Electives in your curriculum

Sixth grade is one of the first grades where your child is presented with options other than core curriculum classes. It is an opportunity for your child to test the waters and see if they really want to take full year courses in an elective as they get older.
If your child is in traditional school there may be a limited number of electives for him to choose from. Examples of these are usually things like foreign language, music, choir, and band.
If you are a homeschooler the list of electives becomes much larger because of the flexibility of home schooling. Basically the sky is the limit. Electives can be a short as a two week cooking class, or a one day seminar at the local veterinarian school in horse and stable management.
Sometimes an elective course might span the entire year, or run over several years. Generally band, music, and foreign languages will run at least a year, often longer. Consider what your child’s interests are outside of basic academics and find ways to let their extra-curricular activities count as electives. Keep in mind that as your child passes into high school, electives become more important and will have bearing educational opportunities after high school such as trade schools, or universities.

Back to School!

Do you remember the excitement of getting ready to return to school? There were new clothes, and usually a new pair of shoes. As much as you didn’t want to return to school, it was hard to overlook the excitement of a new backpack and pristine notebooks just waiting to be filled.
Those of us who home school all year long sometimes miss this important time of year. Returning to school makes school exciting, if only for a little while. It gives both parents and children something to prepare for, and experience together.
Aside from the emotional boost you might get from having some type of back to school ritual, there is one other consideration. Take advantage of the back to school sales on school supplies and fall/winter clothing. If you need notebooks in January you will pay three times as much for a notebook compared to the sale prices. And by the time it is cold, they will have bathing suits on the racks.
So, shop early, and start some back to school traditions that will make memories and build excitement for years to come!