High School Electives ?

[LeesHomeEd]

Hello! I am pretty new to homeschooling (since Cristmas last year 8th gr). So I am sure I will be here with loads of questions :confused2 The first one for today is, what are some high school electives have you all used? We are leaning towards Spanish 1 and a health curriculum for this year. But of course I am dwelling on the next 3 years also. So any suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Look forward to getting to know you guys and all of your opinions :biggrin2:
Have a wonderful day!
Beth

[hh_spring]

Hi Beth and Welcome,

I am not answering your question as I am also doing 8th grade, but will watch for others answers!

I am leaning toward Spanish too as it would be the easiest for me...but my DS of course said Japanese....:lol:

Happy to have you with us!!

cya, Harriet

[Dianna]

Hello! I am pretty new to homeschooling (since Cristmas last year 8th gr). So I am sure I will be here with loads of questions :confused2 The first one for today is, what are some high school electives have you all used? We are leaning towards Spanish 1 and a health curriculum for this year. But of course I am dwelling on the next 3 years also. So any suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Look forward to getting to know you guys and all of your opinions :biggrin2:
Have a wonderful day!
Beth

I'm assuming you're using the basic SC graduation requirements* as a guideline and that "electives" is defined as courses that aren't on the required list. With that as an assumption, and off the top of my head (I'll look at the "official" transcript later); my son had Spanish, Latin, Criminalistics, Forensic Science, Mythology, Classical Literature, Philosophy, Psychology, extra computer courses which included an apprenticeship, Volunteerism (also called Service Learning, but don't call it Community Service because that's what they call it when a judge makes you do it for your misdeeds :wink2: ) and I can't remember what else at the moment. I'll look it up, if you'd like. We combined health within a PE class for 1 credit.

Dianna

*The SC graduation requirements are for publicly schooled students. Homeschoolers are not required to follow these. Just want to point that out because a lot of homeschoolers get confused about that.

[hh_spring]

ok....so are u saying you don't have to go phy science, biology, chemistry, labs etc..we are not required to follow that way....thx Harriet

[Dianna]

ok....so are u saying you don't have to go phy science, biology, chemistry, labs etc..we are not required to follow that way....thx Harriet

No, you don't. Science can be astronomy, meteorology, earth science, oceanography, horticulture, botany, animal husbandry, etc. If your son is planning to go to college and has an idea of the college he'll be attending, look at their requirements and work out a course of study based on that. If you're sure he's not going to college, or he's unsure, just encourage him to explore different subjects. He should focus at lot of his time on his interests and subjects that would support his interests(automotive, computer, farming, gardening, etc) because that is most likely what he'll get a job in after high school. He should focus also on learning skills that would lead to independent living - how to balance a checkbook, establish credit, create and maintain a budget, how to get a loan, how to manage living expenses, etc.

My son's big interests were classical literature and computers, so a lot of his courses revolved around those two areas. Since he was planning on going to college, we also made sure he had a good smattering of other courses that were required/recommended by the colleges he was interested in.

Let me know if you have any other questions. :smile2:

Dianna

[hh_spring]

Thanks Dianna,

You have set me FREE!!! Riley is very interested in Animals(Animal Planet), Computers and Earth Sciences like geology, He came home from the Mountains with a 20 pound box of rocks from an old mica/marble mine near my brother's house! He also helped to build a small dam and found some rose quartz! The life skills...should be Interesting as I have yet to stick to a Budget!!! Do you have any suggestions on books for Computer Science, and mechanics of Computer Building? My neighbors son who unfortunately now lives in Asheville, turned his gamecube into a computer to surf the net....LOL...wish he was still here to help Riley! I have been looking in the used books as many College books end up at the Salvation Army since we have a University here. All I found yesterday was about 10 books on Statistics:sad: .

[Dianna]

Do you have any suggestions on books for Computer Science, and mechanics of Computer Building?

