Family Culture & Formation

Homeschooling isn’t just about academics – its about building a family culture rooted in faith, virtue, and shared purpose. Here I share the heart of what holds us together: our Catholic identity, our house rules chant, the virtues we practice (imperfectly), and the habits that shape both our days and our souls. This is the quiet work of formation, and I’m so grateful you’re here for it.

I’m Erika

Welcome to Smithhaven Schoolhouse! We are a military homeschooling family traveling the country (and the world!) while raising curious kids with strong roots.

Our one room schoolhouse doesn’t have four walls or a bell tower. Instead, it’s a modern one room schoolhouse without a building: the kitchen table, the trail at a national park, the quiet corner of a library, or a base housing dining room. Home is where the Navy sends us, and we bring the schoolhouse with us.

At Smithhaven Schoolhouse, we treasure the American educational tradition that built this country: strong families, timeless books, and lessons learned by living close to the land and community. We believe America does have culture, beauty, and heritage worth celebrating, and we discover it one PCS move, one field trip, and one book at a time.

Here you’ll find stories from our travels, homeschooling insights from the road, and practical ways we keep family life anchored through deployments, moves, and the everyday chaos of raising five kids. Our hope is that by sharing our journey, you’ll be inspired to see the richness in your own home, your own hometown, and maybe even your next adventure.

So pull up a chair in our “schoolhouse,” we’re glad you’re here.

Let’s connect

Follow along for behind the scenes moments, homeschool tools, and creative inspiration on the fly.

Recent posts