100 High School Electives

Summary:  Sharing 100 ideas for fun and engaging high school electives for your homeschooled teen. With lots of links, including high school activities as well as electives. #homeschoolhighschool #highschoolelectives.  This post includes affiliate links to products that we love and have used or would use in our homeschool. Please see my disclosure policy.

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There is so much more to homeschooling high school than just core studies.  One of the main reasons that we homeschooled all the way was to foster our daughter’s interests and grow her gifts.  And as she approached high school, they became her high school electives.  

Indoor Play Activities that Help with Handwriting

Summary - Indoor play activities for a rainy day that actually can help your child build foundational skills for handwriting.  #indoorplay  #handwriting


With summer approaching, are you, by any chance, looking for some fun indoor activities for your kids, when it is too hot to play outside?  

I recently found a resource that offers easy-to-do inside play activities, from Play Packs.  In fact, these activities can actually help with handwriting, build muscles and be just plain fun.

Play-Pack Gross Motor offers a number of activities that can build up your kid's foundational skills for handwriting.  

Did you know that the shoulder muscles actually are a big part of handwriting?  These activities can help build up the shoulder and core muscles, as well as those of the wrist.

I wrote a review of this resource, with more photos of the activities involved.........Feel free to click here  and read more.

Do you have questions about your child's handwriting skills? If you like, I encourage you to share about that in the comments, and I will be happy to give you my ideas and suggestions.

For more ideas on handwriting, click here, for my handwriting section.

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is mom to her 20 year old college student whom she homeschooled from day one.  She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, high school & college and wrote my book on College for Homeschoolers.  She offers  homeschool help and messages at BJ's Consulting.

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Finding Mentors For Your Homeschool

Summary:  Finding mentors for your homeschool can give so much to your homeschooled kids.  By using community and homeschool activities our daughter not only found friends but also mentors. Having mentors is such a gift for our homeschoolers at any age, during the elementary years, but especially in the homeschool high school years for our teens.


As a homeschooling family, we were always on the lookout for ways to build community for my daughter and our family.  We also wanted her to have a wide variety of experiences with kids and adults, and hopefully, the benefits of adult leaders in her life.  

Through the years, we looked for things that fit my daughter's interests and that led us to join in a number of community activities.  We found a kid's co-op K -2nd, did dance classes at the Parks department, did some gymnastics, then drama, etc...whatever she was interested in, we gave it a try. (Within limits, of course, re the driving time, lol.) And we were lucky enough to find some other nurturing adults, along the way.  

When my kiddo was 5, we looked for a program that would give her a chance to make friends and be a part of a group. We found a once a week co-op that was actually held at a public school.  There's lots of great homeschool co-ops out there as well, of course. 

Our co-op had a lovely group of kids, which gave our daughter a feeling of belonging and some early friendships. But as it turned out, having a teacher to interact became the biggest bonus for her. Somehow the stickers she earned there meant more!  She loved getting feedback from her teacher, so not"just" from mom at home.  (Her words)

We found that teachers and other adult leaders would come to mean a lot to our daughter.  Homeschooling worked very well for us, as it challenged her, helped with her ADHD and sensory issues, and was a much better choice for her, than public school.  But we wanted other teachers/group leaders for her, too.  So we just looked for opportunities in the community, where she could interact with other adults, different points of view and different personalities.  

She looked up to her dance teachers, gymnastics coaches, etc and that meant a lot to her.  One year, my daughter became fascinated with science.  We found her a science hands-on lab class that was offered at a local public school.  It was a magnet school, and we were allowed to enroll for just that class, as homeschoolers.  Most states allow homeschoolers to enroll in ps, part time.

She did this for awhile, and over the years, became friends with the science teacher there.  This teacher took her to science museums, told her about science lectures in the area, and encouraged her interest in the subject.  

Later this teacher asked her to become her volunteer TA. This was a great opportunity for our daughter.  It was her first volunteer job.  This teacher helped her to learn how to assist, and gave her challenges to meet along the way.  And working with her did a lot for her self esteem as well. Finding a homeschool mentor at ps, that was fun!  A nice surprise.