Harriet, Bobby was older when I bought his books. I chose them by googling computer science courses at the high school and college level and seeing what texts they used for their courses. He also worked as an apprentice for a computer store. He loves the computer science field and that's his major in college.

I'll ask around about books for children Riley's age and see what's out there. Remind me if I don't respond in serveral days or so. :smile2:

Dianna

[hh_spring]

Thanks Dianna,

Used our Library cards today and found A Book "Computer Science made Easy" by V Anton Spraul 2005, most of the books are old before 95, So I will look this book over and see how good it is! There are tons of computer books, but as you know they can be pretty complicated!! The apprenticeship sounds great, Did Bobby get paid for that? how old was he when he did it? Has Bobby decided what kind of Job opportunities he will pursue? I also got a book on programming, Riley has such a analytical brain, he loves puzzles and Math and building things!

[Homeschoolmom28]

Last school year my daughter (9th grade) did PE, Volunteerism, typing and band electives. This school year (10th grade) we are going to do more volunteerism, music and I am going to contact the Red Cross and try to get her into some classes there that we can use as electives. She did not want to do Spanish this year so we will be doing that in the 11th and 12th grades. Monica has played the trumpet since middle school. This year she wants to take electric guitar lessens and that brings up a question that maybe someone on here can help us with. Does anyone know of someone that can teach guitar lessens to someone that would be a beginner. She can read music and seems to have a gift for music but she knows nothing about the guitar. If anyone knows of someone in the Gaffney or Spartanburg area that can teach guitar. I would like to get there name and give them a call. We have a music store in Gaffney that has guitar lessens, but they are around $70.00 a month and I would love to find someone that could maybe do it for around $40.00 to $50.00 a month.

I am also going to get Monica a driving course that will count as an elective. I would also like sometime between now and graduation for her to take some art class and some writing classes, she enjoys poetry and is very good at it and I would like for her to explore that talent. At this point in time Monica plans to go to collage and major in computer science so any electives that we can take to get experience in that field would be a great help. I would like to hear any other ideas for electives.

Teresa from Gaffney
HomeschoolMom28@aol.com

[hh_spring]

Harriet, Bobby was older when I bought his books. I chose them by googling computer science courses at the high school and college level and seeing what texts they used for their courses. He also worked as an apprentice for a computer store. He loves the computer science field and that's his major in college.

I'll ask around about books for children Riley's age and see what's out there. Remind me if I don't respond in serveral days or so. :smile2:

Dianna

I'm reminding you:biggrin2: and asked a bunch of more questions in my post after yours:lol: I liked the one book I found, just didn't find anything simple on programming or building your own computer, my neighbor who went into the computer field in Asheville, built a computer out of his gamecube and was surfing the web....lol...wish he was still here!!! Repeating myself here....my age is showing!!

[kimmeeangel]

I have a brand new Biology book and study guide I could give you. I got my college degree online and this is a great Biology class you could use for high school credit and you can actually take the Clep exam for college credit as well.

I also did microbiology, pathopsyiology and anatomy and psyiology

[Dianna]

Thanks Dianna,

Used our Library cards today and found A Book "Computer Science made Easy" by V Anton Spraul 2005, most of the books are old before 95, So I will look this book over and see how good it is! There are tons of computer books, but as you know they can be pretty complicated!! The apprenticeship sounds great, Did Bobby get paid for that? how old was he when he did it? Has Bobby decided what kind of Job opportunities he will pursue? I also got a book on programming, Riley has such a analytical brain, he loves puzzles and Math and building things!

Harriet, Bobby was around 15 when he did this, and he didn't get paid (with money, anyway), but he learned so much about computers that now he fixes people's computer for extra money, and has recently been hired as the Computer Science professor's assistant at the college he attends. He's majoring in Computer Science and would like to be a Network Administrator or IT Administrator for a company, or work in a Computer Crime lab (SLED has one in Columbia that he can intern at while he goes to college).

Let me know if you have any other questions. :smile2: Sorry I missed your questions before.

