Blog

Global Student Network (GSN) has provided excellent options in online learning to homeschool families worldwide since 2004. To celebrate this milestone, we are giving away 15 curriculum licenses. Beginning December 15, GSN will award winners based on the details...

One of the larger challenges I have found so far in homeschooling my six-year-old is how to establish a routine. All children thrive on routine, on knowing expectations and knowing when they are going to do what. As my little guy has some special needs, this is even...

Although every online school is different, it's important to remember that a great online school works, however, the student wants it to work.  Although each online school is different, online learning is about personalized learning and personalized learning allows...

WHAT IS ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL? Simply stated, online high school is a school or program where students earn their high school diploma by taking classes online.  Taking classes online can expand your options in terms of exactly how you achieve your diploma.  Although most...

One of the key benefits to homeschooling is the flexibility it offers. Are your kids restless and having trouble focusing? Why not try homeschooling outdoors? Quick Trips A quick trip into the outdoors has been just what we’ve needed to refresh us this year in our...

Reflections on the Book Happier at Home Book Review By: Sarah Brutovski Have you ever thought about what makes you happy? In her quest for becoming happier New York Times best- selling author Gretchin Rubin has become an expert on what makes people happier and the...

BACKGROUND Charter schools have been "on the grow" in the U.S. for the better part of two decades.  By school year 2016-2017, there were approximately 6,900 such schools registered in 42 states, totaling more than three million students grades K to 12. This number...

As I began to homeschool my first grader over the last few months, I felt encouraged by the local homeschooling groups I joined on social media. Just today, one of the other new homeschool moms posted a question I continue to try and figure out “what records do we...

Some people say that when you attend high school online "the world is your oyster." That you can attend classes in your jammies or that you'll never have to deal with teachers again and you won't ever have to attend a boring health studies class again.  Some of these...

Global Student Network (GSN) has a lots of “freebies” with your name on it! When you enroll your student for a full year curriculum program with Global Student Network between June 1, 2019 and July 15, 2019, you will receive: Link to free DIY homeschool portfolio kit...

Just as dissecting a real frog or making a real solar powered toy car provides hands-on learning for our kids, so participating in real life government teaches our kids about how things actually work. Additionally, visiting local historic sites (or even historic...

Hello! GSN is inviting all of our families to participate in our End of Year Homeschool Photo contest!  As the "school year" comes to a close, we would love to see how your year went!  To participate, please send a picture of your student to...

There are a multitude of subjects to cover in homeschooling, then add into that the list of extracurricular activities you want your kids to experience. It is overwhelming to contemplate everything you want to impart to your kids not only as their teacher but also as...

Did you know that tech historians are already referring to current times as the "Fourth Industrial Revolution?"  In fact, Bernard Marr, writing for Forbes in August 2018 said "We’re on the cusp of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0.  It’s...

According to data collected during the 2010 U.S. Census, the number of school age children (age 5 to 17) in the U.S. during 2016-17 was 58,212,462.  37% of those children live in California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois.  In an effort to offer more...

The Great Planner Debate: Teaching Homeschoolers the Art of Independent Planning I remember the first planner I used. I was in the sixth grade and my school issued everyone the same planner, complete with dates important to our school already printed in the correct...

Regardless of what your career or occupation is, you are sure to have to developed a few tricks of the trade to make your job easier. These days the term “lifehack” is used loosely to describe those uniquely personal ideas that increase efficiency in daily life. Let’s...

If you're a homeschooling or online learning parent looking for interesting, compelling and exciting course content for your middle school or high school age children, Apex Learning could be the solution you need.   Apex delivers digital curriculum that...

We were recently at a birthday party and my son happily shared with the guests sitting across the table that he was in kindergarten. Later in the conversation it came up we were homeschooling. The eyebrows were raised and the questions started. “Here we go,” I...

WHAT IS BLENDED LEARNING? Since 1999, the use of digital and online instructional approaches known generically as 'blended learning" and "hybrid learning" have become increasingly popular as a way to convert the brick-and-mortar classroom to a model that combines...

You know that feeling you get when you meet a new family in the community while you’re out and about during school hours? It’s usually fairly easy to spot a new homeschooling family and, for us, it’s pretty exciting to introduce ourselves to potential friends! My kids...