Then my teen heard about a leadership program that she wanted to try, called Youth and Government (Y and G).  It is sponsored by the YMCA, so it included homeschoolers and ps kids as well.  We liked that.  She participated throughout high school, and there met a woman who later became a mentor.  She was the leader of her Y and G delegation.  

As my daughter progressed in the program, this leader taught her a lot of leadership skills.  My daughter ended up running for office, and later became a mock chief justice at their annual Mock Youth Legislature.  Great experiences.

My teen watched this leader and learned a lot from that. When she joined the teen leadership board of this group, she got to know this adult leader personally.  My teen was enthralled with her style of leadership. This inspired her, and led to her desire to become a leader, but didn't know how yet.

At the same time, she became more involved in our church.  She attended our youth group, and got to know the youth leader there.  Through that, she was invited to a statewide youth conference, where she learned more about leadership and inclusive community.     

This and her work in Youth and Government (Y and G), helped her to later decide on a major.  In freshman year (in college), she found a leadership program on campus. (Honors Global Leadership, brag alert)  That is where she is currently studying now, with an eye on a political career possibly.

Having these mentors, the science teacher and her Y and G leader, added a lot to our daughter’s homeschooling years. These adults helped her on her way, and exposed her to new ideas.  

We were also pleased that they wrote college reference letters, which helped our teen get accepted by multiple colleges.  That gave her a wider choice.  But more importantly, they helped to open up the world to her, as each of these women shared their passions.  And their encouragement.  

And they showed her another way to be, a part from my husband and I.  Another perspective, another lifestyle to learn about, and another hand to help the growing along the way. 

What are your kids interested in exploring?  How have you found mentors along the way?  Or has that been a difficulty? Please share in the comments or on Facebook.  This is a part of the  November blog hop.

Do you have a college bound teen?  

Have you seen my new book yet?  
________________________________

Do you want a step by step guide to high school and college, plus my exclusive guide to the Common Application for homeschoolers? 

I have gathered together all my best tips for high school and college and put it into my new book, Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition. 

It gives you everything that you need to plan your high school homeschool for your college bound teen.  Plus how to help them get into the college of their choice.

Amazon for only $11.99

Paperback is on Amazon for only $11.99

This book is an easy-to-read guide to college for homeschoolers, recently updated with 7 NEW chapters, including:

- My own homeschoolers guide to the Common Application

- How to write the Counselor Recommendation Letter

- Where to find college scholarships

- SAT/ACT Prep

- How to make your own homemade courses

-  Included are also 12 homeschool high school planning printables to make your record-keeping easier.

10 easy to do steps to homeschool high school with college in mind. And it really is NOT that hard!!  

This book does not tell you how to homeschool high school.  Instead it gives you guidance for doing it your way!  

Keep your nurturing homeschool style and showcase their accomplishments to the colleges!

Recommended by: Lessa Scherrer, Certified College Counselor

                               from College Inside Track

"Betsy has a wealth of understanding and knowledge to share with the parents of college bound homeschoolers.  She provides support, encouragement and step-by-step advice on all aspects of the homeschool high school and college application process. This book is a must-read for parents considering homeschooling high school and for parents in the thick of the application process."

And help for record keeping!  With my exclusive high school and college planning printables.

For more information, click here - Frugal College Prep for Homeschoolers or to buy it here - my book on Amazon for only $11.99.  

And don't worry about forgetting things!

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is mom to her now college grad, whom she homeschooled through high school.  She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, highschool, 
college, gifted/2e and wrote -Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition,   She offers homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting,  and has had some of her articles picked up by the Huffington Post.

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Copyright 2016
Updated 2019
 All Rights Reserved

Homeschooling High School - 100 Ideas for High School Electives ---

Summary:  High school homeschool electives are such an important part of the homeschool high school journey.  Homeschool high school electives help to build up your teen's college application while allowing them to follow their interests and discover their strengths.  Leadership, homeschool sports, 4H, and many more elective ideas are included here, 100 of them.  


There is so much more to homeschooling high school than just core studies.  One of the main reasons that we homeschooled all the way was to foster our daughter’s interests and grow her gifts.  And as she approached high school, they became her high school electives.

Having the time to delve deeply into my teen’s interests was priceless.  I encouraged her to explore her to try out different activities throughout her homeschool years.  Isn't that what homeschooling is about anyway? 