Dianna

[Dianna]

Thanks Dianna,

You have set me FREE!!! Riley is very interested in Animals(Animal Planet), Computers and Earth Sciences like geology, He came home from the Mountains with a 20 pound box of rocks from an old mica/marble mine near my brother's house! He also helped to build a small dam and found some rose quartz! The life skills...should be Interesting as I have yet to stick to a Budget!!! Do you have any suggestions on books for Computer Science, and mechanics of Computer Building? My neighbors son who unfortunately now lives in Asheville, turned his gamecube into a computer to surf the net....LOL...wish he was still here to help Riley! I have been looking in the used books as many College books end up at the Salvation Army since we have a University here. All I found yesterday was about 10 books on Statistics:sad: .

Harriet, a lot of people recommend Lego Mindstorms to learn a type of programming. For Bobby, the best resource wasn't books, it was his apprenticeship. If that's not an option for Riley (since he's younger) you may want to check into the Dummies or Idiots guides (your library will hopefully have them). They would be easier to understand than traditional books. Also, make sure you get the latest copyright dates because things get outdated very quickly in the computer field.

Dianna

[Dianna]

I'm reminding you:biggrin2: and asked a bunch of more questions in my post after yours:lol: I liked the one book I found, just didn't find anything simple on programming or building your own computer, my neighbor who went into the computer field in Asheville, built a computer out of his gamecube and was surfing the web....lol...wish he was still here!!! Repeating myself here....my age is showing!!

Harriet, I'm so sorry that I forgot to answer your posts. I've answered your questions now, but will ask Bobby if he has any other recommendations.

Warmly,
Dianna

[hh_spring]

Harriet, I'm so sorry that I forgot to answer your posts. I've answered your questions now, but will ask Bobby if he has any other recommendations.

Warmly,
Dianna

No problem, I can imagine trying to read it all!!

Great and if you need help with the SLED job, give me a holler, got a major connection there!! Would be happy to get a recommendation letter from a very close friend who retired from there and still helps out on special cases!!

Do you have to be a certain age to apprentice? I know you do to get paid from someone besides family.

[hh_spring]

I have a brand new Biology book and study guide I could give you. I got my college degree online and this is a great Biology class you could use for high school credit and you can actually take the Clep exam for college credit as well.

I also did microbiology, pathopsyiology and anatomy and psyiology

What is a Clep exam?

I am trying to get ready for High School, by running down info on alternative science to Biology....so thanks for the offer but I am not in need of a Biology Book, if you were talking to me:biggrin2: , sometimes the threads collide when I am reading!!!:lol:

[Dianna]

What is a Clep exam?


Harriet, CLEP exams are administered by the College Board (same people who administer SAT and AP exams). If students take these exams and pass, many colleges will give them course credit. Here is more information:
http://www.collegeboard.com/parents/article/0,3708,700-702-0-21300,00.html

Dianna

[Dianna]

Do you have to be a certain age to apprentice?

No, it's all up to the company/individual you're apprenticing for since it's an informal arrangement. I would guess that some companies would have insurance issues, but others may not.

Dianna

[kimmeeangel]

What is a Clep exam?

I am trying to get ready for High School, by running down info on alternative science to Biology....so thanks for the offer but I am not in need of a Biology Book, if you were talking to me:biggrin2: , sometimes the threads collide when I am reading!!!:lol:


I am offering it to anyone if they would like it.

My oldest son took the class in High School and he liked it so much that he wanted to see if he could taje the exam, He did and made a B. He was excited that he was able to earn a college credit.

[hh_spring]

No, it's all up to the company/individual you're apprenticing for since it's an informal arrangement. I would guess that some companies would have insurance issues, but others may not.

Dianna

Thanks for the info and the explaination of CLEP Exam....so much to learn...:biggrin2:

[Dianna]

I am offering it to anyone if they would like it.


You may want to post this in the Curriculum Sale & Swap forum. :smile2:

Dianna