Here in Colorado, the law states we have to homeschool for an average of 4 hours a day, which pretty well covers the core curriculum of my education program - Math, English (Reading and Writing) and Science. At least that's the core here. I'm sure others have a different idea of the core classes, but for the purposes of Colorado, these are the only subjects they test in, so I'm using it as my core.
Not that we only do the core curriculum. Each term, I give my daughter a course or two above the core - like PE, History, Geography, Government, etc. plus the options for what I call electives. (Like I said, I'm trying to mirror college here.) Last term we did Speech and Theatre for elective courses, and I also gave her credit in Home Ec because I am teaching her how to cook. The term before, she chose Psychology. Before that, Mythology.
Now, according to state law, I don't really have to spend any specific amount of time in any subject, as long as we have school for at least 4 hours a day, and she passes a grade-equivalent test every other year. If I was concerned with keeping the status quo, however, I wouldn't be homeschooling, so we go above and beyond.
This term, I haven't really settled on an elective for her. We have the core plus PE and Government. Additionally, we have spelling bee practice, so I'm not certain how much more she needs to do. Still, I'd like to see her spending a little time learning something different. I'm thinking about teaching her a skill like knitting or crocheting.
What kinds of electives do you do?
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2 comments:
Both of my kids are still too young to do "electives" as school subjects. That may change as they transition into the middle and high school years.
That said, we do try to provide them with opportunities to branch out of the core subjects. But we do it by integrating it into their daily lives, or by providing specific "extracurricular" activities.
As an example of the former, whenever I cook or bake, they always want to "help". I let them help (assuming I'm not under a tight timeline) according to their ability.
Another example: A while back, I was finishing up a crochet project I had been working at on-and-off for a couple of years. My DD saw me working on it and wanted to know how to crochet. So I got a hook out and some yarn and showed her the basic chainstitch and single crochet stitch. She didn't go much farther than that, but the next time she shows interest, I'll show her more.
Then there are the specific activities we setup for them. Both kids now take horse riding lessons, and both are involved in a local 4H club. DD has also gone to day camp before, and has had art lessons.
So really what we do is try to gear those extras to whatever they show and interest in.
That's great.
I probably should have been more specific. Electives are probably less important until you think your kids have mastered the basics. So, late middle school/early high school is probably the best time to begin inserting other courses, depending on the child.
For us, electives actually begin creeping into school because she was asking for more things to learn. =o)
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