High School electives also brought the fun into our homeschool.  My favorite one was her irish stepdancing class, where my hubby and I got to watch them all perform each year on St. Patrick’s Day.  What are your teens interested in?  Where do their gifts lay? 

Here are 100 ideas to consider for high school electives and high school activities.  I hope this list gives you ideas for your teen.  Many high school activities as many can be made into high school electives.  Don't miss the giveaway at the end of this post.

100 High School Electives and Activities

Animal Care – Help with family’s animals, assist at the Humane Society, do an animal project 4H, compete at a state fair.  This can easily be made into an elective.

Athletics – Are your teens interested in sports?  Many Parks Department have leagues and classes, as does the YMCA, etc.  Some public schools allow homeschoolers to join in their sports activities as well. –States that offer this option include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.  For more information, HSLDA has a link here – http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/Issues/E/Equal_Access.pdf. 

Parks Department Leagues, YMCA, etc.

Archeology – Take a course at the community college, or make your own.

Art  -- We did classes at our Parks Dept.  The YMCA offers them as well.  My friend’s teen enjoyed Artistic Pursuits from www.christianbook.com.  

         --  Ultimate List of Favorite High School Art Resources by the Hodgepodge Mom, and it includes a year long high school course in Art Journaling

Art Appreciation

Automotive Repair

Bible Quiz – link - http://bq.ag.org/  This program- offer competitions at the district, regional and national levels in bible memorization skills.  My daughter’s friend competed locally, then had the honor of doing it on the national level, and she enjoyed it very much. 

Blogging – Set up a blog for your teen, or have them set it up themselves.  What a great way to get your teen writing!

Book Club – Attend your local library’s club, or make your own.

Botany – Eva Varga has a great course in botany here - Botany - Plenty O'Plants - EvaVarga 

Boy Scouts – Earning badges, and progressing in boy scouts, such as eagle scouts, is a great activity for leadership development www.scouting.org  

Business Management – This could include running an etsy shop, taking a course, or making your own.

Business Math

Career Exploration – This can be an elective for high school credit.  Some ideas for this include interviewing family members and friends re their careers, doing online research into careers of interest, arranging to visit a site of interest. 7 Sisters offers a complete course in Career Exploration Curriculum Bundle, highly recommended.

Car repair – Learn along side dad, help with car repairs, take a class, etc.

Carpentry

Ceramics - Our parks dept. offered great classes in ceramics, which my teen enjoyed since middle school.

Chalk Pastels - Make your own fine arts course with Tricia Hodges's Art for All Ages Chalk Art Bundle.



American Landmarks Chalk Art - This chalk art book is more advanced, ideal for high schoolers, and it can pair very well with your American History studies.  A great way to complete a fine arts elective credit as well!

Cheer - Cheer classes and or competitions   

Child Development –  The 7 Sisters offer a complete course in Early Childhood Education.   Assisting in a church nursery, babysitting, helping in a co-op class, or helping with younger siblings over time can all contribute to the learing. 

Choir

Coding

College Planner - Give your teen credit for preparing for ACT/SAT testing!  All of these activities can count as high school credit!  Make it a course.

Comparative Religions

Computer Studies – Online, Programming, Web Design, etc.  Making a website, and blogging can count as web design.

Composer Study

Cooking

CPR-First Aid

Crafting

Creative Writing – We did this as one of our favorite high school electives.  I am a writer, so I taught my daughter the basics, then we made our own homemade course with NaNovWriMo.  I just share that as a reminder that you can teach your skills and hobbies to your child and make your own electives!  

One Year Novel

Another way to go is to use One Year Adventure Novel – www.oneyearnovel.com, or pick another resource such as Learn to Write the Novel Way from www.christianbook.com. This can also become an English credit.  Creative writing is a great way to build up your teen’s confidence in putting words on paper.   It’s fun, too.

Dance – My daughter enjoyed studying irish dance at a local dance studio for many years. There are many kinds of dance to consider, ballet, jazz, liturgical, etc.  We started out with parks dept classes in preballet.  What fun I had watching my little one learn to dance!

