling might seem daunting, but Melissa shares practical strategies for making it work. Through membership programs like Thousand Trails, they can stay at RV parks across the country for three-week stretches without nightly fees. Online work allows her husband to maintain his business while traveling. And the educational resources themselves – online curriculum subscriptions costing around $25 per month – are often more affordable than traditional school expenses.
What stands out most clearly from Melissa’s experience is the importance of identifying your “why” – your foundational purpose for choosing homeschooling. With a clear understanding of your educational goals and values, the practical challenges become merely logistical problems to solve rather than roadblocks. For the Smith family, their “why” centers around fostering a genuine love of learning, developing well-rounded individuals who can adapt to change, and building strong family bonds through shared experiences.
Whether you’re considering homeschooling from your dining room table or contemplating a more nomadic educational approach, Melissa’s journey offers an inspiring glimpse into the freedom, flexibility, and rich opportunities that alternative educational paths can provide. It reminds us that education isn’t about checking boxes or completing assignments – it’s about nurturing curious minds that will continue learning long after formal schooling ends.