A Heartfelt Message

Hand on heart, I’m writing this to you not just as an educator, but as a fellow parent navigating this unpredictable, beautiful, and sometimes messy world of home schooling while travelling.

When creating Caravan Classroom, I drew on everything I’ve learned over many years in education - my university and tertiary studies, the theories from the best in the business, the hands-on classroom experience, curriculum writing, and the countless tips and tricks gathered along the way.

But more than that, I’m writing this as a mum. A real mum, currently travelling around Australia in a van with my husband and our two children - Josie (10) and Jaxon (6). We’re home schooling them as we go, learning together each day, and finding our rhythm on the road.

On my site, you’ll find references to my teaching background, my education philosophies, and ideas for planning and routines. I’ve included the same advice that we use: the tools, resources, and honest reflections I hope will also help other parents feel like, “Yes! I can do this!”

Now, it might all look very organised and ‘together’ from the outside - but I promise you, it’s not always like that. In fact, in the beginning, I questioned whether we’d even last the first month.

We had meltdowns. We had slammed doors (thank you, pre-teen hormones). We had plenty of moments filled with “I can’t do this” - sometimes from the kids, sometimes from us (though we tried our best not to let them see when we were struggling too). It was overwhelming. It was emotional. It was uncertain.

I’m sharing this because I never want to paint the picture that home schooling while travelling is always sunshine, learning breakthroughs, and picture-perfect family days. It’s not. But it does become more manageable - and even joyful - with time, structure, and the right mindset. Now that we’ve been on the road for a while, things have definitely settled. We’re not perfect, but we’re far more confident. 

And here’s the honest truth: Some days will flow with ease. Others will feel disjointed and difficult. That’s just part of the process. You’ll start to learn when your child is engaged and ready for a challenge, and when they need space, simplicity, or rest.

When resilience is low, we shift the focus. We go back to basics, revise past content, or find something fun and familiar. We try again the next day. It’s all part of the journey.

Caravan Classroom was created to help other families feel empowered to home educate while on the road. I’ve shared as much as I can - what’s worked for us, what I’ve learned in the classroom and the caravan - in the hope that it makes things a little clearer and a little easier for you.

Because here’s the thing: yes, there are hard days. But there are also days filled with incredible progress, beautiful “yes, I can” moments, and the kind of growth that’s a privilege to witness as a parent.

Early on, it became clear that one of our children had some learning gaps - especially in Maths. Home schooling gave us the space to slow down, revisit past content, and truly master those concepts before moving forward.

We’re incredibly grateful for this time together on the road. Our children are thriving -well, on most days. We’ve been able to focus on what matters most, close learning gaps, and bring education to life through real-world experiences. And although the thought of giving up and going home is rare now, we still have those moments of “Why are we doing this?” - because that’s real life.

So, from one parent to another: you don’t have to have it all together. None of us do. And that’s okay.

Sometimes, the best thing we can model for our kids is that perfection isn’t the goal. That “pretty good” is good enough. That when life feels challenging, resilience, not perfectionism, is what matters most.

You’ve got this.
We’ve got this.

Carlee - The Caravan Classroom Mum
xx