Desktop Publishing

Early Childhood Education 




Vicki Tillman from 7 Sisters - Early Childhood Education elective course.  Add power to the homeschool transcript, prepare to be a good homeschooling parent, and provide enriching career exploration, while doing this course, which is FUN!

Fashion

Financial Management

Fine Arts - My friend used this program by a veteran homeschooler Harmony Fine Arts 

Fitness Coaching 

4H - www.4-h.org/  They offer a variety of activities to develop kids and teens’s citizenship, leadership, responsibility and life skills.  My daughter participated in their annual competitions at our state fair each year, and enjoyed photography, art, knitting, baking, and more.  This gave her outside feedback on her projects, which was priceless.  Find a local 4H club here - http://www.4-h.org/get-involved/find-4-h-clubs-camps-programs/.

Furniture Refinishing

Gardening – Building a veggie garden, studying gardening online, planning a flower garden, helping with garden maintenance at home can all count.

Geology

Girls Scouts – www.girlscouts.org/

Graphic Design

Gymnastics – My daughter took lessons at our local gymnastics center. This was a great way for her to build strength and it also showed perseverance on the high school transcript, as she did this over a number of years. (Usually you would only include the high school activities on the college application.)

Hand Arts

Health

Home Economics – Cooking dinner once a week could become a ½ or full credit in home economics, depending on whether it was done for one semester or a year.  Making a recipe notebook, trying out new recipes, etc.  Lots of potential for homemade courses here.

Homeschool Scouts – www.homeschoolscouting.com To find a listing of homeschool troops, click here – www.homeschoolscouting.com/homeschool-troops.

Homeschool Sports Network –  http://www.hspn.net/homeschool-sports.asp.  To find a homeschool sports program in your area, check out this website, which has a list of states that offer sports around the country.

Horticulture

Interior Decorating

Itsy Shop

Jewelry Making

Journalism

Landscaping

Leadership Activities

1. Youth and Government is a hands on way of learning about state government, gaining speech and debate skills at the same time.  They meet in small groups, as delegations, then compete in district events, while learning about state government and how a bill becomes a law.  Meanwhile they practice debate skills, leading up to the statewide Youth Mock Legislature.  All the teens gather together at the youth legislator and enact the roles of legislators and vote on mock bills, written by the teens themselves.  This program is available in 33 states across the country, and is sponsored by the YMCA.  They even elect their own youth governor each year! 

2. TeenPack Leadership Schools – www.teenpact.com This is another well established leadership program which provides groups and workshops that equip teens to become leaders in politics, society and citizenship.  They offer state classes, four day classes and a national convention, too. Their classes are held in 41 states at their state capitals.  Many of my teen’s homeschool friends participated in these events and learned a lot there. They looked forward to it every year.  To register for a state class click here - https://teenpact.com/events/

3.  Counselor-in-Training Programs – The girl scouts, boy scouts and camp fire programs all offer counselor training to teens.  Then they assist in summer day camps for younger kids.

4.  Volunteering – Help at a food bank as a family, volunteer at a pet hospital, or the Humane Society, assist at a library as a volunteer page, help to lead a class at co-op, etc.  By recording your teen’s hours, volunteering can be made into a homemade elective course.  

5.  Parks Department’s Teen Board – Many parks departments have youth teen boards, who meet regularly to plan activities for younger kids, and that is a way to learn leadership skills.

6.  PoliceExplorers – Many police departments offer this program for high schoolers.  It includes lots of volunteer opportunities and leadership training as well.  Our family friend has been involved it this program for years, and is gaining helpful experience, that may lead directly to a career in law enforcement.

7.  Speech and Debate - NCFCA – National Christian Forensics Communication Association – This is the longest standing nonprofit organization that offers speech and debate activities for homeschooled high schoolers.  They meet locally in chapters, compete regionally, and hold a national championship yearly.  Lots of my teen’s homeschool friends participated in this, and loved it.  

Life Skills

Marine Science

Marketing

Martial Arts – Many studios offer homeschool classes in martial arts.  One of my teen’s friends is a student of martial arts, and it was a great way for him to develop discipline.

Music – Music lessons, composer studies, Squilt - http://www.homegrownlearners.com/squilt/, playing in a band or orchestra, singing in a choir, performing, attending performances call all lead to a high school credit in music.  Our area had a homeschool choir available.

