65: Learning Through Travel: Worldschooling 101 with Hana Seyoum
Get ready to explore the world through homeschooling! Travel expert Hana Seyoum is sharing how your family can embrace homeschooling while traveling with a concept called worldschooling. She details some of the benefits of global experiences for children, as well as practical tips to get you started turning the whole world into your family's classroom! Check out her ➡️free guide to help you choose the best destinations for family travel!
Slow Versus Fast Travel
When considering worldschooling, one of the first decisions families need to make is whether to pursue slow or fast travel. Slow travel means staying in one location for extended periods, allowing families to deeply immerse themselves in the local culture, community, and educational opportunities. It often creates a sense of stability and helps build deeper connections.
Fast travel, on the other hand, is more suited for short stays in multiple locations, offering a variety of experiences in a shorter span of time. Both approaches have value, but slow travel provides the time for children to fully absorb their surroundings, reflect on their experiences, and engage in hands-on learning.
Intentional Travel to Connect with Family Roots and Ancestry
Traveling with intention adds another layer to worldschooling, especially when the journey is designed to connect with family roots and ancestry. For many families of color, visiting countries where they can learn about their heritage fosters a deep sense of identity. Traveling to ancestral lands, learning the history, and meeting locals with shared cultural backgrounds can create powerful, memorable experiences.
This type of travel helps children understand where they come from, deepening their appreciation for their family’s story and their place in the world. It's an educational journey that blends the personal with the global, offering an irreplaceable sense of belonging.
Immersive, Experiential Learning
One of the most exciting aspects of worldschooling is its focus on immersive, experiential learning. This kind of learning goes beyond textbooks and worksheets. It’s about engaging all senses and stepping into the experience firsthand—whether it’s visiting rainforests in Costa Rica, learning history at the NASA Space Center, or walking through ancient ruins in Egypt.
These environments give students a tangible connection to what they’re learning. Rather than simply reading about history, science, or geography, children live the lessons, experiencing them in real-time. This form of education sparks curiosity, builds critical thinking skills, and ensures that the knowledge gained sticks for a lifetime.
Benefits of Traveling Where People of Color Aren't the Minority
Traveling to countries where people of color are not the minority provides an enriching experience for families of color. It offers children a chance to see themselves reflected in the broader society and helps build a sense of belonging in the global community. In countries like the Dominican Republic or parts of Africa, children of color can see positive representations of themselves in different cultural, professional, and leadership roles.
This kind of exposure is invaluable, offering a contrast to environments where they might face racial bias or feel underrepresented. It affirms their identity and broadens their worldview, showing them that the world holds a place for them wherever they go.
Finding Homeschool Community Abroad While Worldschooling
Connecting with a homeschool community abroad is not as difficult as one might think. Worldschooling hubs are popping up around the globe, from Egypt to London, and homeschoolers are known for their welcoming nature. These communities often gather for group activities, shared lessons, and field trips, providing an immediate network for visiting families.
Platforms like Facebook have groups dedicated to worldschooling where families can reach out before they travel to connect with locals or other worldschoolers. Through these networks, homeschool families can tap into a global community, ensuring that even while traveling, they have support, camaraderie, and the shared goal of raising lifelong learners.
Facebook Groups to Explore:
Finding Homeschool Community Abroad While Worldschooling
- Credit card points in exchange for air/lodging
- AirBnB for slow travel (more cost effective than hotels for longer stays)
- House sitting: Worldschooling Central
- Pet sitting (do a search for trusted sites)
- Be mindful of peak travel seasons for the locations you’re seeking (Hana's ➡️free guide can help you!)
Finding Homeschool Community Abroad While Worldschooling
- Involve them in decisions of where to visit and what to do there
- Have them use their math skills to help budget for the trip (or for certain parts of the trip)
- Study the geography/history/culture/food/currency of your destination ahead of time
- Are there any fun science or art topics you can explore while you’re at your destination?
- Do a vlog (video blog) documenting your experience there!
Key Takeaways
Worldschooling opens up a wealth of opportunities for families seeking more than just academic education. By embracing slow travel, connecting with cultural roots, immersing in hands-on learning, and experiencing environments where people of color are in the majority, families can deepen their understanding of the world and themselves.
As more families explore worldschooling, the lessons learned will create lasting memories, broaden perspectives, and form connections that last a lifetime.
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