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17 Comments

  1. Moms Mustard Seeds
    January 7, 2013 @ 6:43 am

    Stock Piling this – trying to plan now….few years ahead but I know I need to make some great choices for High school

  2. Heidi
    January 7, 2013 @ 9:21 am

    Rebecca, it is so strange how high school just springs itself on you! I am spending lots of time researching and planning. My next post pertaining to high school planning is on what we “think” we have chosen for electives and what resources I have found to help us with that. It is great that you are looking a “few years” ahead!

  3. Jackie
    January 11, 2013 @ 8:25 am

    My DD started high school this year. I have been learning so much at various sites. My fave site is Let’s Home School High School.

    My DD has some learning challenges which makes it difficult to go after the transcript. We are contemplating it, or the GED. There are just some subjects required for the transcript that she simply can’t master.

    We are mainly focusing on life skills at this point. She is a bright kid, but things like CAPD, dyslexia, ADHD, and panic make some things really tough for her.

    I like your list of electives…gives me some great ideas for her.

    Joyfully,
    Jackie

  4. Heidi
    January 11, 2013 @ 9:09 am

    Jackie,

    Thanks for sharing your favorite site. I too have found many useful articles at Let’s Homeschool High School. I believe that learning challenges or not life skills are very important. Algebra is algebra but learning to cook, do laundry, manage money, etc will be far more important in the long run. I am happy my list of electives has sparked some ideas for you. I know that doing the research has been a real help for me to narrow down a direction that we want to go. In my next post about high school I am sharing what we have chosen for our electives and the resources we are considering. Good luck along your high school journey!

  5. quaintscribbles
    January 11, 2013 @ 11:01 am

    Thank you for your encouragement!

  6. flmom
    January 16, 2013 @ 1:20 pm

    How very different requirements are from state to state! I have an 8th grader and am in the agonizing process of getting geared up for 9th grade this fall. He must do 4 English credits, 4 Math credits (algebra 1, geometry, and algebra 2 are required), 3 Social Studies credits, 1/2 P.E. credit, 1/2 Health credit, 3 Science credits (biology, chemistry OR physics, and one equally as rigorous are required – 2 must be with a Lab), 1 Fine Arts credit, and 8 Elective credits. One of the most helpful things I’ve done in determining his Electives is to look at college websites to see their current entry requirements. In doing so, I have a tentative current plan to do the following as Electives … world geography (saw it listed on every college site), psychology 1 (again, saw it listed on many college sites), voluntary public service, music appreciation, introduction to the Bible 1, semantics and logic, speech, 2 years of the same foreign language (expected by colleges), and an extra science because he intends to be a science major in college (so biology, chemistry, physics, and anatomy & physiology most likely for him in high school). I had thought of doing a semester of mythology (because I recall that being one of my favorite courses in high school and my son loves it as well), but we will incorporate it into the literature portion of his English studies instead.

  7. flmom
    January 16, 2013 @ 1:23 pm

    My apologies … I neglected to list 3 History credits as a requirement above. Within that, 1 credit of U.S. history, 1 credit of World History, 1/2 credit each of U.S Govt. and Economics are required.

  8. Heidi
    January 16, 2013 @ 3:27 pm

    Flmom,
    Yes state to state is so very different. I like your idea of checking college websites to see what their entry requirements are. Despite things like science and math only being required for 2 credits here in NY, we are planning on a full 4 years of each. Math will include Algebra II, Geometry/Trig, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus. Science will include Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and then and advanced science of our daughter’s choice her senior year. I have another post that I wrote http://www.startsateight.com/?p=13969 with a more in-depth look at what electives we are planning on. They include digital photography, photo editing, Psychology, and Latin. Even though a foreign language is not required for homeschoolers here, I think Latin will serve well on her high school transcript and since she is considering something in the medical field it could be useful in the future.

  9. Thaleia Maher (@Something2Offer)
    January 19, 2013 @ 9:13 pm

    I am starting a series next week called Homeschooled Through Highschool: Is it possible? with a dozen guest posts from grads as well as some really cool giveaways and experts sharing tips and advice. If anyone has questions or a curriculum they would like to learn more about please email me thaleia.maher@gmail.com

  10. Anna-Marie
    January 26, 2013 @ 4:56 am

    Been interesting to see your transition into Homeschooling Highschool, I too will be doing this in another 3 years. Thanks for linking up to the NOBH

  11. High school curriculum
    June 21, 2013 @ 7:11 am

    I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting.

  12. Kulani McDermett
    August 7, 2013 @ 4:43 pm

    Also, another great way to stay up with your state’s requirements is through the HSLDA site & in my town, I just went to the public school & asked for their graduation requirements page that they hand out to their own graduates. This has been helpful for me in determining how many credits ea subject requires!

  13. Other Electives | Pearltrees
    August 11, 2013 @ 9:44 pm

    […] Exploring Possible Elective Courses for High School | StartsAtEight […]

  14. Michalene Elliott Kinsler
    August 7, 2014 @ 7:45 am

    Very helpful list. I wonder, do you plan to let your teen choose their electives or will you choose for him/her? Should it be a topic of interest for them or should it be more of a way to broaden and deepen their knowledge of a particular subject?

  15. Heidi
    August 7, 2014 @ 7:55 am

    Michalene, I think that electives can be either or both a topic of interest to your teen and to broaden and deepen their knowledge in a particular subject. We had ongoing conversations throughout 8th grade about what electives Chloe wanted to undertake. Some were 100% her choice and some I sort of steered her into! We dropped the final semester of computer programming because it just wasn’t her thing and added Sociology which she seems to enjoy. Plus we will CLEP Sociology to earn her college credit.

  16. Homeschooled Through High School: 3 Things I Have Learned... - Something 2 OfferSomething 2 Offer
    August 31, 2014 @ 7:08 pm

    […] course of study. This thought is aligned with the definition of electives that I gave in my post about exploring possible […]

  17. Get Your Homeschool On! Top Performing Posts by Top Homeschool Bloggers ~ The Nitty Gritty Mom
    February 4, 2016 @ 2:53 pm

    […] Heidi from Starts at Eight had two posts running neck and neck: Time Management for Teens andExploring Possible Elective Courses for High School […]

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