Music Appreciation - My friend, Tricia Hodges, from Hodgepodge used this course an recommends it 20th Century Music Appreciation Course.

Music Lessons

Nature Study  

We loved doing nature study, too.  How about one of Cindy's nature study courses, such as Incredible Creeks from Shining Dawn Books?  

Nutrition

Oceanography

Office Skills

Orchestra

Painting

Philosophy in 4 Questions - A whole credit of philosophy, by 7 Sisters, highly recommended.  No busy work, and from a Christian perspective.

Photography – I taught my daughter photography, from age 8, and we did this together for many years, and it later became a homemade elective.  There are also online courses in photography, and some parks dept’s offer classes as well.

Photo Shop

Physical Education

Plumbing

Programming

Psychology - Introduction to Psychology - A Christian Perspective - from 7 Sisters

Research Skills

Robotics

Sailing

Sea Scouts

Sewing

Shakespeare 

Would you like some resources for making your own high school English course?  Make your own course, with novels such as these, for example:

No Fear Shakespeare - Hamlet 

No Fear Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet 

These books include the original text, with a parallel translation of modern English on each page.  Having the parallel text made this learning so much better and understandable for my teen.

Sign Language

Social Media - Advertising

Sociology

Speech and/or Debate - NCFCA– National Christian Forensics Communication Association link - The longest standing nonprofit organization that offers speech and debate activities for homeschooled high schoolers.  They meet locally in chapters, compete regionally, and hold a national championship yearly.  Lots of my teen’s homeschool friends participated in this, and loved it.  They also hold short film and writing contests.

Speech 1 - Public Speaking and Practical Life Skills - by the 7 Sisters, also highly recommended.

Small Business 

Stoa – Christian Homeschool Speech and Debate – This national organization offers Speech Events, Debate Events, and Tournaments here http://www.stoausa.org/  State Organizations are here.  http://www.stoausa.org/about/stoa-state-links

Theater and Drama – Take a class, usher at a drama production, join a local community theater group.  My nephew participated in a homeschool drama program offered by his co-op.  

Video Courses - Tricia Hodges, from the Hodgepodge, has an extensive list of high school video courses in High School Homeschool Video Courses, including American History, Visual Latin, Economics and so much more!

Video Making - We made our own course in video-making, a true joy to do with my teen.  It became a one-half credit elective on her homeschool transcript and was tons of FUN!

Voice Lessons

Volunteering – Such a great way to gain experience, build up confidence, leadership skills, and to try new things.  Some places to consider – Church youth activities, church nursery, the public library, nursery room at co-op, the Humane Society, Girl Scout or Boy Scout day camp, Parks department special needs programs, mission trips, nursing homes, church camps, day care or preschool, food bank, YMCA, YWCA, etc.  

My daughter volunteered at our local library one summer, and enjoyed it.  They were already set up for volunteers there, so it was easy to set up.  Some museums are also set up to offer teen volunteering.  This led to a recommendation letter that we sent along with our college application.

Web Design

Weight Lifting

Word Processing

World Cultures

YMCA – www.ymca.com  They have a link there that will list all of the YMCAs in the US and will give you a guest pass to one to visit nearby.

HSLDA also has an extensive list of possible high school electives here http://www.hslda.org/highschool/Elective_Possibilities.pdf

Nothing like watching your teen as they discover and explore their special interests during the all important teen years!  

I loved doing activities and electives with my daughter.  I followed her interests, and did not load on extra electives or activities just to show them to the colleges.  

Instead, we made time for her to develop her gifts and talents as it fit into our homeschool days and our family’s schedule.

And homeschooling creatively with FUN electives helped my teen get into college! Is that where you want your teen to be heading?  It is NOT hard to do!

This post is a part of the 100 Things iHomeschool Network Blog Hop! (starting November 21st) Check out the group cash giveaway and all the other great posts there. 

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is mom to her 20 year old daughter whom she homeschooled from day one. She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, high school & college and wrote a book on college.  Betsy also offers free homeschool help and messages at BJ's Consulting. 

Want to stay in touch?  

Subscribe, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook 

This post may be shared on my favorite linkups here.

Copyright, 2016
Revised 2019

 All Rights Reserved

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