## Timestamped Outline **00:14** - Why the Koons Chose Homeschooling **02:04** - Trading a House for a 300-Square-Foot RV **03:28** - A Day in the Life of RV Homeschooling **05:58** - Kids Taking Ownership of Their Learning **07:46** - How Travel Shapes Their Education **09:30** - Building Roots and Routine on the Road **11:58** - Finding the Right Curriculum for Each Child **16:08** - Turning Adventures into Science Lessons **18:41** - Managing Chaos in a Small Space **20:43** - Strengthening Marriage Through the RV Lifestyle **22:01** - Introducing Bottega University and the Bottega Advantage **25:01** - Who the Program Is For **27:44** - Resources and Practical Advice for Families --- ## 00:14 Why the Koons Chose Homeschooling **Ela Richmond:** Welcome back to the OpenEd Podcast. I'm Ella, your host, and today we are joined by Zach Koon. Zach, you have a crazy story. Tell me—how did you get started in homeschooling, and what does your day-to-day look like? **Zach Koon:** Thanks for having me, Ella. It started back in 2021, right in the height of COVID. My wife and I were trying to decide between public or private school for our three kids. We weren’t happy with what we saw—friends who were teachers were frustrated by pressure to push students ahead before they were ready. That didn’t sit well with me. After a lot of discussion, we decided to homeschool. Neither of us had been homeschooled, but we wanted more control over our kids’ learning and values. --- ## 02:04 Trading a House for a 300-Square-Foot RV **Zach Koon:** Around the same time, our house was feeling small. I joked with my wife: instead of buying a bigger house, why not buy a 300-square-foot RV and travel the country while homeschooling? Surprisingly, she agreed—and that’s what we did. --- ## 03:28 A Day in the Life of RV Homeschooling **Ela Richmond:** What does a typical day look like in the RV with three kids? **Zach Koon:** Honestly, it’s like any other family, just in a tighter space—with two German Shepherds added to the mix. We wake up, make breakfast, and then start school. My wife leads most of the lessons, but I jump in where I can, especially in the evenings. We’ve found a rhythm: some subjects are better taught by her, some by me. And because we’re mobile, we often take school outside—especially for science or geology projects. --- ## 05:58 Kids Taking Ownership of Their Learning **Zach Koon:** One of the biggest changes we’ve seen is how much ownership our kids have taken. My son wakes up and starts his independent work without prompting. They’ve learned to be curious—reading, exploring, and asking better questions. --- ## 07:46 How Travel Shapes Their Education **Zach Koon:** Traveling has been huge. They meet people, visit national parks, and experience things we never could’ve imagined in a traditional school schedule. Science, especially, has come alive for them—asking why landscapes look the way they do, studying geology, or learning about ecosystems firsthand. --- ## 09:30 Building Roots and Routine on the Road **Zach Koon:** Adjusting to life on the road wasn’t easy, especially for my extroverted son who missed familiar friends. Over time, we realized that while we’d given up some routines, we’d opened doors to entirely new opportunities for growth, connection, and adventure. --- ## 11:58 Finding the Right Curriculum for Each Child **Zach Koon:** We started with an all-in-one curriculum, which worked well for my son but not for my daughter. That forced us to adapt—mixing different resources, customizing lessons, and even involving the kids in choosing how they want to learn. --- ## 16:08 Turning Adventures into Science Lessons **Zach Koon:** Our family loves the outdoors, and we bring that passion into our lessons. At places like Zion National Park, we turn hikes into geology or ecology discussions. The kids even earn Junior Ranger badges at parks, which has become a built-in science curriculum for us. --- ## 18:41 Managing Chaos in a Small Space **Zach Koon:** RV life can get chaotic. With five people in 300 square feet, patience is critical. Sometimes my wife takes the truck for a break, and I hold down the fort. We try to model patience and teamwork for our kids—even when space is tight and tempers run short. --- ## 20:43 Strengthening Marriage Through the RV Lifestyle **Zach Koon:** Living so close together forces you to work through challenges. My wife and I have learned to confront issues quickly, forgive often, and lean into partnership. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s made our marriage stronger. --- ## 22:01 Introducing Bottega University and the Bottega Advantage **Zach Koon:** Bottega University is an accredited online school that partners with OpenEd. We help families integrate dual-credit options, so students can earn high school and college credits at the same time—saving time and money while building real-world skills. --- ## 25:01 Who the Program Is For **Zach Koon:** It’s primarily for high school students, but advanced eighth graders can join too. Some students use it just to knock out a few courses early, while others graduate high school with an associate’s degree already in hand. --- ## 27:44 Resources and Practical Advice for Families **Zach Koon:** The Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is a fantastic resource for understanding state laws and getting legal support. For RV families, connecting with other traveling homeschoolers in forums or Facebook groups is invaluable. If you’re new to homeschooling, my advice is simple: be flexible, be humble, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Nothing goes exactly as planned, and that’s okay. -