Floating School

Traveling the Great Loop, you will find an overabundance of incredible people. People in the towns, at the marinas, but best of all, the people you leapfrog with as they complete the same journey you are on.

Our family was an anomaly in the Loop community, with kids being the smallest subset of passengers on Loop vessels. I believe there have been less than 100 kids to ever complete the trip!

Completely altering life for our school-aged kids while living aboard was intimidating. The idea of not waiting for the bus each morning, having parent-teacher conferences or attending school-sponsored sporting events each week was a foreign concept. I also worried “what will everyone think” when we launch into this crazy adventure and take our kids out of the conventional education that most of our friends and family are accustomed to.

We have learned so much as parents during this trip, and I think we can now debunk some common misconceptions that can come into play when you consider homeschooling kids while on the Loop.

MYTH 1: Homeschooled kids lack social skills

Reality: One of the most pervasive myths about homeschooling is that homeschooled kids are socially isolated. Maybe our kids are different than some, but I enjoy watching them sit down with not only other kids of all ages but adults just the same and having conversations about life and our travel experiences.

We have found that there are so many avenues for homeschooled kids to be involved in extracurricular activities such as sports, music, theater and community service, which help develop strong social skills and allow them to be well-rounded in terms of social interaction.

MYTH 2: Parents aren’t qualified to teach

Reality: While not all parents are certified teachers, many homeschooling parents take their role seriously and invest time in learning how to teach effectively.

In our classroom, we use a variety of educational resources, such as online curricula, textbooks and educational software to provide a comprehensive education. The individualized attention that homeschooled children receive can lead to a deeper understanding of subjects and a more personalized learning experience. We also allow our kids to learn about what interests them, which has proven to give them a hunger to learn more.

MYTH 3: Homeschooled kids miss out on real-world experiences

Reality: This one makes me laugh! When we pulled our kids from public school and met with their teachers, the common remark was that the teachers were excited that they were about to learn more on this trip than they could ever learn in the four walls of a school building.

Their textbooks have truly come alive in the 7,000 miles underway on our boat at Washington D.C. monuments, the White House, Annapolis Naval Academy, the Culinary Institute of America, West Point, as well as maritime museums all along our trip!

Homeschooling can provide ample opportunities for real-world learning. We have taken full advantage of flexible schedules to explore all of these places as a family and formed not only memories that will last a lifetime but real-life experiences to reaffirm what is in the written text of the history books.

MYTH 4: Homeschooling fails to prepare kids for college or the workforce

Reality: Research shows that homeschooled students often perform well academically and are well-prepared for college and the workforce. We were thrilled (and thankful) when we used California Achievement Testing to see that our kids have truly thrived with this new way of learning. Colleges and universities increasingly recognize the unique strengths of homeschoolers, as we found out during our visit to West Point, where there is a growing number of homeschooled kids every year.

The recruiters we talked with said that they recognize independent learning skills, creativity and strong work ethic from homeschooled students, and they find that they notably stand out for their ability to think critically and adapt to various situations.

In the end, homeschooling is not only a dynamic and flexible educational option that can provide a rich and fulfilling learning experience for children, but it can also empower families to make a transient lifestyle possible.

By debunking these common myths, we want to help others better understand the positive reality we have witnessed as a homeschooling family. Through social engagement, real-world learning and academic success, homeschooling has proven to be a viable and effective educational choice for our family, and one that we intend to continue for our children’s academic careers.

Are you thinking of this lifestyle? Reach out. We’d love to give you some support in